The 10 Best Small Towns In Michigan For 2025


The best small towns in Michigan are Sylvan Lake and Village Of Grosse Pointe Shores for 2025 based on Saturday Night Science.

By: Chris Kolmar | About HomeSnacks
Last Updated: October 1, 2025

You’ve seen these lists before. Best places to live in Michigan. Best sururbs in Michigan. Best counties in Michigan.

Etc., etc., etc.

But they all focus on major cities and towns in the Wolverine State, and no one pays attention to the little guy.

Well, that’s all about to change as we put together a list of the superb small towns in Michigan based on numbers–not opinions or hearsay.

We’ll dive right into our methodology in the next section, but first, we thought you might want to know which places in Michigan ranked the best based on Saturday Night Science.

Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table

The 15 Best Small Towns To Live In Michigan For 2025

  1. Sylvan Lake
  2. Village of Grosse Pointe Shores
  3. Elk Rapids
  4. Franklin
  5. North Muskegon
  6. Pleasant Ridge
  7. Lake Orion
  8. Spring Arbor
  9. Wolverine Lake
  10. Schoolcraft
  11. DeWitt
  12. Spring Lake
  13. Bloomfield Hills
  14. Lathrup Village
  15. Harvey

Best Small Towns To Live In Michigan Map

What’s the best small town in Michigan? Sylvan Lake is the best small town in Michigan based on the most recent Census data. If you live in one of these small towns like Sylvan Lake, chances are, you’re not surprised. After all, you know how great you have it.

But for the rest of you–keep reading, and we’ll get to just why these small towns made our list.

For more reading on the Wolverine State check out:

The 15 Best Small Towns In Michigan For 2025

1. Sylvan Lake

Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 1,672
Median Income: $106,806 (12th Best)
Median Home Value: $356,800 (11th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.8%

2. Village Of Grosse Pointe Shores

Village Of Grosse Pointe Shores, MI

Source: Flickr User Ken Lund | CC BY-SA 2.0
Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 2,589
Median Income: $182,000 (4th Best)
Median Home Value: $671,600 (4th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.7%

3. Elk Rapids

Overall SnackAbility

9
/10

Population: 1,558
Median Income: $78,472 (43rd Best)
Median Home Value: $348,400 (13th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.9%

4. Franklin

Franklin, MI

Source: Wikipedia User Traveler100 | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

7.5
/10

Population: 2,610
Median Income: $176,571 (5th Best)
Median Home Value: $696,700 (3rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.9%

5. North Muskegon

Overall SnackAbility

9
/10

Population: 4,089
Median Income: $101,087 (16th Best)
Median Home Value: $241,100 (38th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.8%

6. Pleasant Ridge

Pleasant Ridge, MI

Source: Wikipedia User | GFDL
Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 2,607
Median Income: $161,058 (6th Best)
Median Home Value: $435,500 (6th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 6.6%

7. Lake Orion

Lake Orion, MI

Source: Wikipedia User TheKuLeR | GFDL
Overall SnackAbility

9.5
/10

Population: 2,873
Median Income: $98,871 (19th Best)
Median Home Value: $346,700 (14th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.9%

8. Spring Arbor

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,385
Median Income: $77,721 (46th Best)
Median Home Value: $213,100 (57th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.9%

9. Wolverine Lake

Wolverine Lake, MI

Source: Wikipedia User | GFDL
Overall SnackAbility

9.5
/10

Population: 4,476
Median Income: $88,423 (25th Best)
Median Home Value: $270,400 (28th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.9%

10. Schoolcraft

Overall SnackAbility

8.5
/10

Population: 1,268
Median Income: $82,813 (34th Best)
Median Home Value: $208,300 (61st Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.4%

11. Dewitt

Overall SnackAbility

9.5
/10

Population: 4,774
Median Income: $105,857 (13th Best)
Median Home Value: $303,200 (19th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.8%

12. Spring Lake

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,530
Median Income: $75,000 (56th Best)
Median Home Value: $271,100 (26th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.0%

13. Bloomfield Hills

Bloomfield Hills, MI

Source: Wikipedia User Andrew Jameson | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 4,412
Median Income: $200,318 (3rd Best)
Median Home Value: $942,900 (1st Best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.4%

14. Lathrup Village

Lathrup Village, MI

Source: Wikipedia User | GFDL
Overall SnackAbility

9
/10

Population: 4,049
Median Income: $99,286 (18th Best)
Median Home Value: $270,900 (27th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 7.9%

15. Harvey

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 3,080
Median Income: $75,188 (54th Best)
Median Home Value: $235,600 (40th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.0%

Best States In America

Methodology: How We Determined The Coolest Towns In Michigan

We threw a lot of criteria at this report to get the best, most complete results of the best small towns in Michigan possible.

Using the most recent data from the Census’s 2019-2023 American Community Survey, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Saturday Night Science, this is the criteria we used:

  • Population Density (Higher is better)
  • Lowest Unemployment Rates
  • Housing costs (Higher is better. More demand.)
  • Adjusted Median Income (Higher is better)
  • Highly Educated Adults (Higher is better)
  • Insurance Rates (Higher is better)
  • Commute Times (Lower is better)

We looked at places with populations lower than 5,000 people and greater than 1,000, of which there were many – 251 to be exact.

We then ranked each place in each category with scores from 1 to 251, averaged them out, and the lowest scores went to our Best Small Towns in Michigan. Top of that list — Sylvan Lake.

This is our tenth time ranking the best small places to live in Michigan.

Summary: Science Can Tackle Any Issue, Even Small Ones

We said it once, and we’ll say it again — this list: it’s just science. We did the research, crunched the numbers, and it turns out these 15 small towns in Michigan are the best in which to live.

And who can argue with that?

The best small towns in Michigan are Sylvan Lake, Village of Grosse Pointe Shores, Elk Rapids, Franklin, North Muskegon, Pleasant Ridge, Lake Orion, Spring Arbor, Wolverine Lake, and Schoolcraft.

If you’re curious, here are the worst small towns in Michigan:

  1. Skidway Lake
  2. Weidman
  3. Lakeview

For more Michigan reading, check out:

Best Small Towns In Michigan

Rank City Population Median Income Median Home Value Unemployment Rate
1 Sylvan Lake, MI 1,672 $106,806 2.8%
2 Village Of Grosse Pointe Shores, MI 2,589 $182,000 3.7%
3 Elk Rapids, MI 1,558 $78,472 0.9%
4 Franklin, MI 2,610 $176,571 1.9%
5 North Muskegon, MI 4,089 $101,087 2.8%
6 Pleasant Ridge, MI 2,607 $161,058 6.6%
7 Lake Orion, MI 2,873 $98,871 0.9%
8 Spring Arbor, MI 2,385 $77,721 2.9%
9 Wolverine Lake, MI 4,476 $88,423 2.9%
10 Schoolcraft, MI 1,268 $82,813 1.4%
11 Dewitt, MI 4,774 $105,857 3.8%
12 Spring Lake, MI 2,530 $75,000 2.0%
13 Bloomfield Hills, MI 4,412 $200,318 4.4%
14 Lathrup Village, MI 4,049 $99,286 7.9%
15 Harvey, MI 3,080 $75,188 1.0%
16 Caledonia, MI 1,936 $114,167 0.4%
17 Armada, MI 1,876 $110,345 3.2%
18 Ferrysburg, MI 2,949 $62,096 1.4%
19 Chums Corner, MI 1,012 $72,933 3.2%
20 Essexville, MI 3,344 $76,182 2.7%
21 Dimondale, MI 1,582 $112,333 3.6%
22 Orchard Lake Village, MI 2,298 $212,813 4.0%
23 Auburn, MI 2,045 $68,935 1.9%
24 Douglas, MI 1,295 $77,841 1.8%
25 Grass Lake, MI 1,235 $74,306 2.6%
26 Wacousta, MI 1,686 $126,471 4.6%
27 Bingham Farms, MI 1,652 $218,750 3.2%
28 Shepherd, MI 1,438 $76,591 0.8%
29 Keego Harbor, MI 2,747 $70,185 4.2%
30 Gibraltar, MI 4,937 $88,682 5.1%
31 Edgemont Park, MI 2,367 $62,120 5.2%
32 Montague, MI 2,630 $69,375 0.9%
33 Lowell, MI 4,133 $71,406 2.5%
34 Lake Victoria, MI 1,002 $123,594 5.0%
35 Vineyard Lake, MI 1,038 $83,636 0.0%
36 Greilickville, MI 1,296 $84,327 1.7%
37 Fowler, MI 1,446 $72,261 0.0%
38 Kingsley, MI 1,783 $65,714 3.7%
39 Harbor Springs, MI 1,015 $60,556 2.3%
40 Negaunee, MI 4,641 $70,483 1.9%
41 Romeo, MI 3,654 $73,500 1.8%
42 Shorewood-Tower Hills-Harbert, MI 1,468 $80,642 1.4%
43 Reese, MI 1,303 $83,125 11.8%
44 Middleville, MI 4,327 $71,417 0.8%
45 Trowbridge Park, MI 2,271 $63,176 5.8%
46 Petersburg, MI 1,261 $76,071 3.2%
47 Linden, MI 4,150 $77,434 10.0%
48 Richland, MI 1,014 $84,333 4.2%
49 Pinckney, MI 1,920 $92,159 3.5%
50 Oxford, MI 3,478 $88,214 10.2%
51 Argentine, MI 2,357 $100,733 4.7%
52 Manchester, MI 2,375 $81,393 2.6%
53 Williamston, MI 3,800 $73,902 4.5%
54 Whitehall, MI 2,974 $58,750 1.1%
55 Hemlock, MI 1,323 $92,031 0.0%
56 Stevensville, MI 1,126 $75,069 4.0%
57 New Buffalo, MI 1,306 $64,524 1.9%
58 Frankfort, MI 1,158 $51,813 4.7%
59 Bath, MI 2,938 $64,375 4.8%
60 Hancock, MI 4,510 $55,278 2.0%
61 Dollar Bay, MI 1,070 $63,500 1.6%
62 Bridgman, MI 2,383 $71,435 2.2%
63 Rockwood, MI 3,189 $85,391 4.5%
64 South Haven, MI 3,994 $64,338 4.5%
65 Wayland, MI 4,430 $71,797 2.9%
66 West Ishpeming, MI 2,714 $80,500 4.7%
67 Plainwell, MI 3,764 $65,846 5.9%
68 Vicksburg, MI 3,824 $70,070 3.0%
69 Ravenna, MI 1,472 $73,233 1.9%
70 Otsego, MI 4,079 $76,944 6.9%
71 Saranac, MI 1,973 $64,157 3.2%
72 Boyne City, MI 3,829 $68,087 6.2%
73 Coloma, MI 1,051 $62,778 4.5%
74 Manitou Beach-Devils Lake, MI 2,062 $85,777 1.4%
75 Pigeon, MI 1,093 $49,500 2.0%
76 Canadian Lakes, MI 2,701 $69,069 1.6%
77 Twin Lake, MI 1,997 $80,150 19.3%
78 Michigan Center, MI 4,623 $68,114 3.4%
79 Roosevelt Park, MI 4,148 $60,938 4.1%
80 Beechwood, MI 2,736 $68,484 16.8%
81 Portland, MI 3,821 $65,116 2.4%
82 Clinton, MI 2,795 $78,750 7.4%
83 Mattawan, MI 2,615 $82,026 8.5%
84 Lexington, MI 1,119 $49,091 1.4%
85 Potterville, MI 3,065 $62,054 3.8%
86 Buchanan, MI 4,259 $54,068 4.2%
87 Almont, MI 2,830 $81,511 7.5%
88 Burt, MI 1,430 $92,596 3.6%
89 Fruitport, MI 1,269 $80,769 4.8%
90 Parchment, MI 2,012 $54,572 9.2%
91 Laingsburg, MI 1,640 $75,547 3.3%
92 Fremont, MI 4,532 $57,000 1.5%
93 Belleville, MI 3,961 $59,929 10.8%
94 Kent City, MI 1,218 $74,375 1.8%
95 Pearl Beach, MI 4,846 $84,079 4.3%
96 Goodrich, MI 2,024 $103,864 8.2%
97 Three Oaks, MI 1,322 $60,500 5.1%
98 Quinnesec, MI 1,150 $61,328 0.1%
99 Woodland Beach, MI 2,509 $70,330 5.8%
100 Ortonville, MI 1,353 $101,667 7.8%
About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.

 Best Small Towns