VarroExplore other towns
Ypsilanti, MI

Ypsilanti, MI

First Congregational United Church of Christ, 218 North Adams, Ypsilanti, Michigan · Photo: Dwight Burdette, CC BY 3.0

A town of about 19,937 people in Washtenaw County, part of the Ann Arbor area. Resident comments and photos are about Ypsilanti; job numbers cover the wider area.

The Ann Arbor area:Government town · 38.7% of jobs are government, including public universities (U.S. 12.1%)College town · College teaching jobs 2.7x the U.S. share

Ypsilanti at a glance

Each grade compares this area with all 813 U.S. metro and small-town areas: A is the top 20%, F the bottom 20%. Cost compares everyday prices with the U.S. average. Varro doesn't grade safety; crime facts are further down. Graded on the Ann Arbor area's numbers.

C
Cost
Everyday prices about the same as the U.S. average
Locals: Not enough local comments yet
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis price index, 2024
D
Housing
Typical home value is about 4.2 times the typical household's yearly income ($374,100 vs $89,180)
U.S. Census ACS 5-year, 2024
B
Getting around
Average commute 23 minutes; 13% walk, bike or take transit to work
Locals: Not enough local comments yet
U.S. Census ACS 5-year, 2024
A
Things to do
508 restaurants, museums, theaters, music, game and book shops and historic places in the area (about 138 per 100,000 people)
Locals: Not enough local comments yet
U.S. Census County Business Patterns 2023, National Register of Historic Places
A
Outdoors
8 hiking trails, 42 campgrounds and 225 paddling spots nearby
Locals: Not enough local comments yet
OpenStreetMap contributors and federal recreation data
C
Jobs
Unemployment 4.6% (U.S.: 5.2%); jobs grew 0.1% in the last year
Locals: Not enough local comments yet
U.S. Census ACS 5-year, 2024; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
B
Social life
197 bars, cafes, gyms, breweries and game shops in the area (about 54 per 100,000 people)
Locals: Not enough local comments yet
U.S. Census County Business Patterns 2023
B
Healthcare
1.8 primary care doctors per 1,000 people in the main county; nearest emergency room about 6 miles from the center
Locals: Not enough local comments yet
County Health Rankings 2025; Medicare Care Compare
A
Schools
Public school test pass rates about 11 points above the state average (63 schools)
Locals: Not enough local comments yet
U.S. Department of Education, 2021-22 (compared within the state only)
Thinking about Ypsilanti?
Compare saved towns
Want to know how Ypsilanti fits you? The 3-minute quiz checks it against what you want.
Take the quiz
What kind of place it is

Outdoorsy, Big-city feel, Lively

Scored the same way as the quiz, against 813 U.S. metro areas. A feel is listed when Ypsilanti scores 70 or higher out of 100.

Outdoorsy
92 / 100
Outdoorsy: more trails, campgrounds and paddling spots than most
"Kayak the Huron river, the botanical gardens, Frita Batidos or Japanese for food" A resident, Reddit
Big-city feel
80 / 100
Big-city feel: 368,000 people in the metro, 1 building 20+ stories, 690 bus and train stops
"I'm loving the nature trails and tree cover, the Vermonter in me longs for hiking trails with elevation" A resident, Reddit
Lively
75 / 100
Lively: 341 bars, sit-down restaurants and music businesses in the area (about 93 per 100,000 people)
"does a lot of fun stuff. There are game days at Golden Rhino Games and Sylvan Factory" A resident, Reddit
Historic
72 / 100
7 places on the National Register of Historic Places nearby
"I live just outside the city and it's very nice, if not a bit pricey" A resident, Reddit
Everyday life
Shops, cafes, and daily routines
Hobbies & activities
Trails, parks, and pastimes
Nearby scenery
Lakes, overlooks, and drives

Photos and reviews come from Google Maps and show single places, not the whole area. Reviews are the most relevant ones Google returns for each place. We show the longest highly rated review under 400 characters and, when there is one, the longest low-rated review. Google doesn't verify reviews but removes fake ones when it finds them.

Around Ypsilanti

The former Martha Washington Theatre in Ypsilanti, Michigan, now the Deja Vu Showgirls...
The former Martha Washington Theatre in Ypsilanti, Michigan, now the Deja Vu Showgirls... · Photo: Saul Vielmetti, CC BY-SA 4.0
The freighthouse, an old train station converted into event space in Ypsilanti, MI
The freighthouse, an old train station converted into event space in Ypsilanti, MI · Photo: Theodore.shouse, CC BY 4.0
Railway station, Ypsilanti, Michigan
Railway station, Ypsilanti, Michigan · Photo: Flavinista, CC BY-SA 4.0
A 3-way "tridge" known as The Tridge in Ypsilanti, Michigan
A 3-way "tridge" known as The Tridge in Ypsilanti, Michigan · Photo: Fattycorpuscle, CC BY-SA 4.0
The exterior of the Michigan Firehouse Museum in Ypsilanti , Michigan ( United States )
The exterior of the Michigan Firehouse Museum in Ypsilanti , Michigan ( United States ) · Photo: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0
Estabrook Elementary School, Ypsilanti, Michigan
Estabrook Elementary School, Ypsilanti, Michigan · Photo: Dwight Burdette, CC BY 3.0
First Congregational United Church of Christ, 218 North Adams, Ypsilanti, Michigan
First Congregational United Church of Christ, 218 North Adams, Ypsilanti, Michigan · Photo: Dwight Burdette, CC BY 3.0
This file was uploaded with Commonist
This file was uploaded with Commonist · Photo: Cmadler, CC BY-SA 3.0
Ypsilanti District Library, 229 W
Ypsilanti District Library, 229 W · Photo: Dwight Burdette, CC BY 3.0
View into Depot Town in Ypsilanti, Michigan in October 2008, from the Cross Street...
View into Depot Town in Ypsilanti, Michigan in October 2008, from the Cross Street... · Photo: cmadler ( talk ), CC BY-SA 3.0
More towns near Ypsilanti
Ranks the towns around it by your budget and what you love doing.
Compare
What locals are talking about

Around Ypsilanti

Where it is, what's close by, trails, buses and trains, and health care.
Where it is
Ypsilanti
Ypsilanti in Michigan
Michigan in the U.S.
State outlines: U.S. Census Bureau.

What's nearby

Within 5 miles of Ypsilanti's center.

30
grocery stores
126
restaurants
24
coffee shops
100
parks
155
playgrounds
7
libraries
1
movie theater
5
live theaters
4
museums
11
bookstores
11
gyms
13
bars
12
pharmacies
4
hospitals

Counts from OpenStreetMap, a volunteer map, so small or new places can be missing. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Stores nearby

Membership warehouses and popular grocery stores, measured from the center of Ypsilanti.
Costco
Membership warehouse (yearly fee to shop)
1 within 15 miles, nearest about 6 miles
Sam's Club
Membership warehouse (yearly fee to shop)
2 within 15 miles, nearest about 4 miles
BJ's Wholesale Club
Membership warehouse (yearly fee to shop)
Nearest about 19 miles
Trader Joe's
1 within 15 miles, nearest about 5 miles
Whole Foods Market
2 within 15 miles, nearest about 4 miles
Target
6 within 15 miles, nearest about 3 miles
Aldi
6 within 15 miles, nearest about 2 miles
Not within 50 miles: Wegmans, Sprouts Farmers Market.
Straight-line miles, so the drive is longer. Store locations from each chain's own store finder, collected by the open-data project All the Places, October 2026.

Biking and trails

Within 5 miles of the center of Ypsilanti.

Bike lanes and bike paths
99 miles
more than almost all U.S. towns
Walking and hiking trails
217 miles
more than almost all U.S. towns

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Counts depend on how well local volunteers have mapped the area, so treat them as a rough guide.

Buses and trains

Bus stops within 1 mile
91
Bus stops within 5 miles
459
Nearest train station
Grand Blvd- Southbound
about 29 miles
Closest rail and ferry stops
  • Grand Blvd- Southbound · Train station · about 29 miles
  • Grand Blvd · Light rail, streetcar or people mover · about 29 miles
  • Grand Blvd- Northbound · Train station · about 29 miles
  • Baltimore St - Southbound · Light rail, streetcar or people mover · about 29 miles
U.S. Department of Transportation, National Transit Map (stops from each transit agency's schedule data, Sept. 2026). Straight-line distance from the town center. Counts stops, not how often buses come; check the local transit agency for schedules.

Health care

Nearest hospital with an emergency room: University of Michigan Health System in Ann Arbor, about 6 miles away in a straight line.

Forest Health Medical Center
Ypsilanti, MI · about 1 mile
Hospital
No Medicare star rating
University of Michigan Health System
Ann Arbor, MI · about 6 miles
Hospital · Emergency room
Medicare rating: ★★★★★ 4 of 5
VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System
Ann Arbor, MI · about 7 miles
VA hospital (veterans) · Emergency room
Medicare rating: ★★★★★ 5 of 5
Corewell Health Wayne Hospital
Wayne, MI · about 13 miles
Hospital · Emergency room
Medicare rating: ★★★★★ 2 of 5
In the county, compared with Michigan and the U.S.
Primary care doctors
1.8
per 1,000 people · Michigan: 0.8 · U.S.: 0.8
Dentists
2.1
per 1,000 people · Michigan: 0.8 · U.S.: 0.7
Mental health providers
7.6
per 1,000 people · Michigan: 3.6 · U.S.: 3.3
People under 65 without health insurance
4.3%
Michigan: 5.5% · U.S.: 9.5%
Hospitals: Medicare Care Compare (CMS Care Compare, July 2026); distances are straight-line miles from the town center (located with the U.S. Census Bureau geocoder), so drive distance is longer. Doctors, dentists, providers and insurance: County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, 2025 release. In an emergency, call 911.

Costs of moving here

Rent, the move itself, and getting set up.

What rent costs

Of about 5,624 rented homes in Ypsilanti, 95% rent for under $2,000 a month and 98% for under $3,000.

Under $1,000: 47%
$1,000 to $1,499: 41%
$1,500 to $1,999: 7%
$2,000 to $2,499: 2%
$2,500 to $2,999: 1%
$3,000 or more: 2%

Census American Community Survey 2019 to 2023 (table B25063). Gross rent includes utilities the renter pays. Today's asking rents for open apartments usually run higher.

What moving costs

Hiring movers

Average cost: $1,946

From a 2025 survey of 1,000 people who hired movers. This Old House. Your quote depends on your stuff, stairs and the time of year.

Moving in as a renter

The middle rented home in Ypsilanti rents for $1,000 to $1,499 a month. Before you get the keys, expect about $2,000 to $2,998 for first month plus a deposit, or up to $3,000 to $4,497 where landlords also ask for last month.

Many landlords want your income to be about 3 times the rent. For $1,000 to $1,499, that's a yearly income of about $36,000 to $53,964.

Estimate from Census rent data (2019 to 2023, rent plus tenant-paid utilities). Deposits and fees vary by landlord and state law.

Moving to Michigan: before and after

  • Forward your mail: USPS change of address. It costs about $1 online to confirm who you are.
  • Switch your driver's license and car registration. Each state sets its own deadline, often somewhere between 10 days and a few months after you move. Find the Michigan DMV.
  • Register to vote at your new address: Michigan voter registration.
  • Set up power, gas, water and trash. Some cities bill water and trash together, and some ask new customers for a deposit.
  • Update your address with your bank, employer, insurance and the IRS (Form 8822 if you're not filing soon).
  • Find a doctor and dentist early. New-patient waits can be weeks, even in big cities.

Schools and childcare

Schools

Estabrook Elementary School, Ypsilanti, Michigan
Estabrook Elementary School, Ypsilanti, Michigan · Photo: Dwight Burdette, CC BY 3.0

8 public school districts in this county, with about 36,299 students in all. The county also has 13 public charter schools and 26 private schools. Which public school serves a home depends on its address.

Honey Creek Community SchoolCentral AcademyWashtenaw Technical Middle CollegeSouth Arbor Charter AcademyFortis AcademyMulticultural AcademyArbor Preparatory High SchoolEast Arbor Charter AcademySouth Pointe Scholars Charter AcademyGlobal Tech AcademyLivingston Classical AcademyLakewood Elementary SchoolAbbot SchoolAngell SchoolAnn Arbor Open at Mack SchoolBurns Park Elementary SchoolCarpenter SchoolDicken Elementary SchoolEberwhite SchoolForsythe Middle SchoolHaisley Elementary SchoolJohn Allen SchoolUriah H Lawton SchoolBach Elementary SchoolMary D Mitchell SchoolAnn Arbor Steam at Northside SchoolPattengill SchoolPittsfield SchoolSlauson Middle SchoolTappan Middle SchoolThurston Elementary SchoolWines Elementary SchoolPioneer High SchoolScarlett Middle SchoolHuron High SchoolCommunity High SchoolMartin Luther King Elem SchoolClague Middle SchoolClifford E Bryant Comm SchoolLogan Elementary SchoolSkyline High SchoolChelsea High SchoolBeach Middle SchoolNorth Creek Elementary SchoolSouth Meadows Elementary SchoolMill Creek Middle SchoolWylie Elementary SchoolDexter High SchoolCreekside Intermediate SchoolDexter Early Elementary ComplexBishop Elementary SchoolChilds Elementary SchoolBrick Elementary SchoolLincoln Senior High SchoolLincoln Middle SchoolLcs Virtual AcademyManchester Juniorsenior High SchoolLuther C Klager Elem SchoolRiverside Intermediate SchoolPaddock Elementary SchoolMilan Middle SchoolWoodland Meadows Elementary SchoolHeritage SchoolHarvest Elementary SchoolSaline Middle SchoolSaline High SchoolPleasant Ridge Elementary SchoolSalem Elementary SchoolRawsonville Elementary SchoolWhitmore Lake Elementary SchoolWhitmore Lake High SchoolYpsilanti Community Middle SchoolHolmes ElementaryErickson ElementaryEstabrook ElementaryPerry Early Learning CenterFord Early Learning CenterActech High SchoolWashtenaw International Middle AcademyYpsilanti Stemm Middle CollegeYpsilanti International Elementary SchoolYpsi Connected Community SchoolEarly College AllianceWashtenaw International High SchoolPittsfield Acres AcademyGee Compass AcademySt Francis of Assisi School (private)Fr Gabriel Richard High School (private)St Paul Lutheran School (private)Greenhills School (private)Emerson School (private)Clonlara School (private)Washtenaw Christian Academy (private)Rudolf Steiner School of Ann Arbor (private)Huron Valley Catholic School (private)Ann Arbor Academy (private)Spiritus Sanctus Academy (private)Veritas Christi Catholic H.S. (private)Ann Arbor Children'S House (private)Northstar Montessori (private)Michigan Islamic Academy (private)Spiritus Sanctus Academy (private)Ann Arbor Christian School (private)Hebrew Day School of Ann Arbor (private)Green House Montessori School (private)Ann Arbor Adventist Elementary (private)Christian Montessori School of Ann Arbor (private)Summers-Knoll School (private)Rudolf Steiner School of Ann Arbor (private)Daycroft School (private)Oak Trails Montessori School (private)Bottles-N-Backpacks Child Development Center (private)WASHTENAW COUNTYLIVINGSTON COUNTYWAYNE COUNTYMONROE COUNTYYpsilanti
Public Public charter Private County line District that covers the center of Ypsilanti: Ypsilanti Community Schools
District and county lines: U.S. Census Bureau. Tap a dot for details. A home's assigned school depends on its address; check with the district before you buy or rent.

Closest public schools to the center of Ypsilanti

Elementary
Perry Early Learning Center0.8 mi
Public
grades Pre-K to 1 · 258 students · 8.3 per teacher
Estabrook Elementary0.9 mi
Public
grades 1 to 8 · 324 students · 11.6 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading about 15%, math about 10% (state: reading about 44%, math about 34%)
Ypsilanti International Elementary School1.0 mi
Public
grades Pre-K to 5 · 381 students · 13.1 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading about 41%, math about 28% (state: reading about 44%, math about 34%)
Middle
Washtenaw International Middle Academy0.9 mi
Public
grades 6 to 8 · 207 students
Passed the state test: reading about 54%, math about 31% (state: reading about 44%, math about 34%)
Estabrook Elementary0.9 mi
Public
grades 1 to 8 · 324 students · 11.6 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading about 15%, math about 10% (state: reading about 44%, math about 34%)
Ypsilanti Community Middle School1.4 mi
Public
grades 5 to 8 · 419 students · 12.7 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading about 14%, math about 2% (state: reading about 44%, math about 34%)
High school
Early College Alliance0.3 mi
Public
grades 9 to 12 · 442 students · 24.6 per teacher
Washtenaw International High School0.9 mi
Public
grades 9 to 12 · 537 students · 16.3 per teacher
Actech High School1.3 mi
Public
grades 9 to 12 · 469 students · 18.8 per teacher
Private
Bottles-N-Backpacks Child Development Center0.7 mi
Private
grades Pre-K to 3 · 5 students · 5 per teacher
Huron Valley Catholic School1.4 mi
Private
grades Pre-K to 8 · 179 students · 16.1 per teacher
St Paul Lutheran School4.0 mi
Private
grades Pre-K to 8 · 205 students · 13.9 per teacher

Straight-line miles from the center of Ypsilanti, nearest first. Being closest doesn't mean a school serves a given home. "Passed the state test" is the share of students who scored proficient or better on Michigan's own reading and math tests in the 2021-22 school year, the latest year the U.S. Department of Education has published for every school. Each state sets its own test and passing bar, so compare schools within the same state, not across states. Test results track family income closely and leave out a lot (teachers, programs, how a school fits your child). For newer results, see the state's school report card.

Public school districts in the county

Ypsilanti Community Schools · Ypsilanti
3,721 students · 14.5 students per teacher · 12 schools · grades Pre-K to 12
Lincoln Consolidated School District · Ypsilanti
3,566 students · 18.8 students per teacher · 6 schools · grades Pre-K to 12
Ann Arbor Public Schools · Ann Arbor
17,026 students · 13.8 students per teacher · 32 schools · grades Pre-K to 12

School choice and pre-K in Michigan

Going to school in another district
State law lets each district decide whether to take students from other districts. Some do, some don't; ask the district you'd like.
Picking a different school in your district
Some districts must let families pick a different school within the district; others choose whether to.
Free state pre-K
43% of 4-year-olds in Michigan attend state-funded pre-K (U.S.: 37% and 9%). Spots, hours and who qualifies vary by district.

School choice: state law as summarized by the Education Commission of the States, 50-State Comparison: Open Enrollment Policies (2022). Pre-K: share of children in state-funded pre-K, National Institute for Early Education Research, State of Preschool 2025 Yearbook (2024-25 school year).

Special education in Michigan

Federal rating for the state: Needs assistance (two or more years in a row)
Each year the U.S. Department of Education rates every state on how well it follows the special education law (IDEA) and on results for students with disabilities. This rates Michigan as a whole, not your district or school. Each state also publishes yearly special education results for every district on its education department's website. Read Michigan's 2026 rating letter.

Source: U.S. Department of Education, 2026 determinations on state implementation of IDEA Part B (issued June 18, 2026).

NCES Common Core of Data 2022-23, National Center for Education Statistics. Private schools: NCES Private School Survey, 2021-22. Varro doesn't rank single schools. The area's Schools grade at the top of the page compares its test pass rates with the rest of the state only. For programs and newer results, see each district's site and the state's school report card.

Childcare and colleges

Daycare and preschool

Michigan keeps an official list of licensed childcare, with inspection reports and openings in many states. In a lot of towns, infant spots fill up months ahead, so it helps to get on waitlists before you move.

Typical full-time prices in this county (2022)
AgeDaycare centerHome daycare
Infant (under 2)$228/week
about $11,900 a year
$240/week
about $12,500 a year
Toddler (2)$228/week
about $11,900 a year
Preschool (3 to 4)$224/week
about $11,600 a year
$222/week
about $11,500 a year
School-age$205/week
about $10,700 a year

For an infant at a center: $228/week here, $166 across MI, $259 across the U.S.. Full-time infant care at a center here costs about 10% of a typical family's income. These are 2022 prices, the newest the government has published by county, and prices have gone up since.

U.S. Department of Labor, National Database of Childcare Prices, 2022. Middle (median) price for full-time care. State and U.S. figures average the county prices, weighted by population (Census 2024).
Search licensed childcare in Michigan →
Link via childcare.gov (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services).

4 colleges in the county around Ypsilanti. Prices are yearly tuition and fees for full-time undergrads, before financial aid.

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor · Ann Arbor
Public, 4-year · 52,065 students · $18,309 in-state, $60,107 out-of-state
Eastern Michigan University · Ypsilanti
Public, 4-year · 13,324 students · $16,260 a year
Washtenaw Community College · Ann Arbor
Public, 2-year (community college) · 10,756 students · $2,736 in-district, $6,336 out-of-state
Concordia University Ann Arbor · Ann Arbor
Private nonprofit, 4-year · 1,351 students · $34,200 a year

Moving for school? Public colleges charge state residents much less, and community colleges often charge even less to people who live in their district. Most states want you to have lived there about 12 months, for reasons other than school, before you count as a resident for tuition. The rules differ by state, so check with the college's registrar.

IPEDS 2023-24, National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS). Degree-granting public and nonprofit schools with 100+ students. Varro doesn't rank colleges.

The facts behind it
Typical home value
$411,985
What a typical home sells for across the Ann Arbor area.
Source: Zillow Home Value Index, September 2026
Average commute
23 minutes one way
How long residents' trips to work take on average, counting every job and way of getting there. U.S. average: about 27 minutes.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
Homeowners insurance
About $2,924 a year
The statewide average for a typical policy in MI. Your own quote will depend on the home.
Source: Statewide estimate, 2026
Natural disaster risk
Relatively Moderate
FEMA's overall rating for the county, covering floods, storms, wildfire, earthquakes and more.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Hail risk
Relatively Moderate
FEMA's rating for hail damage in the county, compared with other U.S. counties.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Hospitals nearby
4 within 5 miles
Hospitals mapped within 5 miles of the center. Emergency and specialty care vary, so check which ones fit your needs.
Source: OpenStreetMap (ODbL)
Drug overdose deaths (county)
11.2 per 100,000 people a year
42 deaths in the 12 months ending March 2026. MI average: 17.2 per 100,000. U.S.: 19.9. Counts are by where people lived, and recent months may still be updated.
Source: CDC National Center for Health Statistics, provisional counts through March 2026; Census population estimates 2024
People without housing (local count)
About 10 per 10,000 residents
HUD's one-night count in January 2025 found 373 people without housing in the Washtenaw County area: 350 in shelters and 23 outside, up from 330 in 2024. MI: 10 per 10,000. U.S.: 21.9. One-night counts miss people, and how areas count differs.
Source: HUD Point-in-Time Count, January 2025 (HUD, 2025 report to Congress); Census population estimates 2024
Median household income
$87,156
Half of households in the county earn more than this, half earn less.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
Property tax
1.56% of home value a year
About $1,560 a year for every $100,000 of home value.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
State income tax
Flat 4.25%
MI's state income tax. Some cities and counties add their own.
Source: Tax Foundation and the state's tax agency, 2026
Local income tax
Check locally
24 Michigan cities charge a city income tax; most others do not.

More towns in Michigan →

Did this page help you decide whether to visit Ypsilanti, MI or cross it off?
Compare