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City · 13,671 residents · Branch County, Michigan

Coldwater , Michigan

In Coldwater, a typical home is worth $137,500 and typical rent is $943 a month. Compared with all of Branch County, typical household income is 20% lower, the typical home value is 15% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 13 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $137,500

    15% below the county

    41% below Michigan

    • Coldwater
    • Branch
    • Michigan

  • Typical rent

    $943a month

    About the same as the county

    16% below Michigan

    • Coldwater
    • Branch
    • Michigan

  • Typical household income

    $50,781a year

    20% below the county

    30% below Michigan

    • Coldwater
    • Branch
    • Michigan

  • Households that own their home

    64%

    13 points below the county

    9 points below Michigan

    • Coldwater
    • Branch
    • Michigan

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$218,123
5.6% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,282 a month

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Coldwater is in Branch County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Branch County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Coldwater apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Nearby, in Albion, the typical home value is $99,900: 27% less than in Coldwater ($137,500).

  2. 64% of households in Coldwater own their home, against 78% in Branch County.

  3. Nearby, in Albion, the typical rent is $775: 18% less than in Coldwater ($943).

  4. The typical household income in Coldwater is $50,781, 20% less than in Branch County as a whole ($63,724).

  5. The typical home in Coldwater is worth $137,500, 15% less than in Branch County as a whole ($162,500).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Coldwater

What homes there are in Coldwater, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

The detached house is still the most common home in Coldwater, but it weighs less than in Branch County: 56% against 75%.

Year built

In Coldwater, half of the homes were built before 1966; in Branch County, before 1969.

There are fewer big homes in Coldwater than in Branch County: 52% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 65%.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

At least 96% of owner-occupied homes in Coldwater are worth less than $500,000, below the FHA loan limit for Branch County ($541,287).

Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$1,159 a month

Branch County: $1,241 a month

Without a mortgage

$527 a month

Branch County: $502 a month

Owners with a mortgage

58%

Branch County: 55%

Owning costs less in Coldwater: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $1,159 a month; in Branch County, $1,241. Without one, $527.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

Since 2015–2019, homes in Coldwater gained value faster than in Branch County: 56% against 48%.

Much as in Branch County, the typical rent in Coldwater rose 27% since 2015–2019.

Here income did not keep up with housing: it rose 18%, while home values changed +56% and rent +27%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureColdwaterBranch CountyMichiganUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate7.8%5.1%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate2.5%1.6%3.4%
People per household 2.702.572.422.53
Drive alone 76%79%74%69%
Carpool 10%11%8%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%3%
Walk or bike 6%3%2%3%
Work from home 6%6%14%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate2%1%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

On average, a household in Coldwater has 2.70 people, more than in Branch County (2.57).

In Coldwater, 6% of workers walk or bike to work; in Branch County, 3%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Coldwater?

A typical home is tight for the typical income

We start with a typical home in Coldwater, worth $137,500, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 28% of the typical household income in Coldwater, which is $50,781 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $51,134 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Branch County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Coldwater. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $4,813 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$1,193

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$135,009
Total interest
$194,246
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $2,322 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,185 a month

  • Tight

    $1,185 to $1,523 a month

    Your payment · 28%

  • Hard

    more than $1,523 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Coldwater ($50,781 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,193
Principal & interest$915
Property tax$160
Home insurance$57
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$61

You need at least $4,813 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Coldwater and Branch County

Coldwater is in Branch County, Michigan. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Coldwater's own numbers

Typical home value
$137,500
Typical monthly rent
$943
Typical yearly household income
$50,781
Households that own their home
64%
Effective property tax rate
1.4%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Branch County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,093
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+60%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
4.2%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Branch County.

Everything about Branch County

Buying

Buying a home in Coldwater

A typical home in Coldwater is worth $137,500: 15% below the county and 41% below Michigan. With the typical household income in Coldwater ($50,781 a year), a typical home costs 2.7 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Coldwater 2.7 years
  • Branch 2.6 years
  • Michigan 3.2 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Branch County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Branch County rose 99% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Branch County.

Period County Michigan U.S.
Last year (2025) +4.3% +4.7% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +60% +52% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +99% +97% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Coldwater next to Branch County, Michigan and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Coldwater $137,500
  • Branch $162,500
  • Michigan $231,600
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Coldwater $943
  • Branch $959
  • Michigan $1,129
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Coldwater $50,781
  • Branch $63,724
  • Michigan $72,875
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Coldwater next to Branch County and Michigan
Measure Coldwater Branch County Michigan U.S.
Typical home value $137,500 $162,500 $231,600 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $943 $959 $1,129 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $50,781 $63,724 $72,875 $80,734
Households that own their home 64% 78% 73% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $1,926 $1,879 $2,904 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 1.4% 1.16% 1.25% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 51% 43% 50% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Branch County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Coldwater

For a typical $137,500 home in Coldwater, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Coldwater's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,193a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $4,813
    Cash to close
    $8,938
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $61

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,168a month

    Down payment
    $6,875
    Cash to close
    $11,000
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $65

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $963a month

    Down payment
    $27,500
    Cash to close
    $31,625
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,090a month

    Down payment
    $20,625
    Cash to close
    $24,750
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Coldwater and for Branch County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Coldwater

1.4%of the home’s value each year

$1,926 a year for the typical owner in Coldwater.

  • Coldwater 1.4%
  • Branch 1.16%
  • Michigan 1.25%

What Michigan publishes Principal Residence Exemption (PRE) from school operating tax (Michigan Legislature (Michigan Compiled Laws))

Exemptions and deadlines in Michigan

Flood risk in Branch County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Branch County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
4.2%
762
Of those, with NFIP insurance
8.1%
County Michigan U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 4.2% 1.6% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 8.1% 18% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Coldwater

Typical rent in Coldwater is $943 a month: about the same as the county. In Coldwater, 51% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Branch County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,093 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $21.02 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Branch County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $964 $18.54 $38,560
1 bedroom $984 $18.92 $39,360
2 bedrooms $1,093 $21.02 $43,720
3 bedrooms $1,479 $28.44 $59,160
4 bedrooms $1,503 $28.90 $60,120

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Coldwater

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Coldwater is in ZIP code 49036.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,110: $17 more than the fair market rent for Branch County ($1,093).

  • 49036 $1,110$1,500

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Coldwater when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Coldwater

HUD lists 11 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Coldwater. These are the largest.

  • Whispering Pines Apts Phase I (coldwater) 40 Whispering Pnes, Coldwater 49036 112 low-income homes · 1 bd: 32 · 2 bd: 56 · 3 bd: 24 · In service since 2002
  • Englewood Apartments 60 S Clay St, Coldwater 49036 192 homes, 96 low-income · For families
  • Old Mill Race 519 W Chicago St, Coldwater 49036 48 low-income homes · 1 bd: 20 · 2 bd: 20 · 3 bd: 8 · In service since 2006 · For families
  • Whispering Pines Apts Phase II 60 Sauk River Dr, Coldwater 49036 44 low-income homes · 1 bd: 16 · 2 bd: 16 · 3 bd: 12 · In service since 2004 · For people with disabilities, families
  • Coldwater Crossings Apts 30 W Park Ave, Coldwater 49036 38 low-income homes · In service since 2008 · For older adults (517) 279-7367

See all 15 buildings in Branch County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Coldwater

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Branch County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A man leans over the armchair where a girl is reading a book.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Coldwater

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Coldwater or Branch County. The ones below are statewide in Michigan: they work in Coldwater the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Michigan

  • MI 10K DPA Loan

    Statewide in Michigan

    Michigan state agency loan of up to $10,000, with no interest and no monthly payments, for the down payment, closing costs and prepaid expenses; it goes with MSHDA's MI Home Loan mortgage and is repaid in certain cases, such as when you pay off the first mortgage, sell or refinance the home, or no longer live in it. Offered by Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

  • Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC)

    Statewide in Michigan

    Michigan state authority certificate that lets you take 20% of the interest you pay each year on your mortgage off your federal taxes, for the life of the loan; you apply with an approved lender before you buy. Offered by Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA).

    Tax credit

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Coldwater

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Coldwater, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Community Action Agency - Hillsdale Branch

    55 Barnard St, Hillsdale · 20 miles away · Spanish

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Homelessness services
    • and 4 more
    (517) 437-3346

  • Neighborhoods Inc. of Battle Creek

    47 North Washington Ave, Battle Creek · 28 miles away

    • Budget and credit workshops
    • Fair housing pre-purchase workshops
    • and 5 more
    (269) 224-6606

  • Community Action Agency

    1214 Greenwood Ave, Jackson · 36 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 8 more
    (517) 784-4800

All counseling agencies in Michigan

Help in Spanish near Coldwater

1 of the 3 agencies on this list says it serves in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Coldwater

HUD’s record names them for Coldwater or Branch County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

One other authority has an office in Branch County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Coldwater, with the typical home value.

Everything about Branch County Housing in Michigan

Neighboring counties

If Branch County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Coldwater.

All guides
A father holds his baby and his young son by a white picket fence.

Questions

Housing questions about Coldwater

Short answers with the numbers for Coldwater and all of Branch County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Coldwater?

The typical home value in Coldwater is $137,500, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Branch County it is $162,500.

How much does it cost to rent in Coldwater?

Typical rent in Coldwater is $943 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Branch County is $1,093.

What is the FHA loan limit in Coldwater?

Coldwater uses the FHA limit for all of Branch County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Coldwater?

The typical homeowner in Coldwater pays $1,926 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.4% of the home’s value; in Branch County, the rate is 1.16%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Coldwater?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Branch County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).