You don’t have to throw a dart at the Michigan mitten to find the best place for your family to live: HomeSnacks has created a list of the most family friendly places in the Great Lakes State for 2026.
But, before we let you in on Michigan’s top ten best places for families, we should tell you a little bit about how we determined the state’s most family friendly places.
First, we consulted the US Census on places in The Wolverine State with more than 10,000 residents. We looked at several factors including crime, education, family friendly activities, and the percent of households that currently have children. We then entered it into our snackability formula and ended up with 84 family friendly Michigan places.
Matter of fact, if you ask any Michigander, they will tell you that Michigan is the best and that their spot on the mitten is above the rest. They will also tell you that the state is great for families because Michigan has one of the highest median household incomes, so they have plenty of extra money to spend on the things that matter. Like, making their neighborhoods safe, their schools competitive, and their families happy, healthy, and entertained.
Speaking of family entertainment, when Michigan families are ready for some fun in the sun, there is plenty of family friendly fun to be had. We think the best family weekend in Michigan would go something like this: first, a trip to the freshest pasty (pronounced pah-sty) shop in Midland; then, a quick road trip to the center of the mitten to watch a football game at the University of Michigan in East Lansing; followed up by a lazy Sunday at Grand Haven Beach.
To learn more about our methodology and to see why Michigan’s top ten best places to raise a family are truly the best of the best, read on.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Best Cities To Raise A Family In Michigan For 2026
Michigan does have beautiful, mild summers, but super snowy winters; so for many, the burning question is: what is it about Michigan that makes over ten million people — 3.8 million families — happy to call it home?
We’ll tell you, point blank, it has a lot to offer. And this is especially evident in Michigan’s number one best place to raise a family, Birmingham.
If you want to see how Michigan’s other amazing best places to raise a family faired, take a look at the list below. And if you don’t see your favorite there, head to the bottom.
More reading about Michigan and the best places for families in the country:
- Best Places To Live In Michigan
- Cheapest Places To Live In Michigan
- Best Cities To Raise A Family In America
- Best States To Raise A Family In America
The 10 Best Places To Raise A Family In Michigan For 2026
/10
Population: 21,763
Median Income: $153,510
Average Home Price: $733,351
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 34
Closest Major City: Detroit
Households with kids: 28.4%
More on Birmingham: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 12,934
Median Income: $111,750
Average Home Price: $486,536
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 50
Closest Major City: Detroit
Households with kids: 27.0%
More on Rochester: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 10,524
Median Income: $177,412
Average Home Price: $587,950
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 45
Closest Major City: Detroit
Households with kids: 37.3%
More on Beverly Hills: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 15,149
Median Income: $116,239
Average Home Price: $314,815
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 48
Closest Major City: Detroit
Households with kids: 24.9%
More on Berkley: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 11,950
Median Income: $92,467
Average Home Price: $467,291
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 34
Closest Major City: Detroit
Households with kids: 24.7%
More on South Lyon: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 87,898
Median Income: $120,045
Average Home Price: $457,479
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 51
Closest Major City: Detroit
Households with kids: 31.5%
More on Troy: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 11,374
Median Income: $88,636
Average Home Price: $286,025
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 61
Closest Major City: Detroit
Households with kids: 18.8%
More on Clawson: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 66,717
Median Income: $110,723
Average Home Price: $467,223
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 57
Closest Major City: Detroit
Households with kids: 34.9%
More on Novi: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 12,072
Median Income: $106,033
Average Home Price: $354,732
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 59
Closest Major City: Detroit
Households with kids: 26.3%
More on New Baltimore: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 77,089
Median Income: $120,694
Average Home Price: $465,253
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 54
Closest Major City: Detroit
Households with kids: 30.8%
More on Rochester Hills: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Methodology: How do you determine which place is best for families in Michigan anyways?
To give you the places in Michigan that are best for families, we must look at a handful of metrics. We want to measure the criteria people want in a family-friendly city utilizing Saturday Night Science.
After researching U.S. Census data produced for the state of Michigan, we looked at the data for every single city in the state. We paid particular attention to:
- Crime (Both violent and property)
- Quality of local schools
- Distance to a major city without necessarily being in it
- % of households with children
- Family-friendly amenities nearby (museums, libraries, and colleges)
We then gave each city a “Family Score.”
The higher the score, the better the city is for families. We also limited our results to cities with over 10,000 people. For Michigan, that meant a total of 84 cities.
We updated this article for 2026. This is our eleventh time ranking the best cities for families in Michigan.
Summary: The Best Places To Raise A Family In Michigan
If you’re looking for a breakdown of cities in Michigan ranked by criteria that most agree make a place a great spot for families, this is an accurate list.
The best places for families in Michigan are Birmingham, Rochester, Beverly Hills, Berkley, South Lyon, Troy, Clawson, Novi, New Baltimore, and Rochester Hills.
Here’s a look at the best cities for singles Michigan according to the data:
- Burton
- Sault Ste. Marie
- Roseville
For more Michigan reading, check out:
Best Places For Families In Michigan
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price | Amenities Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Birmingham, MI | 21,763 | $153,510 | $733,351 | 64 |
| 2 | Rochester, MI | 12,934 | $111,750 | $486,536 | 59 |
| 3 | Beverly Hills, MI | 10,524 | $177,412 | $587,950 | 44 |
| 4 | Berkley, MI | 15,149 | $116,239 | $314,815 | 47 |
| 5 | South Lyon, MI | 11,950 | $92,467 | $467,291 | 58 |
| 6 | Troy, MI | 87,898 | $120,045 | $457,479 | 40 |
| 7 | Clawson, MI | 11,374 | $88,636 | $286,025 | 61 |
| 8 | Novi, MI | 66,717 | $110,723 | $467,223 | 57 |
| 9 | New Baltimore, MI | 12,072 | $106,033 | $354,732 | 35 |
| 10 | Rochester Hills, MI | 77,089 | $120,694 | $465,253 | 60 |