You’re probably never going to make enough money to live in the richest counties in Michigan.
The median household income in Washtenaw County, the richest county in Michigan is $84,245, significantly higher than the US median of $74,580, which means based purely on math most people never make enough to live there.
And that’s okay because it’s still fun to look at the people living in the lap of luxury.
So we used Saturday Night Science and the most recent Census to rank home prices and incomes for all 83 counties in the Wolverine State. Let’s star gaze together.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Table | Summary
The 10 Richest Counties In Michigan For 2024
What is the richest county in Michigan? The richest county in Michigan is Washtenaw County. In contrast, the poorest county in state is Gogebic County, according to the Census 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.
The Richest Counties In Michigan For 2024
1. Washtenaw County
Biggest Place: Ann Arbor
Population: 370,231
Median Income: $84,245 (3rd highest)
Median Home Price: $381,063 (2nd highest)
More on Washtenaw County: Data
2. Livingston County
Biggest Place: Fenton
Population: 194,302
Median Income: $96,135 (highest)
Median Home Price: $362,898 (5th highest)
More on Livingston County: Data
3. Leelanau County
Biggest Place: Traverse City
Population: 22,426
Median Income: $82,345 (6th highest)
Median Home Price: $567,264 (highest)
More on Leelanau County: Data
4. Oakland County
Biggest Place: Troy
Population: 1,272,264
Median Income: $92,620 (2nd highest)
Median Home Price: $328,919 (9th highest)
More on Oakland County: Data
5. Ottawa County
Biggest Place: Holland
Population: 296,183
Median Income: $83,932 (4th highest)
Median Home Price: $341,042 (7th highest)
More on Ottawa County: Data
6. Grand Traverse County
Biggest Place: Traverse City
Population: 95,315
Median Income: $75,553 (9th highest)
Median Home Price: $381,037 (3rd highest)
More on Grand Traverse County: Data
7. Clinton County
Biggest Place: Lansing
Population: 79,249
Median Income: $82,594 (5th highest)
Median Home Price: $276,240 (13th highest)
More on Clinton County: Data
8. Kent County
Biggest Place: Grand Rapids
Population: 657,321
Median Income: $76,247 (8th highest)
Median Home Price: $305,031 (11th highest)
More on Kent County: Data
9. Allegan County
Biggest Place: Holland
Population: 120,189
Median Income: $75,543 (10th highest)
Median Home Price: $293,035 (12th highest)
More on Allegan County: Data
10. Benzie County
Biggest Place: Frankfort
Population: 18,058
Median Income: $71,327 (17th highest)
Median Home Price: $351,684 (6th highest)
More on Benzie County: Data
Methodology: How do you determine which Michigan county is the richest?
To determine the richest county in Michigan, we have to look at a handful of metrics that correlate with how rich people are. To do that, we made assumptions about what makes a county rich. 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 the American Community Survey data and Zillow for the most recent reporting period for data on the following:
- Average Home Price
- Median Income
We then ranked each county in Michigan for each of the criteria from one to 83, with one being the richest.
Taking the average rank across the two criteria, we created a Rich Score with the county posting the lowest overall score being the “Richest County In Michigan.”
The result is some of the places with the most expensive real estate and highest earners in the Wolverine State.
We updated this article for 2024. This report is our first time ranking the richest counties to live in Michigan. We have also ranked the richest states and richest cities in the United States.
Summary: The Richest Counties In Michigan For 2024
Living in Michigan can vary from one part of the state to the next, with pretty extreme variance in home prices and incomes across counties.
The richest counties in Michigan are Washtenaw County, Livingston County, Leelanau County, Oakland County, Ottawa County, Grand Traverse County, Clinton County, Kent County, Allegan County, and Benzie County.
Now you know the parts of the state where Goodwill will have the best goodies, and that’s what you came here to learn at the end of the day.
You are welcome.
Here’s a look at the poorest counties in Michigan according to the data:
- Gogebic County
- Lake County
- Ontonagon County
For more Michigan reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Michigan
- Best Counties To Live In Michigan
- Richest Cities In Michigan
- Safest Places In Michigan
Detailed List Of The Richest Counties In Michigan
| Rank | County | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washtenaw County | 370,231 | $84,245 | $381,063 |
| 2 | Livingston County | 194,302 | $96,135 | $362,898 |
| 3 | Leelanau County | 22,426 | $82,345 | $567,264 |
| 4 | Oakland County | 1,272,264 | $92,620 | $328,919 |
| 5 | Ottawa County | 296,183 | $83,932 | $341,042 |
| 6 | Grand Traverse County | 95,315 | $75,553 | $381,037 |
| 7 | Clinton County | 79,249 | $82,594 | $276,240 |
| 8 | Kent County | 657,321 | $76,247 | $305,031 |
| 9 | Allegan County | 120,189 | $75,543 | $293,035 |
| 10 | Benzie County | 18,058 | $71,327 | $351,684 |
| 11 | Emmet County | 34,072 | $69,690 | $371,220 |
| 12 | Lapeer County | 88,687 | $75,402 | $271,434 |
| 13 | Charlevoix County | 26,174 | $69,764 | $340,428 |
| 14 | Barry County | 62,581 | $75,182 | $256,353 |
| 15 | Eaton County | 109,072 | $77,158 | $235,925 |
| 16 | Macomb County | 878,453 | $73,876 | $245,553 |
| 17 | Antrim County | 23,662 | $68,850 | $309,692 |
| 18 | Monroe County | 154,823 | $72,573 | $238,585 |
| 19 | Kalamazoo County | 261,426 | $67,905 | $249,848 |
| 20 | Van Buren County | 75,636 | $65,531 | $238,622 |
| 21 | Cass County | 51,604 | $65,183 | $242,356 |
| 22 | St. Clair County | 160,257 | $66,887 | $229,439 |
| 23 | Ionia County | 66,663 | $71,720 | $216,237 |
| 24 | Midland County | 83,503 | $73,643 | $205,549 |
| 25 | Otsego County | 25,221 | $62,865 | $228,200 |
| 26 | Marquette County | 66,376 | $63,115 | $216,776 |
| 27 | Lenawee County | 99,263 | $65,484 | $208,257 |
| 28 | Berrien County | 153,938 | $60,379 | $241,305 |
| 29 | Mason County | 29,178 | $60,744 | $228,078 |
| 30 | Muskegon County | 175,947 | $61,347 | $218,963 |
| 31 | Oceana County | 26,707 | $60,691 | $219,998 |
| 32 | Jackson County | 160,637 | $62,581 | $197,203 |
| 33 | Manistee County | 25,058 | $59,467 | $221,878 |
| 34 | Montcalm County | 66,901 | $61,250 | $196,838 |
| 35 | Ingham County | 282,540 | $62,548 | $192,505 |
| 36 | Cheboygan County | 25,709 | $59,557 | $217,383 |
| 37 | Newaygo County | 50,130 | $59,065 | $210,833 |
| 38 | Shiawassee County | 68,124 | $62,498 | $186,658 |
| 39 | Mackinac County | 10,843 | $60,620 | $190,740 |
| 40 | St. Joseph County | 60,887 | $62,281 | $177,690 |
| 41 | Hillsdale County | 45,698 | $59,425 | $195,651 |
| 42 | Branch County | 44,795 | $60,600 | $186,610 |
| 43 | Wexford County | 33,766 | $58,652 | $190,991 |
| 44 | Missaukee County | 15,089 | $57,667 | $196,624 |
| 45 | Kalkaska County | 17,934 | $56,380 | $193,594 |
| 46 | Mecosta County | 40,128 | $54,132 | $199,184 |
| 47 | Genesee County | 405,280 | $58,594 | $173,591 |
| 48 | Tuscola County | 53,218 | $59,815 | $161,073 |
| 49 | Sanilac County | 40,759 | $55,740 | $189,317 |
| 50 | Presque Isle County | 13,083 | $55,986 | $187,854 |
| 51 | Calhoun County | 134,011 | $58,191 | $171,019 |
| 52 | Crawford County | 13,197 | $57,998 | $164,355 |
| 53 | Keweenaw County | 2,088 | $55,560 | $186,578 |
| 54 | Alger County | 8,866 | $55,528 | $178,980 |
| 55 | Chippewa County | 36,670 | $58,408 | $159,095 |
| 56 | Dickinson County | 25,937 | $59,651 | $151,265 |
| 57 | Isabella County | 64,938 | $52,638 | $190,063 |
| 58 | Huron County | 31,461 | $54,475 | $173,849 |
| 59 | Wayne County | 1,781,641 | $57,223 | $159,542 |
| 60 | Bay County | 103,752 | $57,887 | $156,869 |
| 61 | Osceola County | 23,022 | $54,875 | $166,650 |
| 62 | Gratiot County | 41,534 | $57,934 | $153,453 |
| 63 | Delta County | 36,839 | $53,852 | $160,414 |
| 64 | Saginaw County | 189,821 | $56,579 | $149,151 |
| 65 | Schoolcraft County | 8,062 | $55,071 | $154,265 |
| 66 | Roscommon County | 23,556 | $49,898 | $171,341 |
| 67 | Menominee County | 23,433 | $54,074 | $157,723 |
| 68 | Gladwin County | 25,461 | $53,717 | $158,561 |
| 69 | Alcona County | 10,238 | $50,295 | $161,605 |
| 70 | Alpena County | 28,911 | $49,133 | $161,536 |
| 71 | Houghton County | 37,414 | $52,736 | $151,563 |
| 72 | Arenac County | 15,031 | $53,487 | $136,792 |
| 73 | Baraga County | 8,245 | $51,911 | $142,832 |
| 74 | Ogemaw County | 20,820 | $50,377 | $148,267 |
| 75 | Montmorency County | 9,261 | $46,345 | $154,658 |
| 76 | Iron County | 11,585 | $52,241 | $105,130 |
| 77 | Iosco County | 25,319 | $46,224 | $149,402 |
| 78 | Luce County | 5,442 | $51,015 | $103,413 |
| 79 | Oscoda County | 8,264 | $48,692 | $115,246 |
| 80 | Clare County | 30,998 | $47,816 | $127,320 |
| 81 | Ontonagon County | 5,862 | $48,316 | $112,959 |
| 82 | Lake County | 12,285 | $45,946 | $136,764 |
| 83 | Gogebic County | 14,597 | $47,913 | $108,663 |
