The 10 Best Small Towns In Michigan For 2026


The best small towns in Michigan are Shoreham and Village Of Grosse Pointe Shores for 2026 based on Saturday Night Science.

By: Chris Kolmar | About HomeSnacks
Last Updated: April 18, 2026

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 2026

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

Best Small Towns To Live In Michigan Map

What’s the best small town in Michigan? Shoreham is the best small town in Michigan based on the most recent Census data. If you live in one of these small towns like Shoreham, 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 2026

1. Shoreham

Overall SnackAbility

/10

Population: 1,100
Median Income: $113,750 (10th Best)
Median Home Value: $341,988 (47th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.0%

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: 2,795
Median Income: $189,583 (5th Best)
Median Home Value: $822,992 (3rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.5%

3. Sylvan Lake

Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 1,705
Median Income: $106,429 (16th Best)
Median Home Value: $370,381 (33rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.9%

4. Franklin

Franklin, MI

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

7.5
/10

Population: 2,554
Median Income: $194,079 (3rd Best)
Median Home Value: $881,785 (1st Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.0%

5. Caledonia

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,671
Median Income: $106,250 (17th Best)
Median Home Value: $457,436 (13th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.5%

6. Pleasant Ridge

Pleasant Ridge, MI

Source: Wikipedia User | GFDL
Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 2,602
Median Income: $171,125 (7th Best)
Median Home Value: $478,434 (11th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 5.7%

7. North Muskegon

Overall SnackAbility

9
/10

Population: 4,098
Median Income: $104,659 (18th Best)
Median Home Value: $308,745 (72nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.2%

8. Spring Lake

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,519
Median Income: $88,365 (32nd Best)
Median Home Value: $419,158 (16th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.8%

9. Elk Rapids

Overall SnackAbility

9
/10

Population: 1,624
Median Income: $70,938 (79th Best)
Median Home Value: $497,335 (10th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.3%

10. Lake Orion

Lake Orion, MI

Source: Wikipedia User TheKuLeR | GFDL
Overall SnackAbility

9.5
/10

Population: 2,863
Median Income: $101,318 (21st Best)
Median Home Value: $406,637 (19th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.7%

11. Dewitt

Overall SnackAbility

9.5
/10

Population: 4,777
Median Income: $110,341 (12th Best)
Median Home Value: $347,710 (40th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.1%

12. Bloomfield Hills

Bloomfield Hills, MI

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

10
/10

Population: 4,415
Median Income: $189,942 (4th Best)
Median Home Value: $663,115 (4th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.8%

13. Lathrup Village

Lathrup Village, MI

Source: Wikipedia User | GFDL
Overall SnackAbility

9
/10

Population: 4,059
Median Income: $109,893 (14th Best)
Median Home Value: $327,714 (58th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.2%

14. Wolverine Lake

Wolverine Lake, MI

Source: Wikipedia User | GFDL
Overall SnackAbility

9.5
/10

Population: 4,487
Median Income: $92,247 (29th Best)
Median Home Value: $323,138 (65th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.8%

15. Chums Corner

Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 1,186
Median Income: $100,855 (22nd Best)
Median Home Value: $418,172 (17th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.0%

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 2020-2024 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 – 255 to be exact.

We then ranked each place in each category with scores from 1 to 255, averaged them out, and the lowest scores went to our Best Small Towns in Michigan. Top of that list — Shoreham.

This is our eleventh 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 Shoreham, Village of Grosse Pointe Shores, Sylvan Lake, Franklin, Caledonia, Pleasant Ridge, North Muskegon, Spring Lake, Elk Rapids, and Lake Orion.

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

  1. Skidway Lake
  2. Mio
  3. St. Helen

For more Michigan reading, check out:

Best Small Towns In Michigan

RankCityPopulationMedian IncomeMedian Home ValueUnemployment Rate
1Shoreham, MI1,100$113,7501.0%
2Village Of Grosse Pointe Shores, MI2,795$189,5833.5%
3Sylvan Lake, MI1,705$106,4292.9%
4Franklin, MI2,554$194,0792.0%
5Caledonia, MI1,671$106,2500.5%
6Pleasant Ridge, MI2,602$171,1255.7%
7North Muskegon, MI4,098$104,6592.2%
8Spring Lake, MI2,519$88,3651.8%
9Elk Rapids, MI1,624$70,9381.3%
10Lake Orion, MI2,863$101,3180.7%
11Dewitt, MI4,777$110,3413.1%
12Bloomfield Hills, MI4,415$189,9423.8%
13Lathrup Village, MI4,059$109,8934.2%
14Wolverine Lake, MI4,487$92,2472.8%
15Chums Corner, MI1,186$100,8552.0%
16Ferrysburg, MI2,959$70,4000.8%
17Lake Victoria, MI1,006$120,1562.9%
18Lowell, MI4,139$72,8750.5%
19Orchard Lake Village, MI2,238$206,6674.2%
20Dimondale, MI1,521$111,0424.6%
21Harvey, MI2,880$78,6740.5%
22Schoolcraft, MI1,275$75,0001.8%
23Douglas, MI1,427$81,6271.0%
24Armada, MI1,994$102,0833.8%
25Bingham Farms, MI1,680$244,6180.9%
26Fowler, MI1,387$74,2820.0%
27Spring Arbor, MI2,275$63,6314.0%
28Harbor Springs, MI1,086$75,4174.0%
29Pinckney, MI1,911$96,8551.5%
30Greilickville, MI1,519$93,7501.3%
31Vineyard Lake, MI1,031$86,1460.0%
32Essexville, MI3,327$75,3413.2%
33Montague, MI2,531$66,7500.2%
34Shorewood-Tower Hills-Harbert, MI1,459$83,2040.0%
35Petersburg, MI1,179$83,2351.7%
36Grass Lake, MI1,186$80,9383.5%
37Middleville, MI4,380$73,6253.1%
38Williamston, MI3,807$71,3794.3%
39New Buffalo, MI1,338$64,7021.5%
40Whitehall, MI3,024$61,1690.2%
41Richland, MI1,098$95,1044.5%
42Trowbridge Park, MI2,396$50,1251.5%
43Auburn, MI2,124$71,6534.2%
44Wacousta, MI1,711$109,2504.5%
45South Gull Lake, MI1,801$188,7506.1%
46Argentine, MI2,190$125,3135.4%
47Romeo, MI3,578$74,3231.7%
48Linden, MI4,160$79,4649.8%
49Gibraltar, MI4,873$91,6515.0%
50Carleton, MI2,595$73,3652.1%
51South Haven, MI3,998$68,2392.9%
52Kingsley, MI1,785$67,3214.4%
53Coloma, MI1,074$68,8890.8%
54Shepherd, MI1,457$70,1560.9%
55Reese, MI1,274$82,36111.3%
56Manchester, MI2,522$87,6143.7%
57Negaunee, MI4,656$70,5683.7%
58Fremont, MI4,568$57,4522.8%
59Otsego, MI4,074$74,1562.3%
60Pigeon, MI1,100$52,3610.9%
61Wayland, MI4,457$74,4643.1%
62Clinton, MI2,536$82,7686.5%
63Stevensville, MI1,095$64,1253.2%
64West Ishpeming, MI2,851$95,1297.3%
65Rockwood, MI3,161$88,0802.7%
66Kent City, MI1,203$76,5872.7%
67Three Oaks, MI1,503$66,9855.2%
68Boyne City, MI3,825$64,8555.0%
69Frankfort, MI1,225$54,3276.7%
70Ravenna, MI1,540$77,8573.4%
71Potterville, MI3,087$64,6933.0%
72Keego Harbor, MI2,747$64,8965.6%
73Vicksburg, MI3,934$72,6564.0%
74Ortonville, MI1,341$98,8396.9%
75Canadian Lakes, MI2,991$78,8331.2%
76Parchment, MI2,008$72,7988.1%
77Portland, MI3,790$65,8452.7%
78Twin Lake, MI2,036$84,95017.9%
79Brooklyn, MI1,180$56,3242.3%
80Oxford, MI3,474$83,61110.9%
81Bridgman, MI2,077$66,6032.4%
82Bath, MI2,896$60,4176.0%
83Hancock, MI4,574$59,5191.8%
84Manitou Beach-Devils Lake, MI2,103$83,9801.9%
85Roosevelt Park, MI4,144$62,8574.3%
86Central Lake, MI1,051$63,2692.3%
87Bellaire, MI1,008$55,7890.2%
88Belleville, MI3,910$62,9919.7%
89Michigan Center, MI4,999$63,7042.4%
90Buchanan, MI4,223$56,1632.2%
91Almont, MI2,838$83,5376.9%
92Leslie, MI2,129$73,6543.1%
93Beechwood, MI2,776$71,27520.5%
94South Rockwood, MI1,924$78,2033.8%
95Plainwell, MI3,763$66,5256.7%
96Edgemont Park, MI2,551$62,5436.5%
97Fruitport, MI1,212$84,3065.1%
98Lexington, MI1,126$45,6941.4%
99Berrien Springs, MI2,018$65,1346.5%
100Goodrich, MI2,022$110,3297.8%
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