Cost of Living in Washtenaw 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 Washtenaw County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Washtenaw County ranks #2,912 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 7%)
Sourced county brief
Washtenaw County Median Home Value Reaches $374,100 in 5-Year Estimates
Median home value in Washtenaw County is estimated at $374,100, which is $176,807 above the Michigan unweighted county mean of $197,293. Median gross rent was recorded at $1,463 per month, exceeding the state unweighted county mean of $906. For owner-occupied units, median selected monthly owner costs are $1,659, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $918. Median renter-household income in the county is $48,680. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) from ACS table B25071 is 33.7%. This figure is 4.8 percentage points higher than the Michigan unweighted county mean official GRAPI of 28.9%. These statistics are based on the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates. 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: Washtenaw County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 33.7% of renter household income in Washtenaw County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,463 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,659. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $58,520 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. Washtenaw County's $1,463 median is 61.5% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Washtenaw County
Rent Burden
19.7%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$2,081
per month
Owner Cost Burden
22.3%
of gross income
The median home in Washtenaw County may be a stretch
Median home value is $374,100. Estimated monthly cost: $2,987 vs. your max of $2,081.
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
What is the cost of living in Washtenaw County, Michigan?
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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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