Median Age
43 Years
Largest Age Group
60-69 Years
Approximately 14% of Residents
Under 20
23%
Over 65
23%
Norton Shores
Norton Shores, MI Area Guide
Avg Rent
$1,453
Population
23,960
Renter Mix
17% Rent
Lakefront college town, Norton Shores, shines with natural beauty
College Town
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Hiking
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Lake
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Shopping
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Airport
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Michigan
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Have you ever hiked up a sand dune? One so high up that when you got to the top, you were able to take in a gorgeous pink-and-gold sunset overlooking expansive waters of Lake Michigan?
Norton is a lakefront city on the shores of Lake Michigan, and the home of Hoffmaster State Park. Here, that view is possible because of the Dune Climb Stairway. Atop the dunes is an observation deck, which looks out onto the dunes and waters of Lake Michigan. This park is a popular spot for hiking, as well as birdwatching, swimming, and cross-country skiing. Other surrounding lakes include Mona Lake and Black Lake.
This suburban city is close to Grand Rapids by way of I-96. Colleges in the area include Muskegon Community College, Baker College, and Grand Valley State. Grade school students are served by the Mona Shores Public Schools system. For travel, the proximity to Muskegon County Airport is a relief for residents. Shopping and dining is made easy thanks to the Lakes Mall and surrounding shopping center.
Demographics
Median Household Income
$67,197
Average: $84,389
Education
6,764
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
12,144
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
Norton Shores has more homeowners than renters.
Renters
17%
Non-Renters
83%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
22%
Other Education
78%
Rent Trends
As of April 2026, the average apartment rent in Norton Shores, MI is $1,453 for one bedroom, $1,626 for two bedrooms, and $1,943 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Norton Shores has increased by 14.1% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,453/month
825 Sq Ft
Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Norton Shores, MI is for everyday living.
Somewhat Walkable
Walkability
30
/ 100
Very Drivable
Drivability
80
/ 100
Fairly Bikeable
Bikeability
40
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Muskegon Montessori Academy for Environmental Change
Public
Grades PK-8
166 Students
Muskegon Montessori Academy for Environmental Change
Public
Grades PK-8
166 Students
School data provided by
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
Parks and Recreation
- Gillette Sand Dune Visitor Center
- Hoffmaster State Park
- Grand Haven State Park
- Muskegon State Park
Commuter Rail
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Houses for Rent in Norton Shores
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Methodology
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.