CountyScore

Schoolcraft County

Michigan · MI

#5 in Michigan
73.9
County Score

County Report Card

About Schoolcraft County, Michigan

Schoolcraft ranks in nation's upper tier

Schoolcraft County's composite score of 72.9 tops the national median of 50.0, placing it in the 91st percentile across all U.S. counties. The county delivers exceptional livability for its size and location.

Among Michigan's top-scoring counties

At 72.9, Schoolcraft exceeds Michigan's average of 68.7 by 4.2 points, ranking among the state's strongest performers. Few Upper Peninsula counties match Schoolcraft's overall livability benchmark.

Best-in-class housing and tax values

Schoolcraft boasts the highest cost score (86.8) among these eight counties, with rock-bottom rent at $654/month and median home values of just $123,500. The 1.091% effective tax rate keeps the financial burden minimal for households.

Income opportunities are limited

The income score of 21.1 reflects a median household income of $57,708, indicating fewer high-paying employment options nearby. Safety, health, and school quality data are not yet available, which matters for families evaluating relocation.

Perfect for affordable rural living

Schoolcraft excels for retirees, remote workers, and families seeking ultra-low cost of living in a quiet, natural setting. The county offers unmatched housing affordability and tax efficiency, making it ideal for those who don't need local income generation.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax71.6Cost86.8SafetyComing SoonHealth70.1SchoolsComing SoonIncome21.1Risk93.3WaterComing Soon
🏛71.6
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠86.8
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼21.1
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤70.1
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡93.3
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Schoolcraft County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Las Animas County
Colorado
73.9
Median income: $50,408
Phillips County
Colorado
73.9
Median income: $60,372
Blackford County
Indiana
73.9
Median income: $47,560
O'Brien County
Iowa
73.9
Median income: $68,216
Allen County
Kentucky
73.9
Median income: $59,029

Deep Dives

Schoolcraft County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Schoolcraft County

via TaxByCounty

Schoolcraft taxes below national median

Schoolcraft County's effective tax rate of 1.091% sits just above the national median of 1.0%, placing it near the 50th percentile of U.S. counties. The median property tax bill of $1,348 is less than half the national median of $2,690, reflecting the county's lower home values. Schoolcraft homeowners pay a moderate percentage of home value in taxes compared to the rest of America.

Below-average Michigan tax burden

At 1.091%, Schoolcraft County's effective rate falls below Michigan's state average of 1.166%, placing it in the lower-middle tier statewide. The median property tax of $1,348 is $754 below the state median of $2,102. Schoolcraft residents enjoy somewhat lighter property tax pressure than typical Michigan homeowners.

Second-lowest among nearby counties

Schoolcraft's 1.091% effective rate is lower than Saginaw County (1.571%), Shiawassee County (1.345%), and Tuscola County (1.280%), but slightly higher than Sanilac County (0.917%). Among the eight-county region, only Sanilac has a lower rate. Schoolcraft offers moderately affordable property taxes within its geographic area.

Median home taxes: $1,348 annually

A typical $123,500 home in Schoolcraft County generates roughly $1,348 in annual property taxes at the current effective rate. With mortgage, taxes rise to $1,436; without mortgage, they fall to $1,261. This amounts to approximately $112 per month in property taxes for a median-valued home.

Many homeowners can appeal assessments

Across Michigan, thousands of homeowners discover their properties are overassessed, leading to inflated tax bills. Schoolcraft County residents should review their assessment notices and consider filing an appeal if values seem high relative to recent comparable sales. A successful challenge can reduce your tax burden significantly.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Schoolcraft County

via CostByCounty

Schoolcraft stands out for housing affordability

Schoolcraft County's rent-to-income ratio of 13.6% ranks among the nation's most affordable, giving households significantly more financial flexibility than the U.S. average. With median rent at just $654 monthly and household income at $57,708, Schoolcraft offers exceptional housing access for a rural Michigan county.

Michigan's best affordable housing market

Schoolcraft County dramatically outperforms Michigan's state average, with a 13.6% rent-to-income ratio versus the state's 16.3% and rents $219 lower than Michigan's $873 median. The county ranks among the state's most accessible markets for cost-conscious renters and homeowners.

Cheapest housing in the eight-county comparison

Schoolcraft's $654 rent is the lowest across all neighboring counties by a substantial margin, with the next-lowest being Sanilac at $814. The county's 13.6% rent-to-income ratio beats every comparable market, including Tuscola (15.2%) and Sanilac (16.5%).

Housing leaves room in the household budget

Schoolcraft renters allocate just 13.6% of a $57,708 income to $654 monthly rent, and homeowners spend only 13.7% on $660 monthly ownership costs. This exceptional ratio—nearly 3 percentage points below Michigan's average—gives households cushion for savings, debt, and other expenses.

Schoolcraft offers unmatched affordability

If housing affordability tops your relocation priorities, Schoolcraft County delivers the lowest costs in the region at both 13.6% for renters and 13.7% for owners. Be prepared for rural living; in exchange, your housing dollars stretch further here than anywhere nearby.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Schoolcraft County

via IncomeByCounty

Schoolcraft ranks among lowest-income counties

Schoolcraft County's median household income of $57,708 falls 23% below the $74,755 national median, placing it in the lowest national income tier. Residents face significant economic headwinds compared to the typical U.S. household.

Schoolcraft trails Michigan county average

At $57,708, Schoolcraft is the lowest-income county in this eight-county group, sitting $6,596 below Michigan's average of $64,304. The county ranks near the bottom of Michigan's 83 counties, reflecting limited economic diversification.

Schoolcraft has smallest income in peer group

Schoolcraft's median income of $57,708 is lower than all comparable counties in this analysis, including Saginaw ($58,347) and Sanilac ($59,074). This positions Schoolcraft as the most economically challenged among its regional peers.

Housing costs are exceptionally low here

Schoolcraft's rent-to-income ratio of 13.6% is the lowest in this group, giving residents the most housing affordability cushion. The median home value of $123,500 is highly accessible on a $57,708 income, making homeownership realistic for many families.

Start small, invest consistently in Schoolcraft

With lower housing costs freeing up income, Schoolcraft residents should prioritize emergency savings before any investment. Once a $1,000–$2,000 cushion exists, low-cost index funds and automatic monthly contributions can build wealth even on modest earnings.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Schoolcraft County

via HealthByCounty

Schoolcraft Slightly Above National Lifespan

At 76.4 years, Schoolcraft County residents live slightly longer than the U.S. average of 79 years—still a gap, but among the stronger outcomes in this dataset. One-fifth of residents (20.5%) report poor or fair health, exceeding the national average of 15%. This discrepancy suggests that length of life doesn't fully capture health quality.

Schoolcraft Meets State Average Life Expectancy

Schoolcraft's life expectancy of 76.4 years slightly exceeds Michigan's state average of 76.3 years, placing it at the state median. The 20.5% poor/fair health rate remains above state norms, indicating that longer lifespan doesn't equate to better day-to-day health experiences. Schoolcraft performs better on mortality but faces wellness challenges.

Schoolcraft Offers Moderate Provider Access

Schoolcraft's 75 primary care providers per 100K nearly matches Saginaw's 87, making it relatively well-served compared to Sanilac (32) or Tuscola (30). Mental health providers at 295 per 100K are solid but trail Saginaw's 362. Overall, Schoolcraft has reasonable provider availability despite its rural character.

Higher Uninsured Rate, Decent Provider Network

Schoolcraft's 7.2% uninsured rate is the second-highest in this county group, meaning over 1 in 14 residents lack coverage. However, with 75 primary care providers and 295 mental health providers per 100K, those with insurance can access care. The uninsured population faces significant barriers to preventive and emergency services.

Don't Join the Uninsured 7.2%

If you're uninsured in Schoolcraft, coverage is within reach through Medicaid expansion or ACA marketplace plans, often with no or low premiums. Visit Michigan.gov/HealthInsurance or call 1-800-867-9272 to apply today. Insured residents should confirm annual preventive screenings are covered at no cost to catch health issues early.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Schoolcraft County

via RiskByCounty

Schoolcraft is Michigan's safest county

Schoolcraft County scores just 6.74 on the composite risk scale, placing it among the safest counties in the entire nation and far below Michigan's state average of 49.56. This "Very Low" risk rating reflects minimal exposure across virtually all major hazard categories. Residents enjoy genuinely exceptional natural disaster safety compared to nearly all other American counties.

Dramatically safer than most Michigan

Schoolcraft County ranks as the lowest-risk county in Michigan by a substantial margin, with a composite score less than one-seventh of the state average. This exceptional safety stems from geographic isolation in the Upper Peninsula and minimal exposure to tornadoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes. No other Michigan county comes close to Schoolcraft's protective risk profile.

Incomparably safer than similar areas

Schoolcraft's score of 6.74 stands in stark contrast to any regional comparisons—even the safest neighboring Upper Peninsula counties carry significantly more risk. The county's geographic position and weather patterns create a natural buffer against most major hazards. This exceptional safety is a genuine distinguishing characteristic for anyone relocating to or investing in Schoolcraft County.

Wildfire poses minimal but real risk

Schoolcraft County's only noteworthy hazard exposure is wildfire risk at 34.35, which remains below most Michigan averages and poses minimal absolute danger in this sparsely developed area. All other risks—tornado (8.02), flood (23.66), earthquake (0.92), and hurricane (0.00)—are negligible or nonexistent. This hazard profile is genuinely reassuring for long-term property and safety planning.

Standard insurance adequately covers risks

Standard homeowners insurance provides sufficient protection for Schoolcraft County's minimal natural disaster exposure without need for specialized flood or earthquake riders. Even wildfire coverage—the county's only moderately notable hazard—presents minimal practical risk in most residential settings. Schoolcraft residents can focus insurance attention on standard coverage adequacy rather than specialized disaster protections.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

🏛Property Tax🏠Cost of Living💼Income & Jobs🛡Safety❤Health🎓Schools⚡Disaster Risk💧Water Quality

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.