Carleton 72 Excellent
Carleton Livability #234 ranked city in Michigan#5,926 ranked city in the USARanks better than 79% of areas
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Pros and Cons of Living in Carleton

PROS
  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    The overall cost of living in this area is much lower than average. This includes everyday goods and services, as well as housing, utilities and health care.

  • Crime Crime

    With a lower than average crime rate per 100,000 people, this area could be considered a very safe place to live. Crime rates are based on both violent and property crimes.

  • Housing Housing

    This area has received high scores in the housing category. This could be due to a positive home affordability ratio, high appreciation rates or elevated home values.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    A high score in the health and safety category is a result of good air quality and the accessibility to health facilities such as hospitals, clinics, doctors, pharmacies and fire stations.

CONS
  • Amenities Amenities

    A majority of amenities are not ideally situated within a reasonable walking distance, which may lead residents to rely on a vehicle or public transportation.

  • Commute Commute

    Public transportation is not readily available in this area and the average commute time to work could also be longer than the national average.

  • Schools Schools

    Lower than average education levels, poor reading and math scores, as well as the inaccessibility of local elementary and high schools could all be factors in the low schools score.

What's it like Living in Carleton?

Carleton, Michigan is a small-sized city with a population of 2,527 people. At 95%, the majority of the Carleton population is White; this is followed by 0% Black and 0% Asian. Long, unnecessary commutes can be both frustrating and inconvenient when heading to work. Nationwide, the average one-way commute time takes 26 minutes, but regrettably, residing in Carleton entails a longer-than-average one-way commute time, averaging 31 minutes.

Whether you’re relocating to a new city to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Carleton could be a positive experience compared to other cities in Michigan if you know where to search. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. Using the livability score which includes data from categories like crime, commute, employment, housing, you can easily compare the best places to live in Carleton and also determine if there are any nearby cities that might be a better match for your lifestyle. You can also compare Carleton to Michigan and the national average.

With a livability score of 71/100, Carleton is ranked #5,877 in the United States and #240 in Michigan. If we examine each of the categories individually, we see that Carleton ranks well for crime (A), cost of living (A+) and housing (A+). Regrettably for Carleton, there are some categories for which it does not score well, this includes: amenities (F), education (D-) and employment (D).

A robust real estate market serves as a crucial economic indicator, reflecting the local area's strength, stability and the confidence of its residents. Carleton excels in the housing sector, scoring high marks based on factors such as median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability. These calculations suggest that the apartment rental and real estate market in the region is exceptionally healthy, highlighting the area's economic vitality and attractiveness to potential homebuyers and renters.

Certain items on your wish list like shopping, restaurants, nightlife, parks and proximity to public transportation are all important things to look for. Having said that, perhaps the most important metric to consider when contemplating a move to Carleton is real estate affordability. The median home price for Carleton homes is $232,148, which is 1.6% lower than the Michigan average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Carleton, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 3.2, which is 0% lower than the Michigan average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Carleton

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How Do You Rate The Livability In Carleton?

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Compare Carleton, MI Livability

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      Carleton transportation information

      Statistic Carleton Michigan National
      Average one way commute31min24min26min
      Workers who drive to work87.5%82.5%76.4%
      Workers who carpool9.5%8.8%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.0%1.4%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.0%0.5%0.6%
      Workers who walk1.5%2.2%2.8%
      Working from home1.4%3.7%4.6%
      Source: The Carleton, MI data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.