Looking for the best places to live in Michigan?
Youre in good hands.
5 Best Large Cities in Michigan
1.
From families with young children to career climbers and retirees.
Theres a nice split in this community of owners versus renters, with the average rent being $1,595.
Its one of the most expensive cities in Michigan.
Fun fact: A Grand Rapids man is credited with creating the now-famous Pop-Tarts.
Sterling Heights
Sterling Heights is known for being one of the safest cities in Michigan.
While the majority of the community is families, its as accommodating for single professionals as retirees.
The main thing is the lacking nightlife scene.
Its also a culturally diverse town.
Rental rates are around $1,700, which is down from the August 2022 high of $1,900.
Sterling Heights hasnt seen the average home price above $300,000 in at least the past five years.
Its also home to The Henry Ford, by far the biggest tourist attraction in Michigan.
Housing prices are at the highest in the past five years.Rental rates come in at $1,650.
The farther north you go in Livonia, the safer the neighborhoods are.
Macomb
Macomb is one of the best places to live in Michigan to raise a family.
It was ranked as one of thebest places to liveby Money Magazine in 2021.
This is a tight-knit community with an average income of $106,000.
Theaverage rental priceshave dropped nearly $600 since 2022, with a median rent of $1,650.
Meanwhile, home prices have gone up with the population increase.
Macomb has 15% more people in 2020 than in 2010.
Housing prices have increased by 60% in the past five years.
5 Best Mid-Sized Cities in Michigan
6.
Its one of the best places to live in Michigan if you love the outdoors.
Rental rates might sting a bit, with themedian rent being $2,175.
Whats so special about this place?
Theres a reason Kid Rock chose to sing about summertime in Northern Michigan.
Marquette
You might visit Marquette and end up moving there.
The city has a way of luring you in with all the amenities.
Its one of the best places to live in Michigan to be a tourist in your own city.
Youll have superior water activities on Lake Superior and robust spring waterfalls.
The community is known for events like the U.P.
Rental prices areclosing in on $2,100 a month, which is about average compared to the national rate.
Home prices peaked in July 2022 at $417,489 and have dropped slightly since then.
That makes up for the lack of public transportation to Detroit.
This place is best for people of any age who want to live the lake life.
People love living in Muskegon for the easy access to Lake Michigan.
Theres an added bonus of being 45 minutes from the larger city of Grand Rapids.
The city cradles the southern edge of Muskegon Lake, so water access is never a problem.
For those looking at starter homes, you could eventually parlay it into a rental when you size up.
Since the housing market here covers both Ypsilanti and Ypsilanti Township, youll need to choose the neighborhood carefully.
South of I-94 has lower crime rates but is also further from the robust food scene and nightlife.
Residents can also enjoy the beauty of Ford Lake or the banks of the Huron River.
Rental rates are affordable, almost half the national average, at $1,149.
Its clear that it caters to a college town because the housing prices are north of $320,000.
Housing prices have increased 77% in the past five years.
5 Best Small Cities in Michigan
11.
Marie in the UP is bordered by a Canadian city of the same name.
Its also ideal for outdoor lovers of any age.
Rental rates in Sault Ste.
Marie are appealing, making the second on our list to come in under $1,000.
The affordable home prices are attractive, and thats indicative of the general cost of living in The Soo.
Be prepared to use cash if it’s possible for you to because homes here sell quickly.
The rental prices are surprisingly reasonablefor a resort destination, coming in at $1,400.
Petoskey made headlines in mid-2023 for havingthe most expensive house for sale in the state.
Rental prices come with a little sticker shock, averaging $2,200.
That might be a tough nut to crack for the professionals working in the various retail and restaurant areas.
Frankenmuth also has one of thefastest-growing home valuesin the state, so dont wait too long.
It doesnt seem like this bubble is going to burst any time soon.
From the Bavarian Christmas to the water parks of summer, theres something waiting for everyone in Little Bavaria.
Youll have about five ski resorts nearby to scratch that itch.
At $1,400, rental prices are reasonable and down by $600 year-to-year.
You wont have much wiggle room on pricing as the housing market is hot.
Despite the popularity of the U.P., Houghton has kept prices down.
The island was ranked one of theBest Islands in Americaby Conde Nast Traveler.
Its one of the best cities in Michigan to enjoy every benefit of the Great Lakes State.
Home prices are reasonable for a tourist destination, but expect waterfront properties to go for much higher.
With the city surrounded by water on three sides, theres plenty of room for everyone.
Hope you enjoyed the post!
Map of the best places to live in Michigan
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