Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
3.3 times the nonprofits per person than the typical Michigan town.
Hillsdale gives you more for your money than most places: homes are within reach, about $205K for a typical one, or 3.2 years of the Hillsdale area’s $64K median household income. It grades B− overall, ranked 420th of 697 in Michigan. The low prices come with trade-offs. The median household income is $51K, and 23% of residents live below the poverty line. On the plus side, it is easier to get around on foot or by transit than 88% of U.S. towns. History is its standout character grade: an A+, better than 97% of U.S. towns, with 2 places on the National Register. 23% of residents live below the poverty line in Hillsdale, where Michigan’s towns sit at 8.9% and U.S. towns at 9.6%. Hillsdale's civic life (library use, community groups, volunteering) is stronger than in 99% of U.S. towns. Only 21 of Michigan’s 1,279 towns score higher on history.
Where Hillsdale beats most towns.
Hillsdale County CourthouseEach subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Michigan), ordered by how far Hillsdale is from typical.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Census counts: 1,067 in 1850, 8,036 in 2020. The archive holds 12 old photos and papers going back to 1908 and 4 maps from 1959 on.
2 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Hillsdale, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 12, 2025.
Ordered by what stands out in Hillsdale.
Hillsdale draws workers from Cambria Township and beyond, is healthier than towns with similar incomes and has seen reported crime fall by a fifth or more.
4,862 jobs are based in Hillsdale, 1.6 for every working resident, so most of the people who work here commute in. The average commute takes 14.9 minutes, against 24.2 across Michigan.
About one in 3 of Hillsdale’s working residents works in town. The average trip to work in Hillsdale is 15 minutes. Since 2011, Hillsdale has added 1,689 jobs, to 4,862 in 2021.
| Hillsdale | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 29% | 5.9% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 15 minutes | 25 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $51,000 | $77,000 | $80,000 |
| Work from home | 7% | 10% | 11% |
Census LEHD 2021 · ACS
Its public schools are run by the Hillsdale Community Schools. Two of its 8 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is Hillsdale High School, with 370 students.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gier Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–4 | Grades K–4 | 434 | C |
| Hillsdale High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 370 | B |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within MI on state tests and graduation
3.0 miles of trail in 8 parks and preserves. The biggest park or preserve is Hillsdale Wildlife Sanctuary, at 135 acres.
| Hillsdale | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.5 miles per square mile | 0.3 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 3.3% | 4.4% | 4.3% |
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Hillsdale Wildlife Sanctuary | — | 135 |
| 2. Field of Dreams Park | — | 58 |
| 3. Owens Park | — | 37 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 83% of U.S. communities. Since 1978, 4 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Hillsdale.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Hillsdale’s median age is 29.6 years. Adults 18 to 34 are 35% of residents (22% statewide); adults 35 to 64 are 30% of residents (38% statewide). 15% of Hillsdale residents are 65 or older.
| Hillsdale | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 29.6 years | 42.5 years | 40.5 years |
| Aged 65 or older | 15% | 19% | 18% |
| Under 18 | 20% | 21% | 22% |
52% women, 48% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±3 points. Across Michigan, 50.4% of residents are women.
| Hillsdale | MI | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 10% | 11.2% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 10.2% | 10.1% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 25.2% | 9.2% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 10.1% | 13.2% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 13.2% | 12.2% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 7.1% | 12% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 9.7% | 13.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 7.4% | 11.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 7.1% | 7.4% | 7% |
| No diploma | 7.5% | 7.9% | 10.4% |
| High school | 39.2% | 28% | 26% |
| Some college | 19.2% | 21.9% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 8% | 9.8% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 15.3% | 19.7% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 10.8% | 12.7% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
54% of households own their home in Hillsdale. Typical home values rose 5.3% in the year to September 2026.
| Hillsdale | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 54% | 84% | 73% |
| Median rent | $812 a month | $1,047 a month | $1,185 a month |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Against the 6,137 U.S. towns with household incomes like Hillsdale’s, it is healthier than 70%, so its C isn’t only a matter of income.
Among 701 Michigan towns, just 5 have a higher share of adults who have been diagnosed with depression than Hillsdale. Hillsdale beats the Michigan average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 7.
| Hillsdale | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 32% | 27% | 23% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 22% | 18% | 17% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 36% | 32% | 33% |
| Food insecurity (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 14% | 14% |
| What stands out | Hillsdale | MI |
|---|---|---|
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 16.3% | 10.2% |
| More adults with depression | 32% | 25.7% |
| More adults without reliable transportation | 10.3% | 8.3% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Hillsdale has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers. July afternoons reach 82°, January nights drop to 16° and about 44 inches of snow falls in a winter.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Reported crimes fell from 107 to 80 over the last three FBI years, a drop beyond ordinary year-to-year swings.
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Hillsdale. Close and well known come first.
29 mi MuseumAmerican Museum of Magic27 mi Theme parkFun Spot Amusement Park & Zoo35 mi Zoo & aquariumBinder Park Zoo
in town GardenSlayton Arboretum
28 mi GardenHidden Lake Gardens
4 mi MuseumE.O. Grosvenor HouseAmerican Museum of Magic: rossograph, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Slayton Arboretum: Brother Atticus, CC0 · Hidden Lake Gardens: Dwight Burdette, CC BY 3.0 · E.O. Grosvenor House: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain
1 within 15 miles of the center of Hillsdale
College town 20 of every 100 Hillsdale residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Michigan.
Where Hillsdale’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2021
2 places in Hillsdale on the National Register of Historic Places.
14 notable people were born in Hillsdale.
City in Michigan, United States
Hillsdale is the largest city in Hillsdale County, Michigan, United States, and its county seat. The population was 8,036 at the 2020 census. It is the home of Hillsdale College, a private liberal arts college.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
4 towns share a border with Hillsdale.
| Town | MI rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hillsdale | #420 | B− | B+ | B− | B− | C |
| Fayette Township | — | — | B | — | B− | C− |
| Hillsdale Township | — | — | B | — | B− | C |
| Cambria Township | #522 | C | B+ | — | B− | C− |
| Jefferson Township | #593 | C− | B+ | — | C+ | C− |
Fayette Township and Hillsdale Township have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. Fayette Township, Hillsdale Township, Cambria Township and Jefferson Township report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare Hillsdale with a neighbor →
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Hillsdale grades B− overall, better than 46% of U.S. towns and #420 of 697 in Michigan. It grades C for health, B− for safety and B− for schools. Jobs & income is its weak spot, with a C−.
Not for the area. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B+.
14 notable people were born here, including David Todd Wilkinson and Jason Robards.
