Warren, MI Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for Warren, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in Warren →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
Warren, Michigan has a population of about 138,588. Typical household income is $61,633 per year, below the median across the cities in our dataset (-15%).
Warren's housing market shows a median home value of $169,300, below the multi-city benchmark (-48%), alongside median rent of $1,139 per month. Both figures matter for anyone weighing a move here.
Warren's home-price-to-income ratio of about 2.7× puts it in affordable territory — income here stretches further toward a home purchase than in many cities we track. Year-over-year, home values around Warren are up 4.06%, a pace in line with a healthy, unremarkable market. Climate and natural-hazard risk in Warren runs on the higher side, per FEMA's Relatively High rating — insurance premiums often track this closely.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $1,139/mo in Warren would take 22.2% of your income.
$402/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($169,300) would take 17.6% of your income toward principal & interest.
$534/mo under the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in Warren
Median home value is $169,300 and median gross rent is $1,139/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for Macomb rose 4.06% over the past year (as of 2025).
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $1,411/month.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates Warren's overall natural-hazard risk as Relatively High. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
Warren reported a violent crime rate of 497.4 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to Warren
Planning a move to Warren? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Warren, MI?
- For a quick read on Warren: homes carry a median value of $169,300, rent runs a median $1,139 monthly, and household income is a median $61,633, all from the US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022).
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Warren?
- Using the standard 30%-of-income rule of thumb, affording Warren's median rent of $1,139/month takes an income of roughly $45,560 a year. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for Warren.
- Is it better to rent or buy in Warren?
- Renting in Warren at the median $1,139/month calls for about $45,560 a year under the standard 30% guideline; buying the median home at $169,300 takes roughly $38,735 a year in principal and interest (20% down, 30-year fixed, current rates). Timeline and down payment usually decide which makes more sense.
- Is Warren safe?
- In 2025, Warren reported 497.4 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, according to FBI data.
See the full salary breakdown for Warren →
Cities with a similar cost of living
Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of Warren's.