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Muskegon, MI

Photo: Wikipedia

Muskegon, MI

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Demographics

Majority WhiteSimpson's Diversity Index: 63
Population37,203
Foreign Born2.8%
Population Density2,630people per mi²
Median Age36.0 yrs
Demographics Trajectory
StableSince 2010, this city has held a relatively stable population and racial composition.
Current Race / Ethnicity Breakdown
Population Trends

Quality of Life

Overall Quality Of Life
A-
Great

A high quality of life with strong walkability, manageable living costs, healthy neighborhood signals, and solid amenity access.

Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.

Cost of Living

65/100

35% below national average

A+

The Real Cost of Living in Muskegon, Michigan

TierIndividualFamily (4)
Survival $15k$28k
Comfortable $24k$36k
Luxury $84k+$130k+
Elite (Top 5%) $104k+$162k+
Affordability Ratio

129%

The Hood Index™

A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.

A
Hood Index scan area
Luxury Lean89%
RisksNeutralGrowth
Premium
40
Positive
12
Poor
5
Negative
8

Groceries

3 within 10 miles

2.9mi

Gas

0 within 10 miles

Hospital

3 within 20 miles

2.8mi

Airport

Muskegon County Airport (MKG)

4.8mi

Post Office

USPS — Muskegon, MI

0.3mi

Critical Amenities

Country Clubs

1 private club within 10 miles.

Golf7Nearest 3 mi
Camping20Nearest 4.8 mi
Marina7Nearest 0.9 mi
Winery0 
Ice Rink0Nearest 38.5 mi
Gun Range4Nearest 4.5 mi

Affluence Level

Overall Affluence Grade
D-
Soft

A below-average socioeconomic profile. Incomes, home values, and educational attainment trail the U.S., with higher poverty and unemployment.

Median HHI
$46k+13.3%
38% below US avg
Est. Avg Net Worth
$422k
36% below US avg
College Educated
15.8%
55% below US avg
WFH
5.0%
65% below US avg
Homeownership
54.2%
17% below US avg
Median Home
$122k
57% below US avg

Crime

Overall Crime Grade
D+
Elevated

Higher crime rates than 67% of comparable U.S. locations.

Crime Rate
25.8
Incidents per 1,000 residents
5yr Trend
−29.0%
Overall crime change since 2020

Violent Crime

5yr−33.2%
Homicide
0.11 / 1k Residents149% above state avg
Robbery
0.70 / 1k Residents170% above state avg
Aggravated Assault
4.07 / 1k Residents25% above state avg

Property Crime

5yr−24.7%
Burglary
2.41 / 1k Residents59% above state avg
Larceny-Theft
14.69 / 1k Residents64% above state avg
Motor Vehicle Theft
2.84 / 1k Residents58% above state avg
Source: FBI Crime Data · 2025

Political Climate

Cook PVI: D+4Tilts Liberal

District shown is the primary district for this city’s centroid. Cities may span multiple districts.

Presidential Voting Trends for Muskegon, Michigan
Dem Rep
40%50%60%2000200420082012201620202024

Personal Sovereignty

Personal Sovereignty measures your capacity for self-reliance and independence with minimal government friction. Higher scores mean fewer barriers between you and the way you want to live... but it assumes you have the space you need and good neighbors.

Overall Sovereignty Grade
A-
High Autonomy

Strong independent fundamentals that actively favor personal liberty and low regulation.

State Policy

Tax Burden
B
Fair8.6% of income
Property Rights
B-
GoodIJ Grade B-
Firearm Rights
C+
FairFPC Grade C+
Homeschooling
A+
GreatNo notice required

Energy independence: Importer (20% of energy produced in-state)

Personal Liberty

Raw Milk
C+
LimitedHerd shares only
Gambling Laws
A+
Fully OpenCasinos · Poker · Sportsbetting
Marijuana Laws
A+
Fully LegalRecreational

Homesteading

Growing Season193 days247 frost-free
Annual Rainfall41.7"
Elevation614 ft

Strategic Assessment

Strategic Assessment grades tactical survivability using Joel Skousen's Strategic Relocation framework. Major population centers, blast zones, natural disasters, and border exposure all drive risk — lower exposure means a more defensible position in a crisis.

Learn more about Strategic Relocation ($)
Overall Strategic Grade
C-
Exposed

Meaningful friction. Expect exposure to either population pressure, blast zones, or natural disaster risk. Consider buying a retreat property.

Strategic Pillars

City Proximity
D
Poor117 mi to nearest major city
Pop. Density
D-
Poor2,630/sq mi
Fallout Danger
B
Fair2 within ~30 mi
Natural Disaster
D
PoorInland Flooding
Border / Coast
A+
Greatborder 172 mi · coast 639 mi
FEMA Expected Loss$27.7M/yrfor the county

Key Distances

Nearest Major CityMilwaukee577k people are 85 mi away
Nearest Major AirportNo hub airport within 50 mi
Distance to State Capital92 miLansing, MI
Nearest Prison3.7 mi2 within 25 mi

* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-19T20:55:08.000Z

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