CitytisticsShortlist

Cost of living, pay and housing

42.74° N · 84.63° W · GEOID 2684800

Waverly

Eaton County, Michigan · part of the Lansing, MI metro

MichiganWaverly, MIWaverlyWaverly

The short answer

Waverly is home to 23,575 people. Median household income is $75,700 a year and median rent is $1,170 a month, 18.5% of income (a ratio of two medians, not any one household's burden). Rent pressure is lighter than in most places. The median home is valued at $234,600, about 3.1x annual median household income.

Waverly stands out on how people work. Counting remote workers as zero, the average worker spends about 110 hours a year commuting, less than in 93% of places its size. Also notable: Households average 2.05 people, smaller than than in 94% of places its size.

76OF 100

CTXCitytistics Index

Strong

Waverly scores better than 76% of the 6,612 places we rate, and ranks 54th of 176 in Michigan.

How the CTX is built

Category ratings · 0 to 100, typical place 50

Affordability 20%69
Economy 20%38
Safety 20%n/a
Amenities 15%49
Education 10%72
Commute 10%89
Growth 5%n/a

Not rated: safety, growth, for want of data (the city police department does not report a full year to the FBI). The other weights are spread over the categories rated.

Median gross rent
$1,170
14% below the median place
Median household income
$75,700
6% below the median place
Median home value
$234,600
27% below the median place
Unemployment
5.9%
21% above the median place

Compared with the median of the 6,645 places we track. The bundle was checked 2026-11-14; each measure may refer to an older release.

What stands out about Waverly

  • HousingHomeowners pay a median of about 1.6% of home value a year in property tax, more than in 78% of the 2,101 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track.
01

Moving to Waverly

Eaton County gains about 0.6 residents per 1,000 a year to moves between counties.

Moved in6,158
Moved out6,100
Net+58

Where people come from and where they go, top counties

Within Michigan, other states or abroad

Arrivals
Leavers
Within MichiganOther states

Income per tax return

Arrivals$51K
Leavers$54K

People on tax returns who moved between counties, from IRS migration data, 2022 to 2023. Figures are for all of Eaton County; flows under 20 returns are not published.

Who moves here
9.6% of residents arrived from another county in the past year, 2.6% from another state.
Who arrives and who leaves
Households moving into Eaton County report $51,200 a year in income on average; those leaving, $54,300, so leavers earn more than newcomers.
Income you would need
$46,800 a year to rent the median home at the 30% line. From your city
Rent or buy
Median rent is $1,170 a month; owners with a mortgage pay $1,545 a month including taxes and insurance, on a median home of $234,600.
Getting to work
18 minutes each way on average; 19.1% work from home.
If it is close but not quite
Brown Deer, WI matches it on character for less of your income. Compare the two
Moved here in the past year1
9.6%
67% above the median place
Moved from another state1
2.6%
33% above the median place
Income of households moving in7
$51,177
27% below the median place
All 5 moving measures
MeasureWaverlyAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Moved here in the past year19.6%67% above
Moved from another state12.6%33% above
Net movers per 1,000 people7County figure0.6above (median -0.6)
Income of households moving in7County figure$51,17727% below
Income of households moving out7County figure$54,30623% below
02

What it costs to live here

39% of renter households spend 30% or more of income on rent, a lower share than in 85% of the 2,222 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track.

Waverly18.5%
Typical place20.4%

Share of the median household income that goes to the median rent. Above 30% is the usual stress line.

Income needed to rent
$46,800
a year, at the 30% line
Rent to income
18.5%
9% below the median place
Home price to income
3.1x
18% below the median place

Could you afford it?

The median rent would take
18%
comfortably under the 30% line
Left after rent, in US prices
$63,600
a year
Vs the typical household here
Same
as the median household

Uses the median rent in Waverly, $1,170 a month, and local prices for everything else (97.3 against a US average of 100). It runs in your browser and stores nothing.

Like Waverly, but easier on the budget

Places that match Waverly on character (size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, remote work and climate) but where rent takes a clearly smaller share of income. Cost was left out of the match on purpose.

PlaceMatchRent to incomeMore left a year
Brown Deer, WI9215.1% vs 18.5%$19,000Compare
Port Washington, WI9014.8% vs 18.5%$8,700Compare
Flanders, NJ8815.2% vs 18.5%$55,500Compare
Fox Crossing, WI8815.3% vs 18.5%$6,000Compare

Moving from somewhere else? Work out the salary you would need in Waverly.

Sponsored · exampleMoving to Waverly? Compare quotes from licensed movers. No partner is signed yet. Sponsored offers are always labelled and never change the data.
Vacant homes1
3.2%
55% below the median place
Renters paying 30%+1
38.9%
23% below the median place
Property tax rate1
1.6%
71% above the median place
All 16 cost and housing measures
MeasureWaverlyAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median gross rent1$1,17014% below
Rent to income118.5%9% below
Property tax rate11.6%71% above
Home price to income13.1x18% below
Prices vs US average2Metro figure95.06% below
Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms3County figure$1,32318% below
HUD area median income4County figure$102,6004% below
Property tax paid (median)1$3,66812% above
Median home value1$234,60027% below
Home prices, 1-year change5County figure4.0%26% above
Home prices, 5-year change5County figure47.2%8% below
Homeownership155.7%16% below
Renters paying 30%+138.9%23% below
Owner costs with a mortgage1$1,54517% below
Vacant homes13.2%55% below
Median year built119790% above
03

Work and pay

Compared with the 23 places most like it in size, age, education, housing and region (such as Ashwaubenon, WI, Haslett, MI and Willoughby, OH), unemployment here is higher: 5.9% against a typical 3.7%.

Mean commute1
18 min
27% below the median place
Works from home1
19.1%
53% above the median place
Unemployment1
5.9%
21% above the median place

More on work and pay, against the typical place

Income per person$47,266 +18%
Median household income$75,700 −6%
Poverty rate10.1% −6%
All 10 work and pay measures
MeasureWaverlyAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median household income1$75,7006% below
Income per person1$47,26618% above
Unemployment15.9%21% above
Average annual pay6County figure$63,8643% below
Pay growth, 1 year6County figure4.9%32% above
Jobs6County figure45,62570% below
Poverty rate110.1%6% below
Mean commute118 min27% below
Works from home119.1%53% above
Commutes by transit1County figure0.6%34% below
04

Who lives here

Household size is 2.0, 18% below the median place.

Household size1
2.0
18% below the median place
No health insurance1
3.3%
48% below the median place
Bachelor's or higher1
44.1%
38% above the median place

More about who lives here, against the typical place

Median age41.7 +7%
High school or higher93.5% +1%
Homes with broadband91.5% −1%
Born abroad9.6% +9%
All 8 people measures
MeasureWaverlyAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Population123,5751991st largest
Median age141.77% above
Bachelor's or higher144.1%38% above
High school or higher193.5%1% above
Household size12.018% below
Born abroad19.6%9% above
No health insurance13.3%48% below
Homes with broadband191.5%1% below
05

Life in Waverly

About 0 km of named paths and bike trails are mapped in and around the city, fewer than in 84% of the 2,301 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track. It is the lowest of 176 Michigan places we track.

17 sites are on the National Register of Historic Places. Its history on Wikipedia

Out the door, against the typical place

Parks per 10k residents5.9 −42%
Playgrounds per 10k25.0 2.7×
Grocery stores per 10k3.4 +60%
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k22.9 2.1×
Libraries per 10k0.8 −2%
Named paths and bike trails0 km −100%
Bus and rail stops per sq mi1.3 6.3×

Mapped by volunteers in OpenStreetMap inside the city limits (Census boundaries), so coverage is fuller in some places than others. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

National Park Service sites nearby

  • North Country Trail 38 miles
  • River Raisin National Battlefield Park 86 miles
  • Fallen Timbers Battlefield and Fort Miamis National Historic Site 96 miles

Businesses per 10,000 residents (county figures)

Restaurants and bars19.6 −6%
Shops29.4 −3%
Arts, recreation and fitness2.7 −34%
Doctors' offices and clinics13.8 −32%
Child care centers2.1 −9%

Counts businesses with paid staff, so small owner-run shops are not included.

Nearest National Park Service site10
38.0
23% above the median place
Doctors' offices and clinics per 10k8
13.8
32% below the median place
Arts, recreation and fitness per 10k8
2.7
34% below the median place
All 18 schools and local life measures
MeasureWaverlyAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Public schools12County figure47above (median 9)
Public school students12County figure17,025248% above
Students per teacher12County figure17.715% above
Restaurants and bars per 10k8County figure19.66% below
Shops per 10k8County figure29.43% below
Arts, recreation and fitness per 10k8County figure2.734% below
Doctors' offices and clinics per 10k8County figure13.832% below
Child care centers per 10k8County figure2.19% below
Parks per 10k95.942% below
Playgrounds per 10k925.0166% above
Grocery stores per 10k93.460% above
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k922.9105% above
Libraries per 10k90.82% below
Named paths and bike trails90.0below (median 2.0)
Transit stops per sq mi91.3above (median 0.2)
Nearest National Park Service site1038.023% above
National Park Service sites within 60 miles10150% below
National Register listings11County figure1731% above
06

Safety, weather and risk

Heat wave risk is 45.0, 50% below the median place.

No crime figure yet. Either the city police department did not report to the FBI for the latest year, or our monthly fetch has not reached Waverly. Larger places are fetched first.

Heat wave risk14
45.0
50% below the median place
Wildfire risk14
22.8
63% below the median place
Average temperature13
48°F
13% below the median place
All 11 weather and risk measures
MeasureWaverlyAmong 6,645 placesVs median
July average high13County figure82°F5% below
January average low13County figure16°F35% below
Average temperature13County figure48°F13% below
Annual precipitation13County figure36.1 in18% below
Natural hazard risk14County figure67.627% below
Hurricane risk14County figure37.647% below
Tornado risk14County figure86.56% above
Wildfire risk14County figure22.863% below
Heat wave risk14County figure45.050% below
Median air quality index15Metro figure399% below
Good air days15Metro figure72.3%6% above
08

Waverly in 2030: where the trends point

If recent trends hold, the median rent will take about 19% of the median income in 2030, about the same as 19% now.

Citytistics projections to 2030: each figure's own trend, blended with the typical trend across the places we rate, eased toward long-run US growth and carried forward from the latest release. The range is where 80% of places landed when we tested the same method on past releases. On projected 2030 affordability, Waverly does better than 68% of places. Its projected home value growth beats 39%.

MeasureLatest2030 projectionLikely rangeAvg. per year
Median rent$1,170/mo (2024)$1,500/mo$1,230 to $1,830/mo+4.2%
Median household income$75,700 (2024)$95,500$80,500 to $113,000+3.9%
Median home value$234,600 (2024)$334,000$243,000 to $460,000+6.1%

The median home would be worth 3.5 years of the median income in 2030, against 3.1 now.

A projection of recent trends, not a prediction of the economy or advice to buy or sell. How we project.

09

Places like Waverly

The closest matches on income, rent, home value, education and age, and the places nearby.

PlaceRentIncome
Pass Christian, MS$1,198$78,212Compare
Sappington, MO$1,241$77,650Compare
Tonawanda Town, NY$1,102$77,679Compare
Hollidaysburg, PA$1,085$69,458Compare
Hollidaysburg, PATonawanda Town, NYSappington, MOPass Christian, MSWaverly, MIWaverlyPass ChristianSappingtonTonawanda TownHollidaysburgWaverlyPass ChristianSappingtonTonawanda TownHollidaysburg

Places built like Waverly

Its statistical peers: the closest matches on size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, origin and remote work, in the same part of the country. Cost and outcomes are left out of the match, so the table shows how Waverly performs against places like it.

PlaceRent to incomeIncome growthPop. change
Waverly, MI18.5%3.6%/yrn/a
Ashwaubenon, WI16.6%3.2%/yr2.5%Compare
Haslett, MI18.2%1.2%/yrn/aCompare
Willoughby, OH19.7%3.4%/yr1.5%Compare
Greenfield, WI19.9%3.0%/yr-1.7%Compare
Centerville, OH17.8%3.0%/yr4.2%Compare
Grafton, WI17.5%3.4%/yr10.9%Compare

Common questions

Is Waverly a good place to live?

It depends on what you need, so here is what the numbers say. Its Citytistics Index is 76 out of 100, better than 76% of the places we rate and 54th of 176 in Michigan. Homeowners pay a median of about 1.6% of home value a year in property tax, more than in 78% of the 2,101 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track. On cost, space and class size it scores 39 out of 100 for families. See how it ranks with your own weights.

Is Waverly expensive to live in?

The median rent takes 18.5% of the median household income, against 20.4% in the typical place we track. Housing is a lighter load here than usual. The median home is valued at $234,600.

What salary do you need to live in Waverly?

To rent the median home without spending more than 30% of income on rent, a household needs about $46,800 a year. Work it out from your current city.

What places are similar to Waverly?

On income, rent, home value, education and age, the closest matches are Pass Christian, MS, Sappington, MO, Tonawanda Town, NY and Hollidaysburg, PA.

Sources and methods

The small numbers beside each measure point here. Every dataset is public; links go to the publisher.

  1. American Community Survey 5-year estimates · US Census Bureau · 2020 to 2024 estimatesTables B01002, B01003, B05002, B07003, B08013, B08301, B15003, B17001, B19013, B19301, B23025, B25002, B25003, B25010, B25035, B25064, B25070, B25077, B25088, B25103, B28002, S2701
  2. Regional Price Parities · US Bureau of Economic Analysis · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  3. Fair Market Rents · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2027
  4. Income Limits · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2026
  5. House Price Index · Federal Housing Finance Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  6. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages · US Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2025 annual averages
  7. SOI Tax Stats, county-to-county migration · Internal Revenue Service · Tax years 2022 to 2023Counts tax returns and the people on them; flows under 20 returns are suppressed.
  8. County Business Patterns · US Census Bureau · 2023 data
  9. OpenStreetMap · © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL) · Map data as of 2026-11
  10. National Park Service sites · Wikidata (CC0), units operated by the National Park Service · Retrieved 2026-11
  11. National Register of Historic Places · National Park Service · Listings through 2026-05-22
  12. Common Core of Data · National Center for Education Statistics · 2024 release
  13. 1991-2020 climate normals · NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information · Series updated 2026-11-05Averages for 1991 to 2020 computed from NOAA's county climate series (nClimDiv).nClimDiv county series
  14. National Risk Index · Federal Emergency Management Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14NRI data and maps
  15. Air Quality System, annual AQI by county · US Environmental Protection Agency · 2025 dataAirData download files

Derived by Citytistics from the tables above: rent to income (B25064, B19013); property tax rate (B25103, B25077); home price to income (B25077, B19013).

What stands out compares Waverly with places of a similar size, using only figures measured for Waverly itself; county and metro figures never count. Survey figures are estimates with margins of error. Formulas and definitions: methodology. API: /api/v1/places/waverly-michigan

Citytistics. “Waverly, Michigan.” Data as of 2026-11-14. https://www.citytistics.com/city/waverly-michigan/

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.