B+

Brutus, MI

Source:

Affordability Score: 75/100

Population: 806 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Brutus, MI aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 806 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of B+ (75/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $100,179, median home value of $307,100, median rent of $1,542 per month, and 37.3% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $1,235 per month (studio $863, 1BR $941, 3BR $1,481, 4BR $1,635). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $6,926 per year, consuming 7% of the local median household income.

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Strengths visible in the raw data for Brutus, MI include income, rent, childcare. Unemployment currently reads 4.5% and poverty 18.0% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income B+
$100,179
Median household income
Education B-
37.3%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing B-
3.1x
Home value $307,100 vs income
Commute C-
25 min
Average commute time
Rent A+
$1,235/mo
2BR fair market rent (15% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare A-
$6,926/yr
Center-based infant care (7% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$100,179
▲ 62% vs national
Per Capita Income
$43,984
Unemployment Rate
4.5%
Poverty Rate
18.0%

Housing

Median Home Value
$307,100
▲ 12% vs national
Median Rent
$1,542/mo
Owner Occupied
94.1%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,235/mo
▲ 3% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$863
1BR
$941
2BR
$1,235
3BR
$1,481
4BR
$1,635

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
37.3%
▲ 7 ppt vs national
High School+
63.1%
Median Age
43.2
Avg. Commute
25 min
▼ 1 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$6,926/yr
7% of income
Toddler (Center)
$6,926/yr
Preschool (Center)
$6,926/yr
School-Age (Center)
$5,782/yr

What This Means

Brutus, MI receives an overall affordability grade of B+ (75/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 806. This area performs well in income and rent and childcare. Data was unavailable for safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

Explore Brutus ZIP Codes
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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Brutus, MI affordable?
Brutus, MI receives an overall affordability grade of B+ (75/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $100,179. Median home value is $307,100.
What is the cost of living in Brutus?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $1,542/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,235/mo. Infant childcare $6,926/yr. Median home value $307,100.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →