These Are the 30 Best Counties to Live in Michigan

Best counties to live in Michigan

More counties in the United States experienced population growth in the last year, according to the latest Census data, even as pandemic-related moving trends begin to normalize.

Counties in the South continued to experience growth, particularly in Florida, where 96% of its 67 counties gained new residents. Polk County, Florida, a suburb of Orlando, added the most, with 26,000 people moving there in 2023.

Meanwhile, counties in the Midwest and Northeast continued to lose population, but at slower rates than the year before. Some of the biggest losses were in counties home to large cities, including Cook County, Illinois (home of Chicago) and the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens in New York.

Many counties are experiencing growth due to their job opportunities, education, or relatively affordable housing costs. Others are favored for their historic or well-designed downtowns or access to cultural opportunities.

Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to live in Michigan using rankings from Niche. Niche ranks counties by various factors including public schools, educational attainment, cost of living, and housing.

Keep reading to see if your county made the list.

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#30. Muskegon County, Michigan

– Overall Rank: 1,158
– Population: 175,947
– Median household income: $61,347
– Median home value: $162,300 (77% own)
– Median rent: $915 (23% rent)
– Top public schools: North Muskegon Middle School (grade A), Mona Shores High School (grade A), North Muskegon Elementary School (grade A)
– Top private schools: Muskegon Catholic Central School (grade A minus), Western Michigan Christian High School (grade B+), Calvary Christian Schools (grade B)
– Top places: North Muskegon (grade A), Whitehall (grade A minus), Norton Shores (grade A minus)

#29. Alger County, Michigan

– Overall Rank: 1,118
– Population: 8,866
– Median household income: $55,528
– Median home value: $156,500 (82% own)
– Median rent: $716 (18% rent)
– Top public schools: AuTrain-Onota Public School (grade A), William G. Mather Elementary School (grade B), Superior Central School (grade B)
– Top private schools: Munising Baptist School (grade B)
– Top places: Munising (grade B+), Au Train Township (grade B+), Munising Township (grade B+)

#28. Genesee County, Michigan

– Overall Rank: 1,114
– Population: 405,280
– Median household income: $58,594
– Median home value: $158,400 (70% own)
– Median rent: $893 (30% rent)
– Top public schools: Genesee Early College (grade A), Mason Elementary School (grade A minus), Myers Elementary School (grade A minus)
– Top private schools: Genesee Academy (grade A), Powers Catholic High School (grade A), CenterPoint Christian Academy (grade B+)
– Top places: Grand Blanc Charter Township (grade A), Grand Blanc (grade A), Fenton (grade A minus)

#27. Calhoun County, Michigan

– Overall Rank: 1,108
– Population: 134,011
– Median household income: $58,191
– Median home value: $138,700 (72% own)
– Median rent: $897 (28% rent)
– Top public schools: Lakeview High School (grade B+), Marshall High School (grade B), Walters Elementary School (grade B)
– Top private schools: St. Philip Catholic Central High School (grade A minus), Battle Creek Academy (grade A minus), Calhoun Christian School (grade C+)
– Top places: Marshall (grade A minus), Marshall Township (grade A minus), Albion (grade B+)

#26. Antrim County, Michigan

– Overall Rank: 895
– Population: 23,662
– Median household income: $68,850
– Median home value: $199,800 (87% own)
– Median rent: $919 (13% rent)
– Top public schools: Cherryland Middle School (grade A minus), Elk Rapids High School (grade B+), Lakeland Elementary School (grade B+)
– Top private schools: Ebenezer Christian School (grade unavailable)
– Top places: Elk Rapids (grade A), Elk Rapids Township (grade A minus), Bellaire (grade B+)

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#25. Saginaw County, Michigan

– Overall Rank: 863
– Population: 189,821
– Median household income: $56,579
– Median home value: $131,100 (73% own)
– Median rent: $876 (27% rent)
– Top public schools: Saginaw Arts & Sciences Academy (grade A), Hemmeter Elementary School (grade A minus), Robert B. Havens Elementary School (grade A minus)
– Top private schools: Michigan Lutheran Seminary (grade A minus), Nouvel Catholic Central High School (grade A minus), Community Baptist Christian School (grade A minus)
– Top places: Frankenmuth (grade A), Freeland (grade A minus), Saginaw Charter Township (grade A minus)

#24. Wayne County, Michigan

– Overall Rank: 839
– Population: 1,781,641
– Median household income: $57,223
– Median home value: $158,600 (64% own)
– Median rent: $1,043 (36% rent)
– Top public schools: Northville High School (grade A+), Plymouth Scholars Charter Academy (grade A+), Grosse Pointe South High School (grade A+)
– Top private schools: University Liggett School (grade A+), University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy (grade A), Al-Ikhlas Training Academy (grade A)
– Top places: Northville (grade A+), Northville Township (grade A+), Grosse Pointe Farms (grade A+)

#23. Isabella County, Michigan

– Overall Rank: 831
– Population: 64,938
– Median household income: $52,638
– Median home value: $159,500 (62% own)
– Median rent: $840 (38% rent)
– Top public schools: Winn Elementary School (grade B+), Shepherd High School (grade B+), Pullen Elementary School (grade B+)
– Top private schools: Sacred Heart Academy (grade A minus), Saginaw Chippewa Academy (grade unavailable), St. Joseph the Worker School (grade unavailable)
– Top places: Mount Pleasant (grade B+), Chippewa Township (grade B+), Union Charter Township (grade B)

#22. Mackinac County, Michigan

– Overall Rank: 729
– Population: 10,843
– Median household income: $60,620
– Median home value: $157,000 (76% own)
– Median rent: $749 (24% rent)
– Top public schools: Cedarville School (grade B), Mackinac Island School (grade B), St. Ignace Elementary/Middle School (grade B minus)
– Top private schools:
– Top places: St. Ignace (grade B+), Mackinac Island (grade A minus), Clark Township (grade A minus)

#21. Chippewa County, Michigan

– Overall Rank: 630
– Population: 36,670
– Median household income: $58,408
– Median home value: $142,000 (74% own)
– Median rent: $785 (26% rent)
– Top public schools: Washington Elementary School (grade A minus), Drummond Island Elementary School (grade B+), Joseph K. Lumsden Bahweting Anishnabe Academy (grade B)
– Top private schools: Maplewood Baptist Academy (grade A minus), St. Mary’s School (grade unavailable), Rudyard Christian School (grade unavailable)
– Top places: Sault Ste. Marie (grade A minus), Soo Township (grade B+), Kinross Charter Township (grade B)

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#20. Eaton County, Michigan

– Overall Rank: 558
– Population: 109,072
– Median household income: $77,158
– Median home value: $194,500 (74% own)
– Median rent: $1,013 (26% rent)
– Top public schools: Leon W. Hayes Middle School (grade A minus), Willow Ridge Elementary School (grade B+), Delta Center Elementary School (grade B+)
– Top private schools: New Covenant Christian School (grade B), St. Gerard Elementary School (grade unavailable), Our Savior Lutheran School (grade unavailable)
– Top places: Waverly (grade A), Grand Ledge (grade A minus), Dimondale (grade A minus)

#19. Macomb County, Michigan

– Overall Rank: 536
– Population: 878,453
– Median household income: $73,876
– Median home value: $216,200 (75% own)
– Median rent: $1,124 (25% rent)
– Top public schools: International Academy of Macomb (grade A+), Messmore Elementary School (grade A), Middle School Mathematics Science Technology Cente (grade A)
– Top private schools: De La Salle Collegiate (grade A), Regina High School (grade A minus), Parkway Christian School (grade A minus)
– Top places: Shelby Charter Township (grade A minus), Sterling Heights (grade A minus), Utica (grade A minus)

#18. Benzie County, Michigan

– Overall Rank: 524
– Population: 18,058
– Median household income: $71,327
– Median home value: $243,600 (88% own)
– Median rent: $970 (12% rent)
– Top public schools: Frankfort Elementary School (grade A minus), Frankfort High School (grade B), Lake Ann Elementary School (grade B)
– Top private schools:
– Top places: Elberta (grade A minus), Gilmore Township (grade A minus), Lake Township (grade B+)

#17. Dickinson County, Michigan

– Overall Rank: 507
– Population: 25,937
– Median household income: $59,651
– Median home value: $122,600 (83% own)
– Median rent: $710 (17% rent)
– Top public schools: Norway Elementary School (grade A minus), Woodland Elementary School (grade A minus), Kingsford High School (grade B+)
– Top private schools: Holy Spirit Central School (grade unavailable)
– Top places: Kingsford (grade A), Iron Mountain (grade A minus), Norway Township (grade A minus)

#16. Clinton County, Michigan

– Overall Rank: 506
– Population: 79,249
– Median household income: $82,594
– Median home value: $226,000 (82% own)
– Median rent: $1,022 (18% rent)
– Top public schools: Waldron Elementary/Middle School (grade A minus), DeWitt High School (grade A minus), DeWitt Junior High School (grade A minus)
– Top private schools: St. Mary Elementary School (grade unavailable), St. Joseph Catholic School (grade unavailable), Most Holy Trinity School (grade unavailable)
– Top places: DeWitt (grade A), DeWitt Charter Township (grade A minus), Eagle Township (grade B+)

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#15. Livingston County, Michigan

– Overall Rank: 465
– Population: 194,302
– Median household income: $96,135
– Median home value: $311,800 (86% own)
– Median rent: $1,207 (14% rent)
– Top public schools: Hornung Elementary School (grade A), Spencer Road Elementary School (grade A), Maltby Intermediate School (grade A)
– Top private schools: Livingston Christian Schools (grade B+), St. Patrick School (grade unavailable), Shepherd of the Lakes Lutheran School (grade unavailable)
– Top places: Brighton Township (grade A), Green Oak Township (grade A), Brighton (grade A)

#14. Charlevoix County, Michigan

– Overall Rank: 425
– Population: 26,174
– Median household income: $69,764
– Median home value: $220,000 (82% own)
– Median rent: $894 (18% rent)
– Top public schools: Boyne City Elementary School (grade B+), Charlevoix Elementary School (grade B+), Boyne City High School (grade B+)
– Top private schools: St. Mary School (grade unavailable), Charlevoix Children’s House (grade unavailable)
– Top places: Boyne City (grade A minus), Marion Township (grade A minus), Charlevoix Township (grade A minus)

#13. Berrien County, Michigan

– Overall Rank: 422
– Population: 153,938
– Median household income: $60,379
– Median home value: $193,600 (73% own)
– Median rent: $885 (27% rent)
– Top public schools: St. Joseph High School (grade A), Upton Middle School (grade A), New Buffalo Elementary School (grade A)
– Top private schools: Andrews Academy (grade A), Our Lady of the Lake Catholic School (grade A), Grace Christian School (grade A minus)
– Top places: St. Joseph (grade A+), Berrien Springs (grade A), Royalton Township (grade A minus)

#12. Marquette County, Michigan

– Overall Rank: 358
– Population: 66,376
– Median household income: $63,115
– Median home value: $184,300 (71% own)
– Median rent: $904 (29% rent)
– Top public schools: Lakeview Elementary School (grade A minus), Negaunee High School (grade A minus), Graveraet Elementary School (grade A minus)
– Top private schools: Father Marquette Catholic Academy (grade B+), Marquette Sda Elem. School (grade unavailable)
– Top places: Marquette (grade A), Negaunee (grade A), Harvey (grade A)

#11. Emmet County, Michigan

– Overall Rank: 311
– Population: 34,072
– Median household income: $69,690
– Median home value: $246,300 (76% own)
– Median rent: $985 (24% rent)
– Top public schools: Lincoln School (grade A minus), Petoskey Middle School (grade A minus), Sheridan School (grade A minus)
– Top private schools: Harbor Light Christian School (grade C+), St. Francis Xavier School (grade unavailable), St. Michael Academy (grade unavailable)
– Top places: Petoskey (grade A), Resort Township (grade A), Bay View (grade A)

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#10. Grand Traverse County, Michigan

– Overall Rank: 209
– Population: 95,315
– Median household income: $75,553
– Median home value: $273,300 (76% own)
– Median rent: $1,147 (24% rent)
– Top public schools: Woodland School (grade A), Kingsley Area Middle School (grade A minus), Central High School (grade A minus)
– Top private schools: Interlochen Arts Academy (grade A+), St. Francis High School (grade B+), Traverse City Christian School (grade B minus)
– Top places: Traverse City (grade A), Acme Township (grade A), East Bay Township (grade A)

#9. Midland County, Michigan

– Overall Rank: 201
– Population: 83,503
– Median household income: $73,643
– Median home value: $171,600 (78% own)
– Median rent: $931 (22% rent)
– Top public schools: H.H. Dow High School (grade A), Jefferson Middle School (grade A), Adams Elementary School (grade A)
– Top private schools: Calvary Baptist Academy (grade B), St. Brigid Catholic School (grade unavailable), St. John’s Lutheran School (grade unavailable)
– Top places: Larkin Charter Township (grade A+), Midland (grade A+), Homer Township (grade A minus)

#8. Leelanau County, Michigan

– Overall Rank: 147
– Population: 22,426
– Median household income: $82,345
– Median home value: $371,200 (90% own)
– Median rent: $1,157 (10% rent)
– Top public schools: Leland Public School (grade A minus), Glen Lake Community Schools (grade B), Leelanau Montessori Public School Academy (grade B)
– Top private schools: The Leelanau School (grade A), St. Mary School – Lake Leelanau (grade B+), The Pathfinder School (grade unavailable)
– Top places: Greilickville (grade B+), Bingham Township (grade B), Northport (grade A)

#7. Kalamazoo County, Michigan

– Overall Rank: 138
– Population: 261,426
– Median household income: $67,905
– Median home value: $209,700 (64% own)
– Median rent: $994 (36% rent)
– Top public schools: Portage West Middle School (grade A), Moorsbridge Elementary School (grade A), Portage Northern High School (grade A)
– Top private schools: Hackett Catholic Prep (grade A), Kalamazoo Christian High School (grade B+), Heritage Christian Academy (grade B+)
– Top places: Portage (grade A), Westwood (grade A), Texas Charter Township (grade A)

#6. Houghton County, Michigan

– Overall Rank: 126
– Population: 37,414
– Median household income: $52,736
– Median home value: $129,200 (69% own)
– Median rent: $743 (31% rent)
– Top public schools: Houghton Central High School (grade A), Houghton Elementary School (grade A), Houghton Middle School (grade A)
– Top private schools: Copper Country Christian School (grade B), Little Huskies Child Development Center (grade unavailable)
– Top places: Houghton (grade A), Portage Charter Township (grade A), Hancock (grade A)

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#5. Ottawa County, Michigan

– Overall Rank: 112
– Population: 296,183
– Median household income: $83,932
– Median home value: $269,200 (78% own)
– Median rent: $1,080 (22% rent)
– Top public schools: Eagle Crest Charter Academy (grade A+), Lakewood Elementary School (grade A), Holmes Elementary School (grade A)
– Top private schools: Calvary Schools of Holland (grade B minus), Unity Christian High School (grade B minus), Hudsonville Christian School (grade unavailable)
– Top places: Zeeland Charter Township (grade A), Spring Lake (grade A), Grand Haven Charter Township (grade A)

#4. Ingham County, Michigan

– Overall Rank: 102
– Population: 282,540
– Median household income: $62,548
– Median home value: $173,600 (59% own)
– Median rent: $1,027 (41% rent)
– Top public schools: Okemos High School (grade A+), Chippewa Middle School (grade A+), Okemos Public Montessori School at Central (grade A+)
– Top private schools: Lansing Catholic High School (grade A minus), Lansing Christian School (grade B+), St. Thomas Aquinas Parish School (grade unavailable)
– Top places: Okemos (grade A+), Haslett (grade A+), East Lansing (grade A)

#3. Kent County, Michigan

– Overall Rank: 84
– Population: 657,321
– Median household income: $76,247
– Median home value: $242,200 (70% own)
– Median rent: $1,111 (30% rent)
– Top public schools: City Middle/High School (grade A+), Cross Creek Charter Academy (grade A+), Northern High School (grade A+)
– Top private schools: West Michigan Lutheran High School (grade A), Grand Rapids Christian High School (grade A minus), The Potter’s House High School (grade A minus)
– Top places: East Grand Rapids (grade A+), Eastgate (grade A+), Eastown (grade A+)

#2. Washtenaw County, Michigan

– Overall Rank: 30
– Population: 370,231
– Median household income: $84,245
– Median home value: $336,300 (61% own)
– Median rent: $1,335 (39% rent)
– Top public schools: Washtenaw International High School (grade A+), Huron High School (grade A+), Community High School (grade A+)
– Top private schools: Greenhills School (grade A+), Michigan Islamic Academy (grade A+), Rudolf Steiner School of Ann Arbor (grade A+)
– Top places: Ann Arbor (grade A+), Pittsfield Charter Township (grade A+), Lodi Township (grade A)

#1. Oakland County, Michigan

– Overall Rank: 23
– Population: 1,272,264
– Median household income: $92,620
– Median home value: $302,800 (72% own)
– Median rent: $1,243 (28% rent)
– Top public schools: International Academy (grade A+), Novi High School (grade A+), Troy High School (grade A+)
– Top private schools: Cranbrook Schools (grade A+), Detroit Country Day School (grade A+), Frankel Jewish Academy of Metro Detroit (grade A+)
– Top places: Troy (grade A+), Novi (grade A+), Birmingham (grade A+)

This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.

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By Stacker