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 2026.
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.
$1,039 median rent · $106,033 median income · #28 cheapest rent in Michigan
Located in
Macomb County, Michigan
New Baltimore is a city and a historic, coastal resort community in Macomb County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 12,084 at the 2010 census. New Baltimore is in Metropolitan Detroit.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$1,048 median rent · $73,325 median income · #29 cheapest rent in Michigan
Located in
Midland County, Michigan
Midland is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan in the Tri-Cities region of Central Michigan. It is the county seat of Midland County. The city’s population was 41,863 as of the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Midland Micropolitan Statistical Area, part of the larger Saginaw-Midland-Bay City Combined Statistical Area. In 2010, Midland was named the no. 4 Best Small City to raise a family in by Forbes magazine.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$880 median rent · $82,212 median income · #9 cheapest rent in Michigan
Located in
Wayne County, Michigan
Trenton is a small city in Wayne County in the southeast portion of the U.S. state of Michigan. At the 2010 census, the city population was 18,853. The city is part of Downriver, a collection of mostly blue-collar communities south of Detroit on the west bank of the Detroit River. Trenton is known for its waterfront and growing boating community.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$625 median rent · $47,545 median income · #1 cheapest rent in Michigan
Located in
Alpena County, Michigan
Alpena is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Alpena County. It is considered to be part of northern Michigan. The Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary is located in the city. The population was 10,483 at the 2010 census. The population swells with a large number of visitors in the summer.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$982 median rent · $50,366 median income · #21 cheapest rent in Michigan
Located in
St. Clair County, Michigan
Port Huron is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of St. Clair County. The population was 30,184 at the 2010 census. The city is adjacent to Port Huron Township but is administratively autonomous. Located along the St. Clair River, it is connected to Point Edward, Ontario in Canada via the Blue Water Bridge. The city lies at the southern end of Lake Huron and is the easternmost point on land in Michigan. Port Huron is home to two paper mills; Mueller Brass; and many businesses related to tourism and the automotive industry. The city features a historic downtown area, boardwalk, marina, museum, lighthouse, and the McMorran Place arena and entertainment complex.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$1,350 median rent · $111,750 median income · #69 cheapest rent in Michigan
Located in
Oakland County, Michigan
Rochester is a city on the north side of the Detroit Metropolitan Area, in Oakland County, in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 12,711 at the 2010 census.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$939 median rent · $60,669 median income · #15 cheapest rent in Michigan
Located in
Ottawa County, Michigan
Grand Haven is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Ottawa County. Grand Haven is located on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan at the mouth of the Grand River, for which it is named. As of the 2010 census, Grand Haven had a population of 10,412. It is part of the Grand Rapids Metropolitan Area, which had a population of 1,027,703 in 2014. The city is home to the Grand Haven Memorial Airpark and is located just north of Grand Haven Charter Township.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$1,310 median rent · $92,467 median income · #59 cheapest rent in Michigan
Located in
Oakland County, Michigan
South Lyon is a city in Southwestern Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan, in Metro Detroit. The population was 11,327 at the 2010 census. The city is part of the South Lyon-Howell-Brighton Urban Area, which had a population of 106,139 according to the 2000 census. South Lyon is located in Oakland County’s Lyon Township, near the Livingston County and Washtenaw County lines. The city is 19 miles north of Ann Arbor, 45 miles west of Detroit and 58 miles east of Lansing.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$852 median rent · $63,978 median income · #7 cheapest rent in Michigan
Located in
Ionia County, Michigan
Ionia is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Ionia County, Michigan, United States. The population was 11,394 at the 2010 census. Every late July it hosts what is said to be the world’s largest free-admission fair. The city is mostly within Ionia Township, with small portion extending into Easton Township and Berlin Township, but is politically autonomous of the townships.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$1,177 median rent · $60,449 median income · #46 cheapest rent in Michigan
Located in
Livingston County, Michigan
Howell is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 9,489. It is the county seat of Livingston County and is located mostly within Howell Township, but is politically independent from Howell Township. The city is part of the South Lyon-Howell-Brighton Urban Area.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
The receipts
Compare the top ten
Pick a metric. The bars rescale. The red line is Michigan’s statewide median.
Michigan statewide median: $72,875
Michigan statewide median: $259,857
On the map
Where to retire in Michigan
Saturday Night Science
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Wolverine State for 2026
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 New Baltimore, 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 2026. This list reflects our eleventh time ranking the best places to retire in Michigan.
The full plate
Best Places To Retire In Michigan
Click any column to sort. Search by city name.
| Rank | City | Retire Score | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Baltimore | 20.20 | 12,072 | $106,033 | $354,733 | $1,039 |
| 2 | Midland | 21.20 | 42,724 | $73,325 | $247,417 | $1,048 |
| 3 | Trenton | 23.30 | 18,125 | $82,212 | $239,684 | $880 |
| 4 | Alpena | 23.70 | 10,154 | $47,545 | $187,287 | $625 |
| 5 | Port Huron | 24.40 | 28,620 | $50,366 | $170,018 | $982 |
| 6 | Rochester | 25.30 | 12,934 | $111,750 | $486,537 | $1,350 |
| 7 | Grand Haven | 25.30 | 10,996 | $60,669 | $391,797 | $939 |
| 8 | South Lyon | 27.50 | 11,950 | $92,467 | $467,292 | $1,310 |
| 9 | Ionia | 27.80 | 12,753 | $63,978 | $222,836 | $852 |
| 10 | Howell | 28.00 | 10,021 | $60,449 | $377,375 | $1,177 |
| 11 | Fraser | 28.20 | 14,583 | $64,354 | $234,792 | $843 |
| 12 | Marquette | 28.80 | 21,325 | $55,613 | $323,189 | $1,011 |
| 13 | Clawson | 29.00 | 11,374 | $88,636 | $286,026 | $1,253 |
| 14 | Birmingham | 30.00 | 21,763 | $153,510 | $733,351 | $1,902 |
| 15 | Escanaba | 30.20 | 12,354 | $45,369 | $175,184 | $657 |
| 16 | Owosso | 31.30 | 14,632 | $54,229 | $183,751 | $784 |
| 17 | Livonia | 33.40 | 93,851 | $98,460 | $309,576 | $1,322 |
| 18 | Flat Rock | 33.60 | 10,340 | $81,585 | $257,473 | $919 |
| 19 | Wyandotte | 34.10 | 24,489 | $71,987 | $186,227 | $972 |
| 20 | Wixom | 34.10 | 17,295 | $65,485 | $384,492 | $1,035 |
| 21 | Wayne | 34.30 | 17,310 | $59,038 | $172,173 | $974 |
| 22 | Farmington Hills | 34.40 | 83,515 | $104,836 | $387,308 | $1,551 |
| 23 | Coldwater | 34.80 | 13,671 | $50,781 | $210,965 | $943 |
| 24 | Rochester Hills | 36.50 | 77,089 | $120,694 | $465,253 | $1,644 |
| 25 | Niles | 36.70 | 11,803 | $51,376 | $204,971 | $855 |
| 26 | Beverly Hills | 36.80 | 10,524 | $177,412 | $587,951 | $2,077 |
| 27 | Saginaw | 36.90 | 43,536 | $38,579 | $128,098 | $922 |
| 28 | Cadillac | 37.60 | 10,445 | $51,773 | $228,847 | $842 |
| 29 | Troy | 38.30 | 87,898 | $120,045 | $457,480 | $1,602 |
| 30 | St. Clair Shores | 38.60 | 58,140 | $73,500 | $227,950 | $1,183 |
| 31 | Riverview | 38.60 | 12,186 | $73,468 | $242,241 | $1,101 |
| 32 | Sterling Heights | 39.60 | 133,573 | $79,909 | $306,785 | $1,292 |
| 33 | Pontiac | 40.00 | 62,104 | $44,329 | $137,921 | $1,063 |
| 34 | Novi | 40.20 | 66,717 | $110,723 | $467,223 | $1,747 |
| 35 | Berkley | 40.60 | 15,149 | $116,239 | $314,815 | $1,526 |
| 36 | Mount Pleasant | 41.10 | 21,236 | $44,706 | $220,400 | $922 |
| 37 | Flint | 41.20 | 80,175 | $37,646 | $65,072 | $915 |
| 38 | Farmington | 41.40 | 11,504 | $97,750 | $327,491 | $1,340 |
| 39 | Madison Heights | 42.60 | 28,419 | $69,503 | $219,511 | $1,176 |
| 40 | Ferndale | 42.80 | 19,190 | $94,640 | $250,328 | $1,311 |
| 41 | Westland | 43.00 | 83,633 | $62,076 | $211,889 | $1,158 |
| 42 | Royal Oak | 43.40 | 57,950 | $101,109 | $331,359 | $1,381 |
| 43 | Woodhaven | 43.90 | 12,690 | $78,648 | $266,356 | $1,096 |
| 44 | Allen Park | 44.80 | 27,925 | $81,655 | $206,256 | $1,246 |
| 45 | Holland | 45.60 | 34,423 | $75,865 | $364,546 | $1,193 |
| 46 | Burton | 46.20 | 29,500 | $60,052 | $152,877 | $1,009 |
| 47 | Warren | 46.60 | 137,928 | $64,016 | $196,785 | $1,225 |
| 48 | Hamtramck | 46.60 | 27,743 | $39,293 | $164,411 | $989 |
| 49 | Southfield | 46.90 | 76,236 | $68,166 | $250,952 | $1,340 |
| 50 | Adrian | 46.90 | 20,395 | $50,209 | $185,079 | $956 |
| 51 | East Grand Rapids | 47.40 | 11,445 | $166,610 | $664,184 | $1,862 |
| 52 | Auburn Hills | 47.70 | 25,105 | $84,375 | $277,483 | $1,477 |
| 53 | Grand Rapids | 47.80 | 198,535 | $69,108 | $303,298 | $1,266 |
| 54 | Battle Creek | 48.00 | 52,374 | $55,693 | $176,635 | $957 |
| 55 | Hazel Park | 48.00 | 14,963 | $67,073 | $155,502 | $1,314 |
| 56 | Romulus | 48.50 | 24,831 | $69,151 | $203,010 | $1,049 |
| 57 | Jackson | 48.60 | 31,058 | $44,558 | $187,175 | $898 |
| 58 | Melvindale | 48.60 | 12,554 | $42,185 | $139,402 | $1,110 |
| 59 | Ypsilanti | 48.80 | 19,857 | $46,588 | $282,887 | $1,080 |
| 60 | Southgate | 49.00 | 29,366 | $66,118 | $192,161 | $1,120 |
| 61 | Grosse Pointe Woods | 50.50 | 16,094 | $126,395 | $349,101 | $1,879 |
| 62 | Oak Park | 50.80 | 29,318 | $71,510 | $232,982 | $1,396 |
| 63 | Grosse Pointe Park | 50.80 | 11,319 | $124,111 | $502,195 | $1,379 |
| 64 | East Lansing | 51.00 | 45,758 | $45,687 | $311,383 | $1,171 |
| 65 | Detroit | 51.10 | 638,530 | $39,938 | $75,358 | $1,074 |
| 66 | Roseville | 51.30 | 47,123 | $62,182 | $168,929 | $1,233 |
| 67 | Wyoming | 52.10 | 77,353 | $73,677 | $286,890 | $1,196 |
| 68 | Kentwood | 52.50 | 54,296 | $74,373 | $331,531 | $1,260 |
| 69 | Lansing | 52.60 | 113,023 | $54,382 | $163,359 | $993 |
| 70 | Dearborn Heights | 53.50 | 61,771 | $60,391 | $212,389 | $1,331 |
| 71 | Sault Ste. Marie | 53.50 | 13,335 | $55,328 | $156,408 | $804 |
| 72 | Walker | 53.60 | 25,386 | $76,360 | $352,818 | $1,202 |
| 73 | Fenton | 53.60 | 11,906 | $80,000 | $355,969 | $1,275 |
| 74 | Dearborn | 54.30 | 107,423 | $65,324 | $245,068 | $1,327 |
| 75 | Grandville | 55.90 | 16,356 | $78,442 | $353,731 | $1,143 |
| 76 | Ann Arbor | 56.40 | 122,036 | $82,212 | $523,391 | $1,649 |
| 77 | Lincoln Park | 56.50 | 39,257 | $58,616 | $150,869 | $1,023 |
| 78 | Eastpointe | 56.50 | 33,982 | $62,325 | $150,775 | $1,325 |
| 79 | Taylor | 56.60 | 62,081 | $61,081 | $175,806 | $1,101 |
| 80 | Inkster | 56.70 | 25,428 | $39,252 | $108,131 | $1,170 |
| 81 | Kalamazoo | 57.30 | 73,076 | $52,272 | $236,274 | $1,078 |
| 82 | Harper Woods | 57.60 | 15,116 | $65,022 | $153,570 | $1,351 |
| 83 | Portage | 58.00 | 49,259 | $83,212 | $292,450 | $1,133 |
| 84 | Norton Shores | 58.60 | 25,041 | $76,579 | $287,720 | $1,341 |
Source: U.S. Census ACS 2020-2024, FBI UCR, OpenFlights. 84 cities with more than 10,000 residents.
Summary
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 New Baltimore.
The best places to retire in Michigan are New Baltimore, Midland, Trenton, Alpena, Port Huron, Rochester, Grand Haven, South Lyon, Ionia, and Howell.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley. Not sold on Michigan? Take the two-minute Find Your Place quiz and see which state actually fits you.
Questions and answers
Best Places To Retire In Michigan FAQs
What is the best place to retire in Michigan?
New Baltimore is the best place to retire in Michigan for 2026, according to Saturday Night Science. Midland and Trenton are next.
What are the best places to retire in Michigan?
The best places to retire in Michigan are New Baltimore, Midland, Trenton, Alpena, Port Huron, Rochester, Grand Haven, South Lyon, Ionia, and Howell. We ranked all 84 cities with more than 10,000 residents.
How do you rank retirement spots?
We score every qualifying Michigan city on rent, crime, things to do, weather, airport access, and median age. The city that balances all six best, New Baltimore, takes the top spot.
How much does a home cost in New Baltimore?
The median home in New Baltimore runs $354,733, against $259,857 across Michigan as a whole. Across the full top ten, the median home costs $301,075.
Which Michigan place came in last for retirees?
Norton Shores lands at the bottom of the retirement ranking for Michigan. Not ready to retire anyway? Then Norton Shores might suit you fine.
