Living in Pontiac, MI
Suburb in Michigan
Pontiac is a suburb in Michigan, home to about 62,000 people, with 2.8 million living within 31 mi. Day to day, there is some transit, though many people drive. Life moves at a moderate pace, and homes are a mix of apartments and houses.
Is Pontiac a good place to live? Pros and cons
👍 Pros
- Affordable housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $140k and rents for $1,720 a month
- Mild summers: highs around 80°F
- Strong healthcare: 5 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
- Low natural disaster risk: 5 federally declared disasters since 2000
👎 Cons
- Cloudier than most places
- Fewer graduates: 16% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher
- Higher crime: violent crime is 3.4× the US rate (FBI 2019)
Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Pontiac ranks against your own priorities.
Key facts
Living in Pontiac: common questions
What is the cost of living in Pontiac?
A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $140k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $1,720 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are close to the US average (index 100, where the US is 100).
What are taxes like in Pontiac?
Michigan collects about $1,246 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 1.15% of their home's value in property tax each year.
Is Pontiac safe?
Violent crime is well above the national rate (3.4× in FBI 2019 data).
What is the weather like in Pontiac?
Pontiac has cold winters: winter days average around 34°F and summer days around 80°F, with roughly 36″ of snow a year.
Does Pontiac get natural disasters?
Natural disaster risk is low, mainly from flooding, tornadoes and cold waves: 5 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.71 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.
What is the nearest major airport to Pontiac?
The nearest major airport is DTW, about 30 mi away.
How Pontiac scores
Each bar compares Pontiac with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).
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Is Pontiac right for you?
Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.