KLSC 85 at Paw Paw, December 1988, 1988
Paw Paw’s story
192 years in pictures
Census counts: 1,428 in 1870, 3,362 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1910 and 2 maps from 1944 on.
- 1834Paw Paw is settled
Paw PawMI
A town of 3,386, settled in 1834.
2 bordering townsMap →
Photo: Lawrence G. Miller (Lawrence G. Miller on en.wikipedia) · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
3,386
2025 Census estimate · +0.4% since 2020
Typical home
$276K
+3.8% in a year
Household income
$42K
median
Median age
35.6
years
Jobs based here
2,524
A job hub
TownGrade
C−
#577 of 697 in MI
Is Paw Paw a good place to live?
Paw Paw gives you more for your money than most places: a typical home costs about $276K, 4.1 years of the county’s $68K median household income. It grades C− overall, 577th of 697 graded towns in Michigan. The low prices come with trade-offs. Its police reported 14 violent crimes reported to the FBI in 2025, a higher rate per resident than 95% of U.S. towns, and the median household income is $42K, and 22% of residents live below the poverty line. On the plus side, it is more walkable than 92% of U.S. towns. Paw Paw’s property crime rate is 40.4 per 1,000 residents, where Michigan’s towns sit at 7.8 and U.S. towns at 9.9. Only 103 of Michigan’s 1,279 towns score higher on history. Paw Paw's civic life (library use, community groups, volunteering) is stronger than in 85% of U.S. towns.
What makes Paw Paw stand out
Where Paw Paw beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
WalkabilityA
More walkable than 92% of U.S. towns
11.4% of workers walk, bike or ride transit
EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.
Jobs vs. working residents
Jobs here2,524
Residents who work1,368
Work
1.8 jobs for every working resident
A regional job hub: more jobs per worker than 91% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2021.
DSafety Grade
Worth knowing · SafetyD
Safety Grade D on FBI data
FBI data, 2025. Crimes reported to police.
A job hub
Every workday, about 2,385 people come to Paw Paw for work
Where Paw Paw’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
2,524jobs based in Paw Paw
10%of working residents work in town
16 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2021
How Paw Paw grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Michigan), ordered by how far Paw Paw is from typical.
SafetyDOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 8.9 of 20; 9.8% of households have no carAOpen →Jobs & income2,524 jobs based hereC−Open →HealthBronson Lakeview Hospital 0.6 miles awayCOpen →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 30% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listB+Open →Cost of livingB+Open →SchoolsBeat 57% of Michigan districts on tests and graduationBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors2 miles of trailsB+Open →History9 notable people born hereAOpen →Civic life4.3 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsA−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
ClimateSnowy winters, 84° summer afternoons, 109″ of snow–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 35.6; 15% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Paw Paw: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Paw Paw, and how to reach them.
PowerVillage of Paw PawEIAHIFLD · EIA
WaterPaw Paw water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet8 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Paw Paw’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Michigan you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before).vote.govWho runs elections herePaw Paw Township ClerkPaw Paw Township; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2026
ZIP code4907949079 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 12, 2025.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Paw Paw.
Paw Paw draws workers from Paw Paw Township and beyond, gets more snow than nearly all U.S. towns and is healthier than towns with similar incomes.
SafetyD
For safety, Paw Paw earns a D
Property crime runs at 40.4 per 1,000 residents, 3 times the Michigan rate, most of it theft.
Paw Paw’s violent crime rate is 4.1 per 1,000 residents. Paw Paw reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 95% report less.
5%of U.S. towns report more crimeDSafety Grade
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Paw Paw4.1
Michigan4.3
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Paw Paw40.4
Michigan13
U.S.15.5
5th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
6th
percentile among MI towns
14
violent crimes reported in 2025
138
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C−
The median household income in Paw Paw is lower than in the typical Michigan or U.S. town
2,524 jobs are based in Paw Paw, 1.8 for every working resident, so most of the people who work here commute in. The average commute takes 18 minutes, against 24.2 across Michigan.
The average trip to work in Paw Paw is 18 minutes. Most working residents leave Paw Paw for work: only 10% work in town. The top destinations are Paw Paw Township (13%), Kalamazoo (12%) and Antwerp Township (11%).
10%work in town
| Paw Paw | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 18 minutes | 25 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $42,000 | $77,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 10% | 5.9% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Paw Paw10%
Paw Paw Township13%
Kalamazoo12%
Antwerp Township11%
Portage8%
16 mi
median commute distance
2,524
jobs based in Paw Paw
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
A
Walkability grade: more walkable than 92% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2021 · ACS
OutdoorsB+
Paw Paw has set aside 3% of its land for conservation
2.2 miles of trail in 4 parks and preserves.
#198for trails in MI
| Paw Paw | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.8 miles per square mile | 0.3 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 3% | 4.4% | 4.3% |
3%
conserved · 54 of 1,838 acres
2.2 mi
of trails · 0.8 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Tyler Field | — | 11 |
| 2. Sunset Park | 0.1 mi | 5 |
| 3. Maple Island | — | 4 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
HealthC
Health in Paw Paw trails 74% of U.S. towns
Against the 2,878 U.S. towns with household incomes like Paw Paw’s, it is healthier than 77%, so its C isn’t only a matter of income.
Paw Paw beats the Michigan average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 1. 29% of Paw Paw adults have been diagnosed with depression.
26%healthier than U.S. townsCHealth Grade
| Paw Paw | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 27% | 23% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 18% | 17% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 14% | 14% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 15% | 14% |
32 measures vs. Michigan
0 better31 too close to call1 worse
| What stands out | Paw Paw | MI |
|---|---|---|
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 12.8% | 10.2% |
Bronson Lakeview Hospital
0.6 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental
23rd
percentile among MI towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B+
Low risk in Paw Paw, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 70% of U.S. communities.
30risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesHail
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
Snowy winters and pleasant summers in Paw Paw
The Bloomingdale weather station, 12 miles away, records that 109 inches of snow fall in a normal winter, more than in 98% of U.S. towns.
Paw Paw has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers. July afternoons reach 84° and January nights drop to 18°.
109″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter20–35°
Spring37–59°
Summer59–82°
Fall42–62°
Oct 11
typical first frost
May 7
typical last frost
+1.4°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
HousingCost of living grade B+
Compared with most of Michigan and the rest of the country, fewer of Paw Paw’s households own their home
49% of households own their home in Paw Paw. The typical Paw Paw home is worth about $276,000, up 3.8% in a year, close to the Michigan typical home.
$276KZillow home value
| Paw Paw | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 49% | 84% | 73% |
| Median rent | $761 a month | $1,047 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Paw Paw$276K
Michigan$264K
+3.8%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Nearby attractions
All 34 attractions →Notre Dame Stadium and 15 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Paw Paw. Close and well known come first.
Big draw40 mi Stadium & arenaNotre Dame Stadium
17 mi Theme parkAir Zoo
40 mi CaveGrotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, Notre Dame
34 mi Ancient siteFort St. Joseph
29 mi MuseumGilmore Car Museum87K visitors a year
16 mi MuseumKalamazoo Institute of ArtsSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Notre Dame Stadium: Tysto, Public domain · Air Zoo: User:my name, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, Notre Dame: Know1one1, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Fort St. Joseph: Chris Light (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0 · Gilmore Car Museum: Kevin S. Forsyth, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Kalamazoo Institute of Arts: 72elyod, CC BY-SA 3.0
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Paw Paw
20pages on Paw Paw
The big questions
SchoolsBBeat 57% of MI districtsSafetyD4.1 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthCBetter than MI on 0 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingB+$276K typical home · up 3.8% in a yearWork & commuteC−$42K median household income · 2,524 jobs hereNatural hazardsB+FEMA risk higher than 30% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
2 within 15 miles of the center of Paw Paw
Kalamazoo Valley Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Kalamazoo10.8 mi$4,144 in-state tuitionWestern Michigan UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Kalamazoo15 mi$15,252 in-state tuition
About 3 of every 100 Paw Paw residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Michigan.
Famous people from Paw Paw
9 notable people were born in Paw Paw.
J
Jerry MitchellAmerican theatre director and choreographer · born 1960
A
Alan CropseyAmerican politician · born 1952P
Pat PaigeAmerican baseball player · 1882–1939About Paw Paw
Village in Michigan, United States
Paw Paw is a village in and the county seat of Van Buren County, Michigan. The population was 3,362 as of the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 2.9 sq mi
- Elevation
- 732 ft
- ZIP code
- 49079
Paw Paw’s neighbors
2 towns share a border with Paw Paw.
Paw Paw TownshipAntwerp TownshipPaw Paw
How the neighbors grade
| Town | MI rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paw Paw | #577 | C− | B+ | D | B | C |
| Paw Paw Township | #395 | B− | B | — | B | C+ |
| Antwerp Township | #196 | B+ | B | — | A− | B− |
Paw Paw Township and Antwerp Township report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare Paw Paw with a neighbor →
Questions about Paw Paw
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Paw Paw, MI a good place to live?
Paw Paw grades C− overall, better than 24% of U.S. towns and #577 of 697 in Michigan. It grades C for health, D for safety and B for schools. Safety is its weak spot, with a D.
Is Paw Paw, MI expensive?
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+.
What is Paw Paw, MI known for?
9 notable people were born here, including Loretta Long and Jo Labadie.