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City · 5,732 residents · Cass County, Michigan

Dowagiac , Michigan

In Dowagiac, a typical home is worth $130,800 and typical rent is $840 a month. Compared with all of Cass County, the typical home value is 40% lower, typical household income is 32% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 24 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $130,800

    40% below the county

    44% below Michigan

    • Dowagiac
    • Cass
    • Michigan

  • Typical rent

    $840a month

    8% below the county

    26% below Michigan

    • Dowagiac
    • Cass
    • Michigan

  • Typical household income

    $48,166a year

    32% below the county

    34% below Michigan

    • Dowagiac
    • Cass
    • Michigan

  • Households that own their home

    58%

    24 points below the county

    15 points below Michigan

    • Dowagiac
    • Cass
    • Michigan

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

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$226,673
5.2% more than 12 months ago

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

Dowagiac is in Cass 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 Cass County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Dowagiac apart

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

  1. 58% of households in Dowagiac own their home, against 82% in Cass County.

  2. Nearby, in Benton Harbor, the typical home value is $76,500: 42% less than in Dowagiac ($130,800).

  3. The typical home in Dowagiac is worth $130,800, 40% less than in Cass County as a whole ($218,000).

  4. The typical household income in Dowagiac is $48,166, 32% less than in Cass County as a whole ($70,443).

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

The homes here

Housing in Dowagiac

What homes there are in Dowagiac, 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

In Dowagiac, 7 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses; in Cass County, 8.

Year built

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
Monthly rent with utilities

HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent (FMR) for Cass County is $1,095; about 72% of rents in Dowagiac are below it.

With a mortgage

$1,028 a month

Cass County: $1,478 a month

Without a mortgage

$430 a month

Cass County: $540 a month

Owners with a mortgage

55%

Cass County: 56%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Dowagiac is $1,028 a month, less than in Cass County ($1,478); without one, $430.

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

The typical home value in Dowagiac rose 84% since 2015–2019, more than in Cass County (53%).

Since 2015–2019, the typical rent in Dowagiac rose 45%, more than in Cass County (24%).

The typical household income in Dowagiac rose 44% over that time; home values changed +84% and rent +45%.

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

MeasureDowagiacCass CountyMichiganUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate5.1%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate1.7%1.6%3.4%
People per household 2.202.412.422.53
Drive alone 76%77%74%69%
Carpool 11%10%8%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate2%2%3%
Work from home Unreliable estimate8%14%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate2%1%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Fewer people live in each home here: 2.20 on average, against 2.41 in Cass County.

To get to work, 76% of workers in Dowagiac drive alone; in Cass County, 77%.

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 Dowagiac?

A typical home is within reach of the typical income

We start with a typical home in Dowagiac, worth $130,800, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 27% of the typical household income in Dowagiac, which is $48,166 a year.

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

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Dowagiac. 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 $4,578 (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

$1,095

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$128,431
Total interest
$184,782
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $2,209 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,124 a month

    Your payment · 27%

  • Tight

    $1,124 to $1,445 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,445 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Dowagiac ($48,166 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,095
Principal & interest$870
Property tax$112
Home insurance$55
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$58

You need at least $4,578 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

Dowagiac and Cass County

Dowagiac is in Cass 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).

Dowagiac's own numbers

Typical home value
$130,800
Typical monthly rent
$840
Typical yearly household income
$48,166
Households that own their home
58%
Effective property tax rate
1.03%

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

Numbers for all of Cass County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,095
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+54%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1%

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 Cass County.

Everything about Cass County

Buying

Buying a home in Dowagiac

A typical home in Dowagiac is worth $130,800: 40% below the county and 44% below Michigan. With the typical household income in Dowagiac ($48,166 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.

  • Dowagiac 2.7 years
  • Cass 3.1 years
  • Michigan 3.2 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Cass County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Cass County rose 95% in the 10 years through 2025.

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

Period County Michigan U.S.
Last year (2025) +4.4% +4.7% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +54% +52% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +95% +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

Dowagiac next to Cass 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
  • Dowagiac $130,800
  • Cass $218,000
  • Michigan $231,600
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Dowagiac $840
  • Cass $916
  • Michigan $1,129
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Dowagiac $48,166
  • Cass $70,443
  • Michigan $72,875
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Dowagiac next to Cass County and Michigan
Measure Dowagiac Cass County Michigan U.S.
Typical home value $130,800 $218,000 $231,600 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $840 $916 $1,129 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $48,166 $70,443 $72,875 $80,734
Households that own their home 58% 82% 73% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $1,348 $2,116 $2,904 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 1.03% 0.97% 1.25% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 43% 46% 50% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Cass 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 Dowagiac

For a typical $130,800 home in Dowagiac, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Dowagiac's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,095a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $4,578
    Cash to close
    $8,502
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $58

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,071a month

    Down payment
    $6,540
    Cash to close
    $10,464
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $62

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $876a month

    Down payment
    $26,160
    Cash to close
    $30,084
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $997a month

    Down payment
    $19,620
    Cash to close
    $23,544
    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 Dowagiac and for Cass County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Dowagiac

1.03%of the home’s value each year

$1,348 a year for the typical owner in Dowagiac.

  • Dowagiac 1.03%
  • Cass 0.97%
  • 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 Cass County

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

Homes in the high-risk zone
1%
232
Of those, with NFIP insurance
9.9%
County Michigan U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 1% 1.6% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 9.9% 18% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Dowagiac

Typical rent in Dowagiac is $840 a month: 8% below the county. In Dowagiac, 43% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Cass County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,095 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $21.06 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Cass 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 $869 $16.71 $34,760
1 bedroom $974 $18.73 $38,960
2 bedrooms $1,095 $21.06 $43,800
3 bedrooms $1,393 $26.79 $55,720
4 bedrooms $1,830 $35.19 $73,200

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 Dowagiac

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Dowagiac is in ZIP code 49047.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,070: $25 less than the fair market rent for Cass County ($1,095).

  • 49047 $1,070$1,410

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Dowagiac 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 Dowagiac

HUD lists 9 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Dowagiac. These are the largest.

  • Vineyard Place 508 Vineyard Place Dr, Dowagiac 49047 120 low-income homes · 1 bd: 24 · 2 bd: 72 · 3 bd: 24 · In service since 2014 · For families
  • Vineyard Place 507 Vineyard Place Dr, Dowagiac 49047 120 low-income homes · For families (269) 782-9300
  • Chestnut TWR/Parkside 100 Chestnut St, Dowagiac 49047 87 homes, 86 low-income · Run by Dowagiac Housing Commission · Average payment: $321 a month · Average wait: 40 months (269) 782-3786
  • Eagle's Wood Apts & Senior Residen 29509 Amerihost Dr, Dowagiac 49047 49 low-income homes · 1 bd: 15 · 2 bd: 22 · 3 bd: 12 · In service since 2004 · For older adults, people with disabilities, families
  • Eagles Trace Apts 29553 Amerihost Dr, Dowagiac 49047 40 low-income homes · 1 bd: 4 · 2 bd: 20 · 3 bd: 16 · In service since 2006 · For families

See all 12 buildings in Cass County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Dowagiac

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 Cass County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A young woman and a young man point to a line in their notes beside a laptop in a library.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Dowagiac

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Dowagiac or Cass County. The ones below are statewide in Michigan: they work in Dowagiac 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 Dowagiac

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

  • Kalamazoo Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc

    1219 S Park St, Kalamazoo · 34 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 5 more
    (269) 385-2916

  • Neighborhoods Inc. of Battle Creek

    47 North Washington Ave, Battle Creek · 53 miles away

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

  • Community Action House

    739 Paw Paw Dr, Holland · 56 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 6 more
    (616) 392-2368

All counseling agencies in Michigan

Help in Spanish near Dowagiac

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 Dowagiac

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

  • Dowagiac Housing Commission Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (269) 782-3786

All housing agencies in Michigan Source: HUD

Cities

Nearby cities

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

Everything about Cass County Housing in Michigan

Neighboring counties

If Cass 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 Dowagiac.

All guides
Two parents walk hand in hand with their little daughter.

Questions

Housing questions about Dowagiac

Short answers with the numbers for Dowagiac and all of Cass 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 Dowagiac?

The typical home value in Dowagiac is $130,800, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Cass County it is $218,000.

How much does it cost to rent in Dowagiac?

Typical rent in Dowagiac is $840 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Cass County is $1,095.

What is the FHA loan limit in Dowagiac?

Dowagiac uses the FHA limit for all of Cass 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 Dowagiac?

The typical homeowner in Dowagiac pays $1,348 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.03% of the home’s value; in Cass County, the rate is 0.97%.

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

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Cass 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).