CountyScore

Van Buren County

Michigan · MI

#64 in Michigan
65.4
County Score

County Report Card

About Van Buren County, Michigan

Van Buren ranks among top U.S. counties

Van Buren County's composite score of 67.2 exceeds the national median of 50.0, placing it in the 84th percentile across all U.S. counties. The county demonstrates solid livability performance that outpaces the typical American community.

Slightly below Michigan's county average

At 67.2, Van Buren falls 1.5 points below Michigan's average of 68.7, ranking just outside the state's top tier. The county remains a competitive choice within Michigan's regional landscape.

Strong income and reasonable costs combine

Van Buren's income score of 27.1 supports a median household income of $66,902, offering solid earning potential for a rural county. The cost score of 78.0 with $845/month rent keeps housing reasonably accessible at $189,900 median value.

Tax burden edges slightly higher

The tax score of 66.1 and 1.287% effective rate rank among the higher end in this county group, placing modest pressure on household finances. Data on schools, health, and safety remain pending, limiting the full livability picture.

Good for established working families

Van Buren suits working families with decent incomes who accept moderate housing costs and slightly higher taxes for stable rural living. The county balances earning potential and affordability reasonably well for those seeking traditional Midwest community character.

Score breakdown

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

Tax66.1Cost78SafetyComing SoonHealth69.5SchoolsComing SoonIncome27.1Risk39.5WaterComing Soon
🏛66.1
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠78
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼27.1
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤69.5
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡39.5
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 Van Buren County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Barrow County
Georgia
65.4
Median income: $77,477
Grady County
Georgia
65.4
Median income: $54,312
Tattnall County
Georgia
65.4
Median income: $52,351
Vanderburgh County
Indiana
65.4
Median income: $60,938
Barber County
Kansas
65.4
Median income: $57,615

Deep Dives

Van Buren County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Van Buren County

via TaxByCounty

Van Buren taxes above national median

Van Buren County's effective tax rate of 1.287% exceeds the national median of 1.0%, placing it in the top 42% of U.S. counties by tax burden. The median property tax bill of $2,444 is $246 below the national median of $2,690, reflecting somewhat lower regional home values. Van Buren homeowners pay a notably higher percentage of their home's value in taxes than the typical American.

10% higher than Michigan average

At 1.287%, Van Buren County's effective rate exceeds Michigan's state average of 1.166%, ranking it in the upper-middle tier of Michigan counties by tax burden. The median property tax of $2,444 exceeds the state median of $2,102 by $342 annually. Van Buren residents face above-average property tax pressure within the state.

Higher-taxed than most neighbors

Van Buren's 1.287% effective rate tops Sanilac County (0.917%), Schoolcraft County (1.091%), St. Joseph County (1.114%), and St. Clair County (1.165%), though it trails Saginaw County (1.571%) and Shiawassee County (1.345%). Among the eight-county region, Van Buren ranks fourth-highest for tax burden. The county's rate is steeper than most surrounding communities.

Median home taxes: $2,444 annually

A typical $189,900 home in Van Buren County generates roughly $2,444 in annual property taxes at the current effective rate. With mortgage, taxes rise to $2,534; without mortgage, they fall to $2,290. This amounts to approximately $204 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. Van Buren 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 Van Buren County

via CostByCounty

Van Buren offers above-average housing affordability

Van Buren County's rent-to-income ratio of 15.2% sits notably below the national average, with median household income of $66,902 coming within $7,853 of the U.S. median. At $845 monthly rent, Van Buren delivers solid housing access compared to national patterns.

Better than Michigan's affordability baseline

Van Buren County ranks above Michigan's state average on housing affordability, with a 15.2% rent-to-income ratio below the state's 16.3% and median rent at $845—$28 below Michigan's $873 median. The county delivers stronger affordability than Saginaw and St. Clair.

Mid-tier affordability with highest home values

Van Buren's $845 rent ranks mid-region, higher than Schoolcraft ($654) and Tuscola ($796) but lower than Shiawassee ($876) and St. Clair ($999). However, Van Buren's median home value of $189,900 ranks second-highest regionally, suggesting established neighborhoods with premium land values.

Strong income offsets higher ownership costs

Van Buren renters spend 15.2% of a $66,902 income on $845 monthly rent, while homeowners allocate a higher 17.9% to $1,000 monthly mortgages on homes valued at $189,900. The income strength helps absorb elevated ownership costs without severe budget stress.

Van Buren suits buyers seeking established areas

Relocating to Van Buren County works well if you're seeking homeownership; at 17.9%, the mortgage-to-income ratio remains manageable for a county with $189,900 median home values. Renters get solid value at 15.2%, though home prices suggest the market rewards buyers over renters.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Van Buren County

via IncomeByCounty

Van Buren approaches national income levels

Van Buren County's median household income of $66,902 is 10% below the national median of $74,755, making it one of the stronger earners in this group nationally. The county's proximity to the national average suggests decent economic activity.

Van Buren exceeds Michigan county average

At $66,902, Van Buren's median household income surpasses Michigan's county average of $64,304 by $2,598, placing it in the state's upper-middle tier. The county ranks above average among Michigan's 83 counties.

Van Buren ranks second among peer counties

Van Buren ($66,902) ranks second only to St. Clair ($69,349) in this eight-county group, outearning Shiawassee ($64,464), St. Joseph ($64,707), Tuscola ($62,847), and all lower-income peers. The county demonstrates strong regional economic performance.

Van Buren housing affordable despite higher values

With a rent-to-income ratio of 15.2%, Van Buren offers excellent housing affordability; the median home value of $189,900 remains accessible on a $66,902 income. Higher property values don't strain household budgets here.

Van Buren families can accelerate wealth growth

At $66,902, Van Buren households are positioned to save aggressively and diversify investments across real estate, stocks, and bonds. Strategic use of Roth IRAs, HSAs, and taxable brokerage accounts creates multiple pathways to six-figure net worth.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Van Buren County

via HealthByCounty

Van Buren Life Expectancy Below U.S. Baseline

At 75.5 years, Van Buren County residents live about 3.5 years less than the U.S. average of 79 years. The 20.3% poor/fair health rate exceeds the national average of 15%, reflecting significant health challenges. Van Buren ranks among the more stressed health communities in Michigan.

Van Buren Below Michigan State Average

Van Buren's life expectancy of 75.5 years is 0.8 years below Michigan's state average of 76.3 years. The 20.3% poor/fair health rate is substantially higher than the state profile. Van Buren performs in the lower half of Michigan counties on both health measures.

Van Buren Has Moderate Provider Access

With 50 primary care providers per 100K, Van Buren has better primary care availability than Sanilac (32), Tuscola (30), or St. Joseph (28). However, its 153 mental health providers per 100K are the lowest in this dataset—less than half the state median. Mental health support is a critical gap despite adequate primary care.

Higher Uninsured Rate, Mental Health Desert

Van Buren's 7.3% uninsured rate is among the highest in this group, exceeding Michigan's 6.4% average. While primary care availability is reasonable at 50 per 100K, mental health providers at 153 per 100K are scarce. Uninsured residents face particular hardship accessing behavioral health services.

Coverage and Mental Health Support Await

Van Buren's 7.3% uninsured population should act quickly to enroll through Medicaid or ACA plans—many include mental health benefits. Call 1-800-867-9272 or visit Michigan.gov/HealthInsurance today. Insured residents should explore telehealth mental health options to bridge the county's severe mental health provider shortage.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Van Buren County

via RiskByCounty

Van Buren faces moderate disaster exposure

Van Buren County scores 60.46 on the composite risk scale, placing it above Michigan's state average of 49.56 and in the "Relatively Low" risk category. This moderate exposure reflects meaningful hazard presence, particularly from tornadoes, without approaching the state's highest-risk areas. The county's risk profile is manageable through thoughtful preparedness strategies.

Above-average risk for Michigan overall

Van Buren County ranks in the middle tier of Michigan counties for disaster risk, with a composite score about 22% above the state average. This positioning places the county above roughly half of Michigan's counties while remaining well below the state's most hazardous regions. Residents face moderately above-average but not extreme disaster exposure.

Comparable to nearby regional counties

Van Buren's score of 60.46 sits in the lower end of its regional grouping, slightly exceeding St. Joseph County (58.59) and falling well below Shiawassee County (62.18). This three-county cluster exhibits consistent moderate-to-slightly-above-average disaster risk across the region. Geographic and weather patterns create relatively uniform hazard exposure across these neighboring communities.

Tornado and flood risks drive profile

Van Buren County faces tornado risk (77.04) and flood risk (62.02) as its primary hazards, both above state average but not extreme. Earthquake exposure (52.89) is moderate, while wildfire risk remains low at 26.40 and hurricane risk minimal at 29.04. Residents should prioritize tornado shelter access and flood-aware property management as core preparedness elements.

Wind coverage and selective flood insurance

Van Buren residents should verify that homeowners insurance includes robust wind and hail coverage adequate for the county's 77.04 tornado risk. While countywide flood risk is moderate at 62.02, residents in flood-prone areas should seriously consider separate flood insurance. Professional roof assessment and impact-resistant roofing materials provide 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.