salaryRent is lower than in 85% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs under 3 years of household income, which is easy by U.S. standards. Most homes (80.6%) are owned, so rentals can be hard to find.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $41,640 a year. That is $20 an hour at a full-time job.
Is rent cheaper than other Michigan cities?
Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of Michigan. It is number 45 of 179 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Shields?
Share of households by yearly income. 26.2% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Shields
| Size | Shields | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | $892 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,023 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,579 | $1,698 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Shields overall?
Everyday prices in Michigan overall are 4% below the U.S. average (index 96.2, U.S. = 100).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Shields, so the Michigan figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Shields
Life in Shields
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Shields?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $170 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $174,500 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $17,450 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Shields, MI?
Renting in Shields costs a median of about $1,041 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Michigan median is $1,314.
How much do I need to make to live in Shields?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $41,640 a year, or $20 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Shields cheap or expensive?
Shields is rated Cheap: rent takes 14.1% of the typical household income of $88,572. It ranks 45th cheapest of 179 Michigan cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Shields?
The median homeowner in Shields pays $2,768 a year in property taxes, about 1.59% of the median home value.
Is Shields 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 Shields?
The median home value in Shields is $174,500, about 2.0 times the typical yearly household income.
7,402 people live in Shields. Numbers are typical (middle) values.