Cost of living in Norton Shores research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Norton Shores is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.
On a city-by-city basis in Michigan, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:
The cost of living index in Norton Shores is 93, with 100 being the average.
The cost of living index in Norton Shores is 0.9x lower than the national average.
Norton Shores ranks as the #89 cheapest in Michigan out of 180.
Norton Shores ranks as the #1,658 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.
The median home value in Norton Shores is $285,484.
The median income in Norton Shores is $73,390.
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Norton Shores has an overall cost of living index of 93, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Michigan, Norton Shores has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Michigan's index of 90.
The standard of living in Norton Shores ranks as #89 most affordable out of the 180 places we measured in Michigan. By definition, that implies Norton Shores ranks as the #91 most expensive place in the Wolverine State.
For more reading on life in Norton Shores, check out:
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Norton Shores. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Norton Shores is 92.
The Groceries index in Norton Shores is 93.
The Health index in Norton Shores is 95.
The Housing index in Norton Shores is 89.
The Transportation index in Norton Shores is 97.
The Utilities index in Norton Shores is 101.
| Living Expense | Norton Shores | Michigan | National Average | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 93 | 90 | 100 | |
| Services | 92 | 93 | 100 | |
| Groceries | 93 | 97 | 100 | |
| Health | 95 | 91 | 100 | |
| Housing | 89 | 72 | 100 | |
| Transportation | 97 | 96 | 100 | |
| Utilities | 101 | 99 | 100 | |
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Michigan, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2019-2023. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Norton Shores is $285,484.
The Median Rent in Norton Shores is $1,286.
The Median Income in Norton Shores is $73,390.
The Home Value To Income in Norton Shores is 3.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Norton Shores is 0.21x.
| Statistic | Norton Shores | Michigan | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $285,484 | $258,642 | $303,400 |
| Median Rent | $1,286 | $1,084 | $1,348 |
| Median Income | $73,390 | $71,149 | $78,538 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.9x | 3.6x | 3.9x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.21x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
| Item | Norton Shores | Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.4 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $11.22 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $22.17 | $18 |
| Haircut | $24.53 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $56.27 | $45.56 |
| Item | Norton Shores | Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.51 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.69 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.84 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.77 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.99 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.38 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.64 | $3.7 |
| Item | Norton Shores | Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $91.4 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $139.14 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $120.35 | $113.29 |
| Item | Norton Shores | Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.42 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $60.57 | $59.92 |
| Item | Norton Shores | Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $180.47 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $184.98 | $192.25 |
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Norton Shores. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Wyoming, MI has a cost of living index of 90, 1.0x Norton Shores.
Kentwood, MI has a cost of living index of 93, 1.0x Norton Shores.
Muskegon, MI has a cost of living index of 79, 0.8x Norton Shores.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Norton Shores |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wyoming, MI | 76,865 | 90 | 1.0x |
| Kentwood, MI | 54,114 | 93 | 1.0x |
| Muskegon, MI | 37,203 | 79 | 0.8x |
| Forest Hills, MI | 28,494 | 118 | 1.3x |
| Cutlerville, MI | 19,465 | 93 | 1.0x |
| Jenison, MI | 17,334 | 101 | 1.1x |
| Northview, MI | 15,225 | 94 | 1.0x |
| East Grand Rapids, MI | 11,394 | 123 | 1.3x |
| Grand Haven, MI | 10,966 | 91 | 1.0x |
| Muskegon Heights, MI | 9,902 | 78 | 0.8x |