Ann Arbor, MI Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for Ann Arbor, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in Ann Arbor →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
Ann Arbor counts roughly 122,216 residents, and the median household brings in $78,546 annually — +9% relative to the cities in our dataset, putting incomes here roughly in line with the pack.
In Ann Arbor, the median home is valued at $416,500 — above the median across the cities we track (+28%) — and typical rent runs $1,472 a month. Factor in mortgage rates and property taxes when sizing up whether buying pencils out.
Buying a typical home in Ann Arbor would run about 5.3 years of median household income — a moderate multiple, not unusually high or low. Home prices near Ann Arbor have risen a steady 4.21% over the past year — measured growth, not a spike. FEMA's National Risk Index puts Ann Arbor at Relatively Moderate for overall natural-hazard risk — a relatively favorable factor for insurance costs.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $1,472/mo in Ann Arbor would take 22.5% of your income.
$492/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($416,500) would take 34.0% of your income toward principal & interest.
$391/mo over the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in Ann Arbor
Median home value is $416,500 and median gross rent is $1,472/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for Washtenaw rose 4.21% over the past year (as of 2025).
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $1,656/month.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates Ann Arbor's overall natural-hazard risk as Relatively Moderate. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
Ann Arbor reported a violent crime rate of 297.4 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to Ann Arbor
Planning a move to Ann Arbor? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Ann Arbor, MI?
- The US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022) puts Ann Arbor's median home value at $416,500, median rent at $1,472/month, and median household income at $78,546.
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ann Arbor?
- A common guideline is that rent should stay under 30% of gross income. With median rent at $1,472/month in Ann Arbor, that implies an income of about $58,880 to keep housing affordable. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for Ann Arbor.
- Is it better to rent or buy in Ann Arbor?
- Buying at Ann Arbor's median home value of $416,500 takes about $95,293 a year in principal-and-interest income (20% down, 30-year fixed, current mortgage rates), compared with roughly $58,880 a year to comfortably rent at the median $1,472/month. Down payment and expected length of stay usually settle the question.
- Is Ann Arbor safe?
- Ann Arbor reported a violent crime rate of 297.4 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data. Compare that figure against other cities you're considering for context.
See the full salary breakdown for Ann Arbor →
Cities with a similar cost of living
Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of Ann Arbor's.