CountyScore

Shiawassee County

Michigan · MI

#61 in Michigan
66.3
County Score

County Report Card

About Shiawassee County, Michigan

Shiawassee solidly above national baseline

Shiawassee County's composite score of 66.4 sits well above the national median of 50.0, placing it in the 83rd percentile nationally. The county demonstrates strong livability compared to most of the country.

Slightly below Michigan's county average

At 66.4, Shiawassee falls 2.3 points below Michigan's average of 68.7, positioning it in the solid middle range of the state. The county remains competitive on livability despite missing the state's top performers by a narrow margin.

Best income potential in this group

Shiawassee's income score of 25.5 is the highest among these eight counties, with a median household income of $64,464. The county offers relatively stronger earning opportunities while maintaining reasonable housing costs at $876/month rent.

Tax burden moderately above average

The tax score of 64.4 reflects a 1.345% effective tax rate, the highest in this comparison set, placing extra pressure on household budgets. Data on schools, safety, and health remain incomplete, leaving some livability questions unanswered.

Best for income-focused working families

Shiawassee suits families where employment income drives relocation decisions, offering above-average earning potential in a balanced regional setting. Workers and professionals will find the strongest income opportunities here, though taxes run slightly higher than peer counties.

Score breakdown

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

Tax64.4Cost78.2SafetyComing SoonHealth75.4SchoolsComing SoonIncome25.5Risk37.8WaterComing Soon
🏛64.4
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠78.2
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼25.5
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤75.4
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡37.8
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 Shiawassee County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Lassen County
California
66.3
Median income: $64,395
Screven County
Georgia
66.3
Median income: $53,017
St. Bernard Parish
Louisiana
66.3
Median income: $57,638
Lowndes County
Mississippi
66.3
Median income: $54,460
Sharkey County
Mississippi
66.3
Median income: $35,741

Deep Dives

Shiawassee County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Shiawassee County

via TaxByCounty

Shiawassee taxes above national median

Shiawassee County's effective tax rate of 1.345% exceeds the national median of 1.0%, placing it in the top 40% of U.S. counties by tax burden. The median property tax bill of $2,214 remains below the national median of $2,690 due to lower home values. Shiawassee homeowners pay a notably higher percentage of their home's value in taxes than the typical American.

15% higher than Michigan average

At 1.345%, Shiawassee County's effective rate significantly exceeds Michigan's state average of 1.166%, ranking it in the upper half of Michigan counties by tax burden. The median property tax of $2,214 surpasses the state median of $2,102 by $112 annually. Shiawassee residents face above-average property tax pressure within the state.

Higher-taxed than most neighbors

Shiawassee's 1.345% effective rate tops Sanilac County (0.917%), Schoolcraft County (1.091%), and St. Joseph County (1.114%), though it falls short of Saginaw County (1.571%). Among the eight-county region, Shiawassee ranks second-highest for tax burden. The county's rate is meaningfully steeper than the majority of surrounding communities.

Median home taxes: $2,214 annually

A typical $164,600 home in Shiawassee County generates roughly $2,214 in annual property taxes at the current effective rate. With mortgage, the total rises to $2,231; without mortgage, it drops to $2,192. This translates to approximately $185 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. Shiawassee County residents paying above-average effective rates 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 meaningfully.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Shiawassee County

via CostByCounty

Shiawassee aligns with national affordability norms

Shiawassee County's rent-to-income ratio of 16.3% matches the national trend perfectly, while its median household income of $64,464 narrows the gap with the U.S. median to $10,291. At $876 monthly rent—only $3 above Michigan's state average—Shiawassee delivers balanced housing costs.

Right at Michigan's affordability baseline

Shiawassee County's 16.3% rent-to-income ratio precisely matches Michigan's state average, placing it squarely in the middle of the state's housing market. Its $876 median rent runs just $3 above the state's $873 median, confirming Shiawassee's alignment with statewide norms.

Mid-range costs among regional peers

Shiawassee's $876 rent ranks in the middle of the comparison region—higher than Sanilac ($814) and Tuscola ($796) but lower than St. Clair ($999). Its 16.3% ratio ties with the state average but trails the affordability of Schoolcraft (13.6%) and Sanilac (16.5%).

Balanced burden across renters and owners

Shiawassee renters spend 16.3% of a $64,464 income on $876 monthly rent, while homeowners allocate 17.6% to a $947 monthly mortgage. The ownership cost runs slightly higher than the rental burden, reflecting the area's median home value of $164,600.

Shiawassee offers middle-ground housing stability

Relocating to Shiawassee means your housing costs will align with Michigan's average affordability profile, with no surprises in either direction. If you seek a county that mirrors statewide housing norms, Shiawassee delivers predictability and balanced market conditions.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Shiawassee County

via IncomeByCounty

Shiawassee closes the national income gap

Shiawassee County's median household income of $64,464 is 14% below the national median of $74,755, making it closer to the U.S. average than most of its peers. The county performs better nationally than Saginaw, Sanilac, and Schoolcraft.

Shiawassee slightly exceeds Michigan average

At $64,464, Shiawassee's median household income is just above Michigan's county average of $64,304, placing it in the middle of the state's 83 counties. This represents solid economic footing for a mid-sized Michigan county.

Shiawassee outearns several regional counties

Shiawassee ($64,464) exceeds Saginaw ($58,347), Sanilac ($59,074), and Schoolcraft ($57,708), but lags behind St. Clair ($69,349) and Van Buren ($66,902). The county occupies the middle of this regional income spectrum.

Housing remains affordable in Shiawassee

With a rent-to-income ratio of 16.3%, Shiawassee residents spend a healthy proportion of earnings on housing. The median home value of $164,600 is manageable on a $64,464 income, supporting both renters and homeowners.

Maximize Shiawassee's above-average earnings

Shiawassee households at $64,464 are positioned to build serious wealth through consistent saving and smart investing. A diversified portfolio mixing index funds, bonds, and employer 401(k) contributions can accumulate to six figures within 20–30 years.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Shiawassee County

via HealthByCounty

Shiawassee Outperforms National Health Metrics

At 76.0 years, Shiawassee County residents live nearly 3 years less than the U.S. average of 79 years, yet the county's 16.0% poor/fair health rate is among the lowest in this dataset and below the national average of 15%. Shiawassee stands out as the healthiest county in this group by both measures.

Shiawassee Ranks Among Michigan's Healthiest

Shiawassee's life expectancy of 76.0 years is just 0.3 years below Michigan's state average, and its 16.0% poor/fair health rate is notably better than the state profile. The county performs in the upper quartile for health outcomes across Michigan. This is one of Michigan's healthier communities.

Shiawassee Leads Peer Health Outcomes

Among its regional peers, Shiawassee's 16.0% poor/fair health rate is superior to Saginaw (20.8%), Sanilac (20.4%), and Tuscola (18.7%). With 37 primary care providers per 100K, Shiawassee has more than Sanilac (32) but fewer than Saginaw (87). Strong health outcomes here reflect both favorable demographics and moderate provider availability.

Low Uninsured Rate, Adequate Provider Access

Shiawassee's 5.5% uninsured rate matches Saginaw's and is well below Michigan's 6.4% average. With 37 primary care providers and 207 mental health providers per 100K, residents have reasonable access to care. This combination of coverage and provider availability supports the county's above-average health outcomes.

Maintain Your Coverage Advantage

Shiawassee residents enjoy strong health insurance penetration, but it's worth reviewing your plan annually to ensure it covers preventive care, prescriptions, and specialists you need. Visit Michigan.gov/HealthInsurance to compare options. If uninsured, the 5.5% gap can close quickly—call 1-800-867-9272 to explore plans today.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Shiawassee County

via RiskByCounty

Shiawassee carries moderate tornado risk

Shiawassee County scores 62.18 on the composite risk scale, placing it above Michigan's state average of 49.56 and in the "Relatively Low" risk category overall. Despite this moderate rating, the county's 86.16 tornado score indicates serious exposure to severe weather events. This mixed profile requires targeted preparedness focused on specific hazards rather than universal disaster protection.

Above-average risk primarily from tornadoes

Shiawassee County ranks in the upper-middle tier of Michigan counties for disaster risk, driven overwhelmingly by above-average tornado exposure. The county's composite score reflects hazard concentration rather than broad exposure—tornado risk dominates the profile while most other hazards remain modest. This specialized risk profile means targeted preparation yields better safety results than generalized approaches.

Tornado-heavy compared to nearby areas

Shiawassee's score of 62.18 sits between lower-risk neighbors Van Buren County (60.46) and St. Joseph County (58.59), making it comparable in overall exposure. However, Shiawassee's tornado risk of 86.16 substantially exceeds both neighbors, while their flood and earthquake risks are somewhat higher. The region shows important variations in hazard type even across similar overall risk scores.

Tornadoes vastly outweigh other threats

Shiawassee County's tornado risk (86.16) is exceptionally high and dominates the disaster risk landscape, while flood risk (55.15) and earthquake exposure (39.41) are moderate. Wildfire risk remains minimal at 8.59, and hurricane exposure is low at 39.51. Residents should anchor disaster preparation around tornado safety—shelter access, warning systems, and wind-resistant construction—above all other concerns.

Tornado shelters and wind coverage first

Given Shiawassee's 86.16 tornado risk, a home safe room or basement shelter is the single most important protective investment residents can make. Verify that homeowners insurance includes comprehensive wind and hail coverage, as tornado damage represents the primary insured loss risk. Regular roof inspections and impact-resistant roofing materials provide cost-effective tornado loss reduction.

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.