States › Michigan › Harper Woods

Is Harper Woods, MI expensive to live in?

ExpensiveRent takes 33 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,94211% higher than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$70,126about $5,844/month · 19% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$157,20053% lower than U.S. average

Rent is higher than in 66% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs under 3 years of household income, which is easy by U.S. standards.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $77,680 a year. That is $37 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other Michigan cities?

No. Rent here is more expensive than in most of Michigan. It is number 167 of 179 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Harper Woods
$1,942
Berkley
$1,905
Northview
$1,612
Hazel Park
$1,526
Mount Clemens
$1,132
Traverse City
$1,673
Owosso
$696

How much do households earn in Harper Woods?

Under $25k
16.1%
$25k–50k
24.3%
$50k–100k
33.4%
$100k–150k
15.6%
$150k+
4.7%

Share of households by yearly income. 20.3% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Harper Woods

SizeHarper WoodsU.S. average
1 bedroom$1,086$1,324
2 bedrooms$1,649$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,470$1,698
4 bedrooms$2,217$2,098

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is Harper Woods overall?

Everyday prices in Michigan overall are 4% below the U.S. average (index 96.2, U.S. = 100).

Housing
82
Goods (food, clothes…)
96
Utilities
100
Other services
101
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Harper Woods, so the Michigan figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Harper Woods

🏛️ Property tax$3,433a year · 2.18% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$199a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Harper Woods

Commute to work26.4 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree26.1%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home67.1%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line19.8%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment7.1%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Harper Woods?

Buying is cheaper month to month: about $851 a month less than renting.

Renting
$1,942
Owning
$1,091

Owning assumes a typical $157,200 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $15,720 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Harper Woods, MI?

Renting in Harper Woods costs a median of about $1,942 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Michigan median is $1,314.

How much do I need to make to live in Harper Woods?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $77,680 a year, or $37 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Harper Woods cheap or expensive?

Harper Woods is rated Expensive: rent takes 33.2% of the typical household income of $70,126. It ranks 167th cheapest of 179 Michigan cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Harper Woods?

The median homeowner in Harper Woods pays $3,433 a year in property taxes, about 2.18% of the median home value.

Is Harper Woods more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in Michigan are 4% below the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in Harper Woods?

The median home value in Harper Woods is $157,200, about 2.2 times the typical yearly household income.

15,116 people live in Harper Woods. Numbers are typical (middle) values.