At a Glance
Median Income
$65,846
$29,263 per capita
Home Value
$191,100
Zillow: $227,829
Median Rent
$860/mo
30.2% of income on rent
Violent Crime
289/100K
1,393/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
21.8%
96.1% high school+
Unemployment
3.5%
10.7% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
35.8%
15.3% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
50°F
260 sunny days/yr
How Plainwell Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Plainwell's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Plainwell a Good Place to Live?
B
3.1 / 5.0 — Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Plainwell residents earn a median household income of $65,846 , which is 12% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $29,263. The unemployment rate stands at 3.5% (3% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 10.7% 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 Plainwell is $191,100 , 32% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $227,829. Median rent is $860/month, with 30.2% 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 1965.
Safety & Crime
Plainwell reports 289 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 24% below the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 1,393/100K. The murder rate is 0.0/100K.
Education
21.8% of adults in Plainwell hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(35% below the national average).
96.1% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.3/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Plainwell has an average annual temperature of 50°F (10°C).
Winters average 25°F in January while summers reach 73°F in July. The area gets 260 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 33.2 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 38.
Data Overview
People
Population3,764
Median Age39.9 yrs
Density1,810/mi²
Male / Female53% / 47%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans7.6%
Economy
B+
Median Income$65,846
Per Capita$29,263
Unemployment3.5%
Poverty10.7%
County GDP$20,706M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,264
Housing
A+
Home Value$191,100
Rent$860
Ownership68.2%
Zillow$227,829
Housing Units1,522
Rent Burden30.2%
Crime
F
Violent289/100K
Property1,393/100K
Murder0.0/100K
Assault237/100K
Burglary131/100K
Health
Obesity35.8%
Diabetes9.5%
Smoking15.3%
Heart Disease5.6%
Premature Death7,811/100K
Climate
Avg Temp50°F
Sunny Days260/yr
Rain33.2 in/yr
AQI38 (Good)
Elevation732 ft
Education
C+
Bachelor's+21.8%
High School+96.1%
Graduate+4.2%
School Score5.3/10
Community
2024 VoteR 40% / D 58%
Commute20 min
Broadband95.9%
Internet Speed208 Mbps
EV Stations2
Libraries14
Did You Know?
The median home in Plainwell was built in 1965.
The nearest airport is Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International (15 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.461 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA.
17.3% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 208 Mbps.
There are 579 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 31 fatal vehicle crashes.
All Countries
