Housing decision brief
Wexford County, MI Housing Market
Wexford County screens as a below-state purchase price, rent that needs comparison, a higher tax-rate signal market. Use the page as a decision brief, not just a price lookup, because local income, taxes, and data confidence change how affordable the county really is.
33rd lowest home value out of 83 Michigan counties with data | 49th lowest rent out of 83
Median home value
$160,300
Purchase-price signal from Census ACS.
Median rent
$877/mo
Gross rent, including utilities where reported.
Monthly owner cost
$885/mo
Owner costs before individual loan terms.
Decision snapshot
Read this county in four signals.
Buy screen
2.5x
Median home value divided by local household income.
Rent burden
29.0%
Below 30% usually screens as less pressured.
Rent vs own
$8/mo
Median rent screens below owner cost.
Data confidence
1 note
Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
What Works
Lower purchase price
$160,300 median home value is 4% below Michigan county median
Rent burden below pressure line
29.00% of renter income goes to rent, below the 30% burden threshold.
What to Check
Tax rate needs attention
1.17% effective property-tax rate is 3% above Michigan county median
Crime data coverage
Crime data coverage is partial. Treat zero or low crime rates as incomplete until you check the source coverage.
Best Fit For
- Buyers comparing homes to local incomes
- Remote earners or cash buyers looking below the state price line
Poor Fit For
- Buyers focused only on purchase price and ignoring annual property tax
- Anyone treating reported crime rates as complete without source context
County vs State vs National
The county number only matters after you see the benchmark. These comparisons show where Wexford County is genuinely cheap, where it is average, and where the hidden cost may be.
| Metric | County | State | U.S. | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Median home value Lower usually helps affordability. | $160,300 | $167,600 | $281,900 | Near state median4% below Michigan county median |
Median gross rent Lower usually helps affordability. | $877 | $845 | $1,163 | Near state median4% above Michigan county median |
Monthly owner cost Lower usually helps affordability. | $885 | $868 | $1,672 | Near state median2% above Michigan county median |
Median household income | $63,123 | $61,868 | $74,755 | Near state median2% above Michigan county median |
Effective property-tax rate Lower usually helps affordability. | 1.17% | 1.13% | 1.02% | Near state median3% above Michigan county median |
Rent burden Lower usually helps affordability. | 29.00% | 28.00% | N/A | Near state median29.00% of renter income goes to rent. |
Income Fit
A low price only helps if local income can carry the monthly cost. This panel compares the county income base with rent and owner-cost thresholds.
Rent cushion
+$28,043
Median income minus rent threshold.
Owner cushion
+$25,194
Median income minus owner-cost threshold.
Affordability Advisory
This turns the raw housing numbers into income and buy-versus-rent screens.
Affordability verdict
For renters in Wexford County, the market is affordable. Expect to pay around $877/month in gross rent, with 29.0% of renter households considered cost-burdened.
Rent vs own
The median rent in Wexford County is $877/month, while owner costs run $885/month. Renting saves approximately $8/month.
Income needed
To afford the median rent without exceeding 30% of gross income, a household needs to earn approximately $35,080/year. For owner costs at the 28% rule, the required income is roughly $37,929/year. With a median household income of $63,123, most households can comfortably afford rent here. Notably, 29.0% of renter households in Wexford County are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of income on housing.
Regional context
Wexford County sits 6% less expensive than Charlevoix County ($929/month) in terms of median gross rent.
Better Counties to Compare
Similar counties are matched on home value, rent, income, and state context. This is more useful than a simple nearest-price list.
| County | Home Value | Rent | Why compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shiawassee County, MI | $164,600 | $876/mo | Same-state comparison near $164,600 home value and $876/mo rent. |
| Missaukee County, MI | $163,700 | $838/mo | Same-state comparison near $163,700 home value and $838/mo rent. |
| Montcalm County, MI | $172,100 | $867/mo | Same-state comparison near $172,100 home value and $867/mo rent. |
| Branch County, MI | $147,500 | $900/mo | Same-state comparison near $147,500 home value and $900/mo rent. |
| St. Joseph County, MI | $167,600 | $825/mo | Same-state comparison near $167,600 home value and $825/mo rent. |
Data Confidence
- Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
Next Checks
Housing Questions for Wexford County
Is Wexford County affordable for buying a home?
Is renting or owning cheaper in Wexford County?
How much income do you need for housing in Wexford County?
What should I double-check before moving to Wexford County?
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023) — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.