Some of you might be asking yourself, at this very moment, is Michigan a good place?
The answer is unequivocally yes… if you know where to locate the best counties to live in Michigan.
Lucky for you, we’re here to help you identify the best counties to live in the Wolverine State based on the most recently available data from the Census. And this isn’t our first rodeo — we’ve been using Saturday Night Science to rank places for years.
The question becomes if you wanted to relocate to the best part of Michigan, where would you go? To answer that, we looked at crime, cost of living, and demographic data for all 83 counties in the state.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Table | FAQs | Summary
The 10 Best Counties To Live In Michigan For 2026
Leelanau County is the county to be when it comes to living the good life in Michigan. And you should avoid Oscoda County if you can — at least according to the data.
Now you know exactly where to move in Michigan. Keep on reading for more about the top ten and a detailed methodology.
Or, check out the best places to live in Michigan and the cheapest places to live in Michigan.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The Best Counties To Live In Michigan For 2026
1. Leelanau County
Biggest Place: Traverse City
Population: 22,734
Median Income: $99,422 (2nd best)
Median Home Price: $622,873 (best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.4% (7th best)
More on Leelanau County: Data
2. Livingston County
Biggest Place: Fenton
Population: 195,833
Median Income: $103,039 (best)
Median Home Price: $394,423 (7th best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.4% (6th best)
More on Livingston County: Data
3. Ottawa County
Biggest Place: Holland
Population: 301,203
Median Income: $90,502 (4th best)
Median Home Price: $389,373 (8th best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.5% (8th best)
More on Ottawa County: Data
4. Clinton County
Biggest Place: Lansing
Population: 79,626
Median Income: $88,210 (6th best)
Median Home Price: $307,951 (13th best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.8% (11th best)
More on Clinton County: Data
5. Grand Traverse County
Biggest Place: Traverse City
Population: 96,166
Median Income: $81,647 (9th best)
Median Home Price: $410,918 (4th best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.8% (10th best)
More on Grand Traverse County: Data
6. Oakland County
Biggest Place: Troy
Population: 1,279,825
Median Income: $97,760 (3rd best)
Median Home Price: $365,349 (9th best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.8% (36th best)
More on Oakland County: Data
7. Allegan County
Biggest Place: Holland
Population: 121,456
Median Income: $83,283 (7th best)
Median Home Price: $342,789 (12th best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.0% (2nd best)
More on Allegan County: Data
8. Eaton County
Biggest Place: Lansing
Population: 109,130
Median Income: $79,597 (10th best)
Median Home Price: $256,124 (24th best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.5% (30th best)
More on Eaton County: Data
9. Emmet County
Biggest Place: Petoskey
Population: 34,125
Median Income: $78,112 (11th best)
Median Home Price: $442,793 (2nd best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.2% (4th best)
More on Emmet County: Data
10. Charlevoix County
Biggest Place: Boyne City
Population: 26,108
Median Income: $76,531 (17th best)
Median Home Price: $400,415 (5th best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.4% (5th best)
More on Charlevoix County: Data
Methodology: How do you determine which Michigan county is the best?
To give you the best county in Michigan, we have to look at a handful of metrics that signal the quality of a place. To do that, we made assumptions about what’s in a “best county” and what isn’t. For reference, we are trying to make the kind of argument you’d make at a bar using facts, Saturday Night Science.
With that in mind, we went to two of the best data sources on the internet. Namely, the American Community Survey data and FBI Crime data for the most recent period.
We paid particular attention to:
- Violent Crime Rates
- Property Crime Rates
- Median Home Values
- Median Income
- Unemployment Rates
- Adult Education Levels
- Health Insurance Coverage
- Poverty Rates
We then ranked each county in Michigan across each of the criteria from one to 83, with one being the best.
Taking the average rank across all criteria, we created a quality of life score with the county posting the lowest overall score being the “Best County To Live In Michigan.”
The result is some of the safest, quietest, and best counties to raise a family in the Wolverine State.
We updated this article for 2026. This report is our eleventh time ranking the best counties to live in Michigan.
Read on to see why Leelanau County is the best county, while Oscoda County is probably in contention for being the worst county in Michigan.
Summary: The Best Counties In Michigan To Call Home For 2026
Living in Michigan can vary from one part of the state to the next — who woulda thought?
The best counties in Michigan are Leelanau County, Livingston County, Ottawa County, Clinton County, Grand Traverse County, Oakland County, Allegan County, Eaton County, Emmet County, and Charlevoix County.
But now you know the outstanding parts and the parts to avoid, and that’s why you came here to learn at the end of the day.
You are welcome.
Here’s a look at the worst counties in Michigan according to the data:
- Oscoda County
- Clare County
- Lake County
For more Michigan reading, check out:
- Best Counties To Live In Michigan
- Best Places To Retire In Michigan
- Cheapest Places To Live In Michigan
- Richest Cities In Michigan
Detailed List Of The Best Counties In Michigan
| Rank | County | Population | Median Income | Median Home Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leelanau County | 22,734 | $99,422 | $622,873 |
| 2 | Livingston County | 195,833 | $103,039 | $394,423 |
| 3 | Ottawa County | 301,203 | $90,502 | $389,373 |
| 4 | Clinton County | 79,626 | $88,210 | $307,951 |
| 5 | Grand Traverse County | 96,166 | $81,647 | $410,918 |
| 6 | Oakland County | 1,279,825 | $97,760 | $365,349 |
| 7 | Allegan County | 121,456 | $83,283 | $342,789 |
| 8 | Eaton County | 109,130 | $79,597 | $256,124 |
| 9 | Emmet County | 34,125 | $78,112 | $442,793 |
| 10 | Charlevoix County | 26,108 | $76,531 | $400,415 |
| 11 | Washtenaw County | 369,822 | $89,180 | $413,406 |
| 12 | Midland County | 83,757 | $77,705 | $240,607 |
| 13 | Benzie County | 18,310 | $74,834 | $398,791 |
| 14 | Kent County | 663,150 | $82,631 | $350,514 |
| 15 | Monroe County | 155,505 | $77,335 | $262,019 |
| 16 | Antrim County | 24,127 | $72,054 | $344,946 |
| 17 | Barry County | 63,409 | $77,500 | $292,489 |
| 18 | Otsego County | 25,584 | $68,183 | $250,615 |
| 19 | Dickinson County | 25,954 | $65,156 | $174,150 |
| 20 | Shiawassee County | 67,991 | $67,404 | $208,279 |
| 21 | Marquette County | 67,112 | $65,429 | $243,684 |
| 22 | Lapeer County | 88,837 | $77,306 | $290,142 |
| 23 | Kalamazoo County | 262,375 | $72,532 | $270,403 |
| 24 | Ionia County | 66,574 | $75,611 | $256,599 |
| 25 | Macomb County | 879,853 | $77,837 | $266,671 |
| 26 | St. Clair County | 160,221 | $71,270 | $252,002 |
| 27 | Lenawee County | 98,415 | $70,518 | $236,511 |
| 28 | Mason County | 29,207 | $64,748 | $264,154 |
| 29 | Jackson County | 160,060 | $66,073 | $221,074 |
| 30 | Menominee County | 23,247 | $56,435 | $177,338 |
| 31 | Kalkaska County | 18,239 | $68,578 | $223,569 |
| 32 | Alger County | 8,762 | $61,286 | $207,843 |
| 33 | Delta County | 36,813 | $57,809 | $197,756 |
| 34 | Bay County | 103,008 | $61,763 | $179,475 |
| 35 | Alcona County | 10,397 | $54,993 | $187,439 |
| 36 | Muskegon County | 175,961 | $65,024 | $247,206 |
| 37 | Gratiot County | 41,385 | $63,556 | $179,893 |
| 38 | Manistee County | 25,350 | $63,516 | $255,974 |
| 39 | Cass County | 51,520 | $70,443 | $264,052 |
| 40 | Huron County | 31,113 | $58,870 | $192,818 |
| 41 | Van Buren County | 75,795 | $68,114 | $268,116 |
| 42 | Berrien County | 153,288 | $65,425 | $271,062 |
| 43 | Tuscola County | 52,980 | $63,811 | $182,325 |
| 44 | Keweenaw County | 2,133 | $52,583 | $206,637 |
| 45 | Cheboygan County | 25,865 | $62,875 | $245,407 |
| 46 | Missaukee County | 15,207 | $66,194 | $226,792 |
| 47 | Ingham County | 283,913 | $65,526 | $221,626 |
| 48 | Newaygo County | 50,792 | $63,304 | $247,158 |
| 49 | Montcalm County | 67,816 | $67,344 | $231,035 |
| 50 | Hillsdale County | 45,654 | $64,242 | $206,559 |
| 51 | Chippewa County | 36,295 | $62,217 | $192,557 |
| 52 | Houghton County | 37,693 | $58,899 | $182,733 |
| 53 | Wexford County | 34,077 | $61,085 | $228,171 |
| 54 | Roscommon County | 23,737 | $55,246 | $186,502 |
| 55 | Ontonagon County | 5,850 | $54,398 | $129,977 |
| 56 | Mecosta County | 41,242 | $60,951 | $223,012 |
| 57 | St. Joseph County | 60,969 | $66,425 | $200,054 |
| 58 | Baraga County | 8,191 | $55,327 | $165,995 |
| 59 | Iron County | 11,667 | $55,940 | $137,826 |
| 60 | Presque Isle County | 13,209 | $59,321 | $216,760 |
| 61 | Oceana County | 26,915 | $62,417 | $248,644 |
| 62 | Calhoun County | 133,778 | $63,177 | $183,795 |
| 63 | Schoolcraft County | 8,128 | $56,782 | $188,564 |
| 64 | Gogebic County | 14,319 | $52,732 | $124,497 |
| 65 | Saginaw County | 188,665 | $60,622 | $167,795 |
| 66 | Mackinac County | 10,957 | $63,909 | $221,216 |
| 67 | Genesee County | 403,305 | $62,281 | $189,844 |
| 68 | Crawford County | 13,369 | $60,392 | $172,955 |
| 69 | Arenac County | 15,077 | $58,811 | $160,117 |
| 70 | Branch County | 45,300 | $63,724 | $201,004 |
| 71 | Alpena County | 28,880 | $53,950 | $189,252 |
| 72 | Sanilac County | 40,462 | $58,863 | $202,763 |
| 73 | Isabella County | 64,565 | $55,237 | $222,852 |
| 74 | Iosco County | 25,347 | $50,066 | $164,596 |
| 75 | Osceola County | 23,227 | $58,267 | $192,206 |
| 76 | Luce County | 6,271 | $54,893 | $129,755 |
| 77 | Montmorency County | 9,516 | $49,756 | $178,115 |
| 78 | Gladwin County | 25,693 | $55,349 | $184,535 |
| 79 | Ogemaw County | 20,885 | $54,666 | $177,332 |
| 80 | Wayne County | 1,772,259 | $60,539 | $174,829 |
| 81 | Lake County | 12,563 | $50,805 | $160,998 |
| 82 | Clare County | 31,218 | $49,384 | $156,086 |
| 83 | Oscoda County | 8,425 | $49,515 | $144,121 |