Michigan is one of the snowiest states in America. It borders four of The Great Lakes. And it has some great places to retire.
Whether you’re a fan of long summer nights, long winters, long naps, or just ‘Smitten with The Mitten,’ Michigan has an ideal place for every retiree. Therefore, It was tough to narrow down the top ten best places to retire in Michigan for 2025.
How’d we determine the best places to retire in Michigan? To identify Michigan’s top ten, we consulted the numbers. In total, we analyzed 84 cities for important factors like cost of living, crime, amenities, rent, and the distance to the closest national airport. We limited the analysis to cities with at least 10,000 residents.
Most of the state’s best places to retire center around Detroit. But other areas in this flyover state are just great. Give places like Marquette and Midland a second look.
Here are the best places to retire in Michigan.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Michigan For 2025
Where is the best place to retire in Michigan? According to the latest data, Midland is the best place to retire in Michigan for 2025.
Keep reading to learn more about these Michigan places.
Why did Midland take the top spot? And where are Detroit and Grand Rapids?
For more Michigan state reading:
- Best Places To Live In Michigan
- Cheapest Places To Live In Michigan
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Michigan
- Best Places To Retire In America
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Michigan For 2025
/10
Population: 42,461
Median Income: $74,906
Median Home Price: $192,400
Median Rent: $990
Distance to Closest Airport: 9 miles
More on Midland: Data
/10
Population: 12,060
Median Income: $97,027
Median Home Price: $309,800
Median Rent: $1,081
Distance to Closest Airport: 18 miles
More on New Baltimore: Data
/10
Population: 18,242
Median Income: $78,565
Median Home Price: $202,400
Median Rent: $873
Distance to Closest Airport: 37 miles
More on Trenton: Data
/10
Population: 28,724
Median Income: $49,377
Median Home Price: $136,000
Median Rent: $972
Distance to Closest Airport: 7 miles
More on Port Huron: Data
/10
Population: 10,178
Median Income: $47,604
Median Home Price: $110,400
Median Rent: $599
Distance to Closest Airport: 110 miles
More on Alpena: Data
/10
Population: 12,950
Median Income: $60,729
Median Home Price: $161,100
Median Rent: $789
Distance to Closest Airport: 23 miles
More on Ionia: Data
/10
Population: 12,939
Median Income: $104,920
Median Home Price: $450,800
Median Rent: $1,201
Distance to Closest Airport: 11 miles
More on Rochester: Data
/10
Population: 10,966
Median Income: $60,665
Median Home Price: $242,400
Median Rent: $961
Distance to Closest Airport: 37 miles
More on Grand Haven: Data
/10
Population: 11,825
Median Income: $83,822
Median Home Price: $280,900
Median Rent: $1,208
Distance to Closest Airport: 20 miles
More on South Lyon: Data
/10
Population: 20,691
Median Income: $55,825
Median Home Price: $254,100
Median Rent: $958
Distance to Closest Airport: 13 miles
More on Marquette: Data
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Wolverine State for 2025
To create our ranking of the best places in Michigan to retire, we used Saturday Night Science. We analyzed Census data to find all places in the Wolverine State — 692 cities and towns.
We then narrowed it down to places with at least 10,000 people that weren’t townships. This left us with 84 places from across the state.
For these 84, we looked at the following criteria taken from the Census, the FBI’s Crime Report, National Weather Service, and OpenFlights:
- Low cost of living as measured by rent
- Low crime
- Things to do (Museums, Colleges, and Libraries in town)
- Nice weather
- Distance to the closest international airport
- Other retirees (High median age)
We then ranked each of these places for each criterion from one to 84, with the lowest number being the best.
Finally, we took the average rank across these criteria. The place, in this case Midland, with the lowest average rank, was crowned the best of the best, a place for you to start your second career.
The report has been updated for 2025. This list reflects our tenth time ranking the best places to retire in Michigan.
Summary: Maybe You’re Not Ready To Retire In Michigan Yet…
So there you have it, the best place to retire in Michigan goes to Midland.
The best places to retire in Michigan are Midland, New Baltimore, Trenton, Port Huron, Alpena, Ionia, Rochester, Grand Haven, South Lyon, and Marquette.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:
- Portage
- Norton Shores
- Inkster
For more Michigan reading, check out:
Best Places To Retire In Michigan
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Midland | 42,461 | $74,906 | $192,400 | $990 |
| 2 | New Baltimore | 12,060 | $97,027 | $309,800 | $1,081 |
| 3 | Trenton | 18,242 | $78,565 | $202,400 | $873 |
| 4 | Port Huron | 28,724 | $49,377 | $136,000 | $972 |
| 5 | Alpena | 10,178 | $47,604 | $110,400 | $599 |
| 6 | Ionia | 12,950 | $60,729 | $161,100 | $789 |
| 7 | Rochester | 12,939 | $104,920 | $450,800 | $1,201 |
| 8 | Grand Haven | 10,966 | $60,665 | $242,400 | $961 |
| 9 | South Lyon | 11,825 | $83,822 | $280,900 | $1,208 |
| 10 | Marquette | 20,691 | $55,825 | $254,100 | $958 |