
Michigan county rankings
Best counties in Michigan to live
We scored 82 counties with 5,000+ residents on home affordability, unemployment, education, population growth and total crime per 100,000 people.
| # | County | Score | Home value | Income | Unemployment | Crime /100k |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leelanau County | 76 | $406,900 | $91,943 | 3.9% | 248 |
| 2 | Antrim County | 74 | $222,500 | $71,421 | 4.1% | 498 |
| 3 | Livingston County | 73 | $331,100 | $101,315 | 3.7% | 382 |
| 4 | Midland County | 73 | $184,300 | $77,538 | 4.8% | 578 |
| 5 | Clinton County | 72 | $243,700 | $85,928 | 3.7% | 535 |
| 6 | Iron County | 72 | $101,500 | $53,614 | 4.7% | 633 |
| 7 | Benzie County | 71 | $254,400 | $72,603 | 4.1% | 339 |
| 8 | Dickinson County | 70 | $130,300 | $61,882 | 4.1% | — |
| 9 | Emmet County | 68 | $275,300 | $73,724 | 3.6% | 385 |
| 10 | Houghton County | 67 | $140,300 | $56,573 | 5.7% | 446 |
| 11 | Grand Traverse County | 66 | $296,200 | $79,486 | 3.6% | 662 |
| 12 | Ottawa County | 66 | $291,200 | $87,144 | 3.6% | 949 |
| 13 | Presque Isle County | 66 | $135,200 | $56,713 | 6.3% | 294 |
| 14 | Allegan County | 63 | $247,000 | $80,255 | 3.0% | 1,008 |
| 15 | Otsego County | 61 | $196,500 | $67,285 | 4.5% | 846 |
Also see: Where to move in Michigan
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023); FBI Crime Data Explorer county agency totals. "—" means no reporting data.
Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.
See the full Smart Movers Club report on Michigan