Cost of Living in Muskegon Heights Opportunity Zone (Tract 13): What Salary Do You Need to Buy a Home?

Real numbers from this area's median sale price, property taxes, and household income — calculated at today's mortgage rate.

To buy a median-priced Muskegon Heights Opportunity Zone (Tract 13) home (around $54,300) at today's 6.76% 30-year fixed rate with 20% down, you'd need roughly $10k/year in household income to qualify — an estimated monthly payment of $369 (principal, interest, property tax est., and insurance).

Down paymentMonthly paymentIncome needed
20% $369/mo$9,838
10% (+PMI)$425/mo$11,321
5% (+PMI)$443/mo$11,821

Estimates use a 6.76% 30-year fixed rate (current Freddie Mac average), an aggressive ~45% housing-to-income ratio (roughly what FHA underwriting can allow for a buyer with no other monthly debts — your number depends on your debts and credit), this area's median sale price, plus estimated insurance and PMI below 20% down. Not a commitment to lend, and not an APR — your actual rate and payment will vary.

Rent vs. buy in Muskegon Heights Opportunity Zone (Tract 13)

Census tract estimate

Owning the median Muskegon Heights Opportunity Zone (Tract 13) home costs about $431/mo less than renting one — roughly $369/mo to own, against a typical rent of about $800/mo. That gap is before maintenance, and it assumes 20% down in cash.

Monthly costEstimate
Rent, typical$800/moroughly $700 – $900
Own, 20% down$369/mo

By bedroom — raw Census medians for current renters, not adjusted to today’s asking rents:

2 bed $7503 bed $575

Estimate (2023 ACS 5-year data), based on Census tract data, widened until there were enough renting households to measure, so it describes a larger area than Muskegon Heights Opportunity Zone (Tract 13) alone. Adjusted toward what is being asked today using HUD Fair Market Rents, because the Census figure counts every household already renting — including long-tenured ones paying below current market. Rent figures are rounded to the nearest $25 — the underlying estimates are not precise enough to read closer than that. The ownership figure is the monthly payment only: it excludes maintenance and closing costs, and it doesn't count the equity a payment builds. Renting has no down payment. Both are estimates, not quotes.

Thinking about buying in Muskegon Heights Opportunity Zone (Tract 13)?

Get a personalized rate and payment in minutes — or explore the full Muskegon Heights Opportunity Zone (Tract 13) overview (schools, walkability, listings).

Get pre-approved

See what's actually for sale in Muskegon Heights Opportunity Zone (Tract 13)

New listings and price drops in Muskegon Heights Opportunity Zone (Tract 13), emailed as they hit the market — so you can check these numbers against real homes. No account needed.