Owosso, MI

Census place 2661940 · pop 14,632

D−37/ 100
🫤 Rough
F
in MI
📍 Michigan ranks #42 of 50 states →
🏆 Cost$132,600 · top 10%
🚽 Jobs5.7% · bottom 5%
Taxes
1.68% property · US 0.99%6.00% sales · US 7.00%4.25% flat income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

The breakdown — worst first

Unemployment rateCounty-level5.7%5

U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities

5.7% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Poor mental health20.6%7

U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities

20.6% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Adult smoking18.1%13

U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities

18.1% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Violent crime rate571/100k13

U.S. median 152/100k · worse than most cities

571 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.

Median household income$54,22919

U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities

$54,229 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Property-tax burden1.68%19

U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities

1.68% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Income inequality0.4819

U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities

Gini 0.48 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Adult obesity39.8%20

U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities

39.8% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Bachelor's degree or higher21.1%25

U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities

21.1% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Poverty rate17.2%26

U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities

17.2% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Population growth (5yr)+0.7%34

U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities

+0.7% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Physical inactivity27.6%36

U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities

27.6% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Broadband access90.8%44

U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities

90.8% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Commute time23 min56

U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities

23 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Property crime rate1100/100k58

U.S. median 964/100k · better than most cities

1100 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.

Homeownership68.3%62

U.S. median 67.2% · better than most cities

68.3% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Uninsured adults8.0%66

U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities

8.0% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level68/10077

U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities

68/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Housing cost$132,60090

U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities

$132,600 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Not measured for Owosso: Air, Bad air, Rent. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.

Frequently asked

Is Owosso, MI a good place to live?
By the numbers, Owosso scores 37/100 — a D− (Rough) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 19 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is housing cost and its weakest is unemployment rate. Michigan overall ranks #42 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
How safe is Owosso, MI?
Owosso reports 571 violent crimes per 100k and 1100 property crimes per 100k — worse than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
Is Owosso, MI expensive to live in?
Owosso has a median home value of $132,600 — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Owosso, MI?
Its weakest measured area is unemployment rate (5.7%) — 5/100, worse than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.)
What is Owosso, MI best at?
Its strongest measured area is housing cost ($132,600) — 90/100, better than most U.S. cities.

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.