At a Glance
Median Income
$38,989
$23,775 per capita
Home Value
$133,600
Zillow: $277,986
Median Rent
$775/mo
27.9% of income on rent
Violent Crime
471/100K
4,414/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
10.8%
94.0% high school+
Unemployment
5.6%
13.6% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
39.2%
17.6% smoking rate
How Paw Paw Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Paw Paw's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Paw Paw a Good Place to Live?
C+
2.6 / 5.0 - Fair
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Paw Paw residents earn a median household income of $38,989 , which is 48% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $23,775. The unemployment rate stands at 5.6% (56% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 13.6% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 5,972 business establishments, including 579 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Paw Paw is $133,600 , 53% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $277,986. Median rent is $775/month, with 27.9% 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 1964.
Safety & Crime
Paw Paw reports 471 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 24% above the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 4,414/100K.
Education
10.8% of adults in Paw Paw hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(68% below the national average).
94.0% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.3/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Paw Paw has an average annual temperature of 49°F (9°C).
Winters average 25°F in January while summers reach 72°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 41.1 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 45.
Data Overview
People
Population3,277
Median Age35.4 yrs
Density1,227/mi²
Male / Female50% / 50%
Foreign Born3.5%
Veterans4.8%
Economy
C+
Median Income$38,989
Per Capita$23,775
Unemployment5.6%
Poverty13.6%
County GDP$20,706M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,264
Housing
A+
Home Value$133,600
Rent$775
Ownership47.6%
Zillow$277,986
Housing Units1,547
Rent Burden27.9%
Crime
F
Violent471/100K
Property4,414/100K
Health
Obesity39.2%
Diabetes10.6%
Smoking17.6%
Heart Disease6.0%
Premature Death7,811/100K
Climate
Avg Temp49°F
Rain41.1 in/yr
AQI45 (Good)
Elevation724 ft
Education
D
Bachelor's+10.8%
High School+94.0%
Graduate+2.3%
School Score5.3/10
Community
2024 VoteR 40% / D 58%
Commute17 min
Broadband89.3%
Internet Speed208 Mbps
EV Stations2
Libraries14
Did You Know?
The median home in Paw Paw was built in 1964.
The nearest airport is Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International (17 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.461 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA.
17.5% of the population has a disability.
Average internet download speed is 208 Mbps.
There are 579 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 31 fatal vehicle crashes.