Dowagiac ( də-WAH-jak, də-WAH-zhak) is a city in Cass County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 5,721 at the 2020 census. It is part of the South Bend-Mishawaka metropolitan area. Dowagiac is situated at the corner of four townships: Wayne Township to the northeast, LaGrange Township to the southeast, Pokagon Township to the southwest, and Silver Creek Township to the northwest. The city name comes from the Potawatomi word dewje'og meaning "fishing [near home] water". Dowagiac is the headquarters of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians and is also contained within the reservation.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Dowagiac ranks

All →

#20Lowest property tax in MI #62Most affordable in MI #117Most walkable in MI All MI rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code49047

Area code269

Living in Dowagiac

Housing in Dowagiac

$232K▲ 5.2% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Dowagiac home is worth about $232,000, up 5.2% in a year, 13% below the Michigan typical home.

Only 3 sales in May 2026, too few for a market read. The typical value is the steadier guide.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Dowagiac

Safety Grade D

Dowagiac reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 92% report less.

Violent crime per 1,000

Dowagiac 5.6

Michigan 4.3

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Dowagiac 27.1

Michigan 13

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Dowagiac

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Dowagiac for work: only 13% work in town. The top destinations are LaGrange (7%), Elkhart (5%) and Wayne (4%). Half commute less than 19 miles.

LaGrange

Elkhart, IN

Wayne

Niles

13%Work in townlive and work in Dowagiac 19 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 1,924Jobs based herebalanced

Census LEHD 2021 · ACSWork & commute in Dowagiac →

Health in Dowagiac

C⁻

Health Grade C−

Healthier than 16% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates, and 42% of towns with similar incomes.

Compared with Michigan

15worse than MI

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 17 are too close to call.

Conditions 3▼ 9 close Habits 2▼ 2 close Care 3▼ 4 close Mind 3▼ 2 close Everyday needs 4▼ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

16.2%More older adults who have lost all their teethMI 10.2% · worse 12.1%More adults facing a utility shut-offMI 8.7% · worse 21.4%More adults facing food insecurityMI 15.4% · worse

Care nearby

Ascension Borgess Lee HospitalDowagiac · 0.1 mi · ER · rural critical access

Cass Family Clinic DowagiacDowagiac · 2 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Dowagiac · CMS · HRSAHealth in Dowagiac →

Natural hazards in Dowagiac

Very low

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 15% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🌪️ Tornadoes🥶 Cold waves

0Does Dowagiac flood?no paid flood claims on record 3Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Dowagiac MapDowagiac vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Dowagiac →

Climate in Dowagiac

Full climate →

Dowagiac has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 83°, a January night drops to 18°, and about 87 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

35° / 20°Winter

59° / 37°Spring

81° / 59°Summer

62° / 42°Fall

How much snow does Dowagiac get?About 87 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 11, with the last in spring around May 4.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.3° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Dowagiac →

Schools in Dowagiac

All Dowagiac schools →

School Grade C

The public schools Dowagiac’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, trail 68% of Michigan’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the bottom.

See how Dowagiac’s schools compare in MI →

DistrictDowagiac Union School DistrictSchools6

Justus Gage Elementary School C+Elementary · Grades PK–5 · 262 students Patrick Hamilton Elementary C-Elementary · Grades K–5 · 224 students Dowagiac Middle School C-Middle · Grades 6–8 · 393 students Union High School C+High · Grades 9–12 · 507 students Pathfinders Alternative Ed D-High · Grades 6–12 · 49 students North Pointe Center B+Other · Grades K–12 · 44 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within MI. Ratings are from neighbors.