Cost of Living in Hillsdale County, Michigan
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Hillsdale County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Hillsdale County ranks #1,546 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 49%)
Sourced county brief
Hillsdale County Median Gross Rent Equals 27.3 Percent of Income
The median gross rent as a percentage of household income in Hillsdale County is 27.3 percent, according to the official ACS B25071 GRAPI. This estimate is 1.6 percentage points below the Michigan unweighted county mean of 28.9 percent. The median gross rent for the county was estimated at $832 per month, compared to the unweighted state county mean of $906. For homeowners, the median selected monthly owner cost is $890, which is below the unweighted state county mean of $918. The median home value in Hillsdale County was $176,100, while the Michigan unweighted county mean was $197,293. Median renter-household income for the area is $35,643. These data points provide a static assessment of housing costs based on the 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year period. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Hillsdale County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 27.3% of renter household income in Hillsdale County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $832 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $890. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $33,280 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Michigan unweighted mean of county median rents is $906 per month. Hillsdale County's $832 median is 8.1% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Hillsdale County
Rent Burden
15.5%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,499
per month
Owner Cost Burden
16.6%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Hillsdale County
Median home value is $176,100. Estimated monthly cost: $1,406 vs. your max of $1,499.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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