You’re probably never going to make enough money to live in the richest counties in Michigan.
The median household income in Leelanau County, the richest county in Michigan is $99,422, 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 2026
What is the richest county in Michigan? The richest county in Michigan is Leelanau County. In contrast, the poorest county in state is Oscoda 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 2026
1. Leelanau County
Biggest Place: Traverse City
Population: 22,734
Median Income: $99,422 (2nd highest)
Median Home Price: $622,873 (highest)
More on Leelanau County: Data
2. Washtenaw County
Biggest Place: Ann Arbor
Population: 369,822
Median Income: $89,180 (5th highest)
Median Home Price: $413,406 (3rd highest)
More on Washtenaw County: Data
3. Livingston County
Biggest Place: Fenton
Population: 195,833
Median Income: $103,039 (highest)
Median Home Price: $394,423 (7th highest)
More on Livingston County: Data
4. Ottawa County
Biggest Place: Holland
Population: 301,203
Median Income: $90,502 (4th highest)
Median Home Price: $389,373 (8th highest)
More on Ottawa County: Data
5. Oakland County
Biggest Place: Troy
Population: 1,279,825
Median Income: $97,760 (3rd highest)
Median Home Price: $365,349 (9th highest)
More on Oakland County: Data
6. Emmet County
Biggest Place: Petoskey
Population: 34,125
Median Income: $78,112 (11th highest)
Median Home Price: $442,793 (2nd highest)
More on Emmet County: Data
7. Grand Traverse County
Biggest Place: Traverse City
Population: 96,166
Median Income: $81,647 (9th highest)
Median Home Price: $410,918 (4th highest)
More on Grand Traverse County: Data
8. Kent County
Biggest Place: Grand Rapids
Population: 663,150
Median Income: $82,631 (8th highest)
Median Home Price: $350,514 (10th highest)
More on Kent County: Data
9. Allegan County
Biggest Place: Holland
Population: 121,456
Median Income: $83,283 (7th highest)
Median Home Price: $342,789 (12th highest)
More on Allegan County: Data
10. Clinton County
Biggest Place: Lansing
Population: 79,626
Median Income: $88,210 (6th highest)
Median Home Price: $307,951 (13th highest)
More on Clinton 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 2026. 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 2026
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 Leelanau County, Washtenaw County, Livingston County, Ottawa County, Oakland County, Emmet County, Grand Traverse County, Kent County, Allegan County, and Clinton 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:
- Oscoda County
- Clare County
- Gogebic County
For more Michigan reading, check out:
- Safest Places In Michigan
- Richest Cities In Michigan
- Best Counties To Live In Michigan
- Best Places To Live In Michigan
Detailed List Of The Richest Counties In Michigan
| Rank | County | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leelanau County | 22,734 | $99,422 | $622,873 |
| 2 | Washtenaw County | 369,822 | $89,180 | $413,406 |
| 3 | Livingston County | 195,833 | $103,039 | $394,423 |
| 4 | Ottawa County | 301,203 | $90,502 | $389,373 |
| 5 | Oakland County | 1,279,825 | $97,760 | $365,349 |
| 6 | Emmet County | 34,125 | $78,112 | $442,793 |
| 7 | Grand Traverse County | 96,166 | $81,647 | $410,918 |
| 8 | Kent County | 663,150 | $82,631 | $350,514 |
| 9 | Allegan County | 121,456 | $83,283 | $342,789 |
| 10 | Clinton County | 79,626 | $88,210 | $307,951 |
| 11 | Charlevoix County | 26,108 | $76,531 | $400,415 |
| 12 | Benzie County | 18,310 | $74,834 | $398,791 |
| 13 | Barry County | 63,409 | $77,500 | $292,489 |
| 14 | Macomb County | 879,853 | $77,837 | $266,671 |
| 15 | Lapeer County | 88,837 | $77,306 | $290,142 |
| 16 | Antrim County | 24,127 | $72,054 | $344,946 |
| 17 | Eaton County | 109,130 | $79,597 | $256,124 |
| 18 | Monroe County | 155,505 | $77,335 | $262,019 |
| 19 | Kalamazoo County | 262,375 | $72,532 | $270,403 |
| 20 | Ionia County | 66,574 | $75,611 | $256,599 |
| 21 | Cass County | 51,520 | $70,443 | $264,052 |
| 22 | Van Buren County | 75,795 | $68,114 | $268,116 |
| 23 | Midland County | 83,757 | $77,705 | $240,607 |
| 24 | St. Clair County | 160,221 | $71,270 | $252,002 |
| 25 | Berrien County | 153,288 | $65,425 | $271,062 |
| 26 | Otsego County | 25,584 | $68,183 | $250,615 |
| 27 | Lenawee County | 98,415 | $70,518 | $236,511 |
| 28 | Mason County | 29,207 | $64,748 | $264,154 |
| 29 | Kalkaska County | 18,239 | $68,578 | $223,569 |
| 30 | Montcalm County | 67,816 | $67,344 | $231,035 |
| 31 | Marquette County | 67,112 | $65,429 | $243,684 |
| 32 | Muskegon County | 175,961 | $65,024 | $247,206 |
| 33 | Missaukee County | 15,207 | $66,194 | $226,792 |
| 34 | Manistee County | 25,350 | $63,516 | $255,974 |
| 35 | Shiawassee County | 67,991 | $67,404 | $208,279 |
| 36 | Ingham County | 283,913 | $65,526 | $221,626 |
| 37 | Newaygo County | 50,792 | $63,304 | $247,158 |
| 38 | Jackson County | 160,060 | $66,073 | $221,074 |
| 39 | Oceana County | 26,915 | $62,417 | $248,644 |
| 40 | Cheboygan County | 25,865 | $62,875 | $245,407 |
| 41 | St. Joseph County | 60,969 | $66,425 | $200,054 |
| 42 | Mackinac County | 10,957 | $63,909 | $221,216 |
| 43 | Hillsdale County | 45,654 | $64,242 | $206,559 |
| 44 | Wexford County | 34,077 | $61,085 | $228,171 |
| 45 | Branch County | 45,300 | $63,724 | $201,004 |
| 46 | Mecosta County | 41,242 | $60,951 | $223,012 |
| 47 | Alger County | 8,762 | $61,286 | $207,843 |
| 48 | Presque Isle County | 13,209 | $59,321 | $216,760 |
| 49 | Chippewa County | 36,295 | $62,217 | $192,557 |
| 50 | Tuscola County | 52,980 | $63,811 | $182,325 |
| 51 | Genesee County | 403,305 | $62,281 | $189,844 |
| 52 | Dickinson County | 25,954 | $65,156 | $174,150 |
| 53 | Calhoun County | 133,778 | $63,177 | $183,795 |
| 54 | Gratiot County | 41,385 | $63,556 | $179,893 |
| 55 | Sanilac County | 40,462 | $58,863 | $202,763 |
| 56 | Isabella County | 64,565 | $55,237 | $222,852 |
| 57 | Huron County | 31,113 | $58,870 | $192,818 |
| 58 | Delta County | 36,813 | $57,809 | $197,756 |
| 59 | Bay County | 103,008 | $61,763 | $179,475 |
| 60 | Osceola County | 23,227 | $58,267 | $192,206 |
| 61 | Houghton County | 37,693 | $58,899 | $182,733 |
| 62 | Schoolcraft County | 8,128 | $56,782 | $188,564 |
| 63 | Keweenaw County | 2,133 | $52,583 | $206,637 |
| 64 | Wayne County | 1,772,259 | $60,539 | $174,829 |
| 65 | Saginaw County | 188,665 | $60,622 | $167,795 |
| 66 | Crawford County | 13,369 | $60,392 | $172,955 |
| 67 | Gladwin County | 25,693 | $55,349 | $184,535 |
| 68 | Roscommon County | 23,737 | $55,246 | $186,502 |
| 69 | Alcona County | 10,397 | $54,993 | $187,439 |
| 70 | Alpena County | 28,880 | $53,950 | $189,252 |
| 71 | Menominee County | 23,247 | $56,435 | $177,338 |
| 72 | Arenac County | 15,077 | $58,811 | $160,117 |
| 73 | Ogemaw County | 20,885 | $54,666 | $177,332 |
| 74 | Baraga County | 8,191 | $55,327 | $165,995 |
| 75 | Iron County | 11,667 | $55,940 | $137,826 |
| 76 | Montmorency County | 9,516 | $49,756 | $178,115 |
| 77 | Lake County | 12,563 | $50,805 | $160,998 |
| 78 | Iosco County | 25,347 | $50,066 | $164,596 |
| 79 | Luce County | 6,271 | $54,893 | $129,755 |
| 80 | Ontonagon County | 5,850 | $54,398 | $129,977 |
| 81 | Gogebic County | 14,319 | $52,732 | $124,497 |
| 82 | Clare County | 31,218 | $49,384 | $156,086 |
| 83 | Oscoda County | 8,425 | $49,515 | $144,121 |