At a Glance
Median Income
$38,433
$26,286 per capita
Home Value
$110,300
Zillow: $218,309
Median Rent
$722/mo
30.0% of income on rent
Violent Crime
787/100K
3,410/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
12.1%
85.3% high school+
Unemployment
7.5%
28.7% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
39.6%
19.8% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
48°F
275 sunny days/yr
How Dowagiac Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Dowagiac's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Dowagiac a Good Place to Live?
C
2.4 / 5.0 — Fair
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Dowagiac residents earn a median household income of $38,433 , which is 49% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $26,286. The unemployment rate stands at 7.5% (108% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 28.7% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 932 business establishments, including 64 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Dowagiac is $110,300 , 61% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $218,309. Median rent is $722/month, with 30.0% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 96.2 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1953.
Safety & Crime
Dowagiac reports 787 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 107% above the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 3,410/100K. The murder rate is 0.0/100K.
Education
12.1% of adults in Dowagiac hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(64% below the national average).
85.3% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.2/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Dowagiac has an average annual temperature of 48°F (9°C).
Winters average 24°F in January while summers reach 71°F in July. The area gets 275 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 41.7 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 38.
Data Overview
People
Population5,677
Median Age37.3 yrs
Density1,276/mi²
Male / Female49% / 51%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans6.9%
Economy
D
Median Income$38,433
Per Capita$26,286
Unemployment7.5%
Poverty28.7%
County GDP$1,897M
Avg Weekly Wage$998
Housing
A+
Home Value$110,300
Rent$722
Ownership50.3%
Zillow$218,309
Housing Units2,904
Rent Burden30.0%
Crime
F
Violent787/100K
Property3,410/100K
Murder0.0/100K
Assault577/100K
Burglary402/100K
Health
Obesity39.6%
Diabetes12.0%
Smoking19.8%
Heart Disease6.6%
Premature Death9,385/100K
Climate
Avg Temp48°F
Sunny Days275/yr
Rain41.7 in/yr
AQI38 (Good)
Elevation771 ft
Education
D
Bachelor's+12.1%
High School+85.3%
Graduate+3.2%
School Score5.2/10
Community
2024 VoteR 66% / D 32%
Commute25 min
Broadband86.9%
Internet Speed213 Mbps
EV Stations3
Libraries7
Did You Know?
Dowagiac was founded in 1848.
The median home in Dowagiac was built in 1953.
The nearest airport is Southwest Michigan Regional (19 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.465 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
24.1% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 213 Mbps.
The county recorded 14 fatal vehicle crashes.
All Countries
