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Living in Washington, MI

Suburb in Michigan

Washington is a suburb in Michigan, home to about 28,000 people, with 2.2 million living within 31 mi. Day to day, a car is essential. Life moves at a relaxed pace, and homes are mostly houses.

Is Washington a good place to live? Pros and cons

👍 Pros

  • Mild summers: highs around 80°F
  • Strong healthcare: 4 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
  • Low natural disaster risk: 4 federally declared disasters since 2000
  • Great outdoors: plenty of parks

👎 Cons

  • Cloudier than most places
  • Quieter on culture: few museums and attractions nearby

Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Washington ranks against your own priorities.

Key facts

Population
28,000
2.2 million within 31 mi
Winter / summer highs
34°F / 80°F
Average daily highs · 36″ snow a year
3-bedroom home
$454k
Typical value (Zillow)
3-bedroom rent
$1,720/mo
Incl. utilities (HUD)
Cost of living
100
US average = 100 (BEA)
Taxes
$1,246
State income tax per resident · 1.15% property tax
Safety
No data
Not in FBI 2019 city table
Natural disasters
4 since 2000
Declared in the county · mainly flooding, tornadoes
Top-rated hospitals
4
4–5★ within 31 mi (CMS)
Public schools
Good
Tests above US average · 18 students per teacher
Adults with a degree
35%
2 research universities within 31 mi
Nearest major airport
DTW
41 mi away

Living in Washington: common questions

What is the cost of living in Washington?

A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $454k, 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 Washington?

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 Washington safe?

Washington isn't in the FBI's 2019 city crime table, so Best Life Fit Me counts its safety as average.

How are the schools in Washington?

Public schools in Washington test above the US average in math and reading (2018–19 state tests, put on one national scale with NAEP), with about 18 students per teacher.

What is the weather like in Washington?

Washington has cold winters: winter days average around 34°F and summer days around 80°F, with roughly 36″ of snow a year.

Does Washington get natural disasters?

Natural disaster risk is low, mainly from flooding, tornadoes and cold waves: 4 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.65 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.

What is the nearest major airport to Washington?

The nearest major airport is DTW, about 41 mi away.

How Washington scores

Each bar compares Washington with the other 1,990 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).

🏙️City sizeSmall city Major metroSmall town
🏘️Urban or quietQuiet / rural Dense & urbanQuiet / rural
🚶Getting aroundCar essential Walk & transitCar essential
🌲Culture or natureNature nearby Culture & nightlifeNature on the doorstep
🌡️ClimateCold winters Warm all yearLong, snowy winters
💰Cost of livingAverage cost Very expensiveVery affordable
⏱️PaceRelaxed Very fast-pacedSlow & calm
🤝CommunityTight-knit community AnonymousTight-knit community
🏡HousingMostly houses ApartmentsHouses with yards
🏷️Affordable housingGood
💸Low taxesGood
💼Job marketAverage
🏥HealthcareExcellent
🏫SchoolsGood
🎓EducationAverage
🧸Kids & familyAverage
🐕Dog-friendlyGood
⛰️OutdoorsGood
🎭CulturePoor
👮SafetyNo crime data (counted as average)
🌪️Few natural disastersExcellent
☀️SunnyPoor
🌤️Mild summersExcellent
✈️AirportGood

Places like Washington

These places have the most similar overall profile across all 24 aspects.

The circle is each place's all-round score out of 100: the average of its 15 quality scores, from red (poor) to green (excellent).

Independence, MISuburb70 $410k$1,720/moVery safe East Hempfield, PASmall city64 $390k$1,980/moNo crime data Chesterfield, MISuburb64 $350k$1,720/moVery safe White Lake, MISuburb69 $376k$1,720/moVery safe Orion, MISuburb69 $350k$1,720/moVery safe Upper Macungie, PASmall city68 $458k$2,090/moNo crime data

Nearby

Shelby, MISuburb · 6 mi away68 $234k$1,720/moVery safe Rochester Hills, MISuburb · 9 mi away69 $401k$1,720/moVery safe Macomb, MISuburb · 9 mi away65 $417k$1,720/moNo crime data Orion, MISuburb · 11 mi away69 $350k$1,720/moVery safe Sterling Heights, MISuburb · 13 mi away64 $310k$1,720/moVery safe Troy, MISuburb · 13 mi away72 $387k$1,720/moVery safe

See all the best places to live in Michigan.

Is Washington right for you?

Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.

Take the free quiz →

Sources: US Census ACS 2019–2023, Census State Tax Collections FY2025, Zillow 3-bedroom ZHVI, HUD Fair Market Rents, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, FBI 2019, FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, OpenFEMA disaster declarations, NOAA Normals 1991–2020, NASA POWER, CMS, NCES IPEDS 2023, IMLS, OpenStreetMap. How scores work.