B+

Caledonia, MI

Source:

Affordability Score: 75/100

Population: 20,074 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Caledonia, MI aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 20,074 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 $103,238, median home value of $364,200, median rent of $1,338 per month, and 48.3% 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 $1,267 per month (studio $959, 1BR $966, 3BR $1,583, 4BR $1,761). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $6,427 per year, consuming 6% 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 Caledonia, MI include income, education, rent, childcare. Unemployment currently reads 2.5% and poverty 4.6% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income A-
$103,238
Median household income
Education A-
48.3%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing D
3.5x
Home value $364,200 vs income
Commute B-
22 min
Average commute time
Rent A+
$1,267/mo
2BR fair market rent (15% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare A
$6,427/yr
Center-based infant care (6% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$103,238
▲ 67% vs national
Per Capita Income
$47,816
Unemployment Rate
2.5%
Poverty Rate
4.6%

Housing

Median Home Value
$364,200
▲ 32% vs national
Median Rent
$1,338/mo
Owner Occupied
89.9%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,267/mo
▲ 6% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$959
1BR
$966
2BR
$1,267
3BR
$1,583
4BR
$1,761

Safety

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

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
48.3%
▲ 18 ppt vs national
High School+
68.5%
Median Age
40.1
Avg. Commute
22 min
▼ 4 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$6,427/yr
6% of income
Toddler (Center)
$6,534/yr
Preschool (Center)
$6,534/yr
School-Age (Center)
$6,133/yr

What This Means

Caledonia, MI receives an overall affordability grade of B+ (75/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 20,074. This area performs well in income and education and rent and childcare. Data was unavailable for safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

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

Is Caledonia, MI affordable?
Caledonia, MI receives an overall affordability grade of B+ (75/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $103,238. Median home value is $364,200.
What is the cost of living in Caledonia?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $1,338/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,267/mo. Infant childcare $6,427/yr. Median home value $364,200.
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 →