There are all types when it comes to being a snob in Michigan. You’ve got your Wine Snobs, Book Snobs, and, of course, Clothes Snobs. Then there are the Technology Snobs, Car Snobs, and yes, even City Snobs — as in, I’m better than you because I live in (insert snooty city here).
How can we tell which Michigan cities are the snobbiest? By measuring snobby things, that’s how.
We used Saturday Night Science to look at things like expensive homes, high incomes, and overly educated populations by city in Michigan. These are the criteria you’d argue with a friend over a foodie dinner about who’s snobbier.
After analyzing 150 of the state’s most populous areas over 5,000 people, we came up with this ranking of the ten snobbiest places in the state of Michigan.
The Michigander in these places aren’t snobby, they just know they’re better than you.
$166,610 median income · $664,184 median home · #3 income in Michigan
Located in
Kent County, Michigan
East Grand Rapids is a city in Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located in the Grand Rapids metropolitan area and is located on the shores of Reeds Lake. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 10,694.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$190,150 median income · $537,208 median home · #1 income in Michigan
Located in
Oakland County, Michigan
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$177,412 median income · $587,951 median home · #2 income in Michigan
Located in
Oakland County, Michigan
Beverly Hills is a village in Southfield Township, Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a suburb of Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the population was 10,267 making it by far the most populous village in the state.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$153,510 median income · $733,351 median home · #6 income in Michigan
Located in
Oakland County, Michigan
Birmingham is a city on the north side of Metro Detroit in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the population was 20,103.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$161,208 median income · $513,933 median home · #4 income in Michigan
Located in
Wayne County, Michigan
Grosse Pointe Farms is a suburban town bordering Detroit located in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 9,479 at the 2010 census. It is bordered by Canada and Lake Saint Clair on the south and east, Grosse Pointe on the west, Detroit on the north, and Grosse Pointe Woods and Grosse Pointe Shores on the northeast. Lakeshore Drive begins in Grosse Pointe Farms, where, just east of Fisher Road, the eastbound driver or pedestrian on Jefferson Avenue descends to lake level, following the curvature of the lakefront to the northeast.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$145,530 median income · $588,077 median home · #7 income in Michigan
Located in
Wayne County, Michigan
Northville is a city located in and divided by Oakland and Wayne counties in the U.S. state of Michigan. The area is a suburb of Metropolitan Detroit. The population was 5,970 at the 2010 census. Most of the city is in Oakland County and is surrounded by the city of Novi, while the other part is in Wayne County is surrounded by Northville Township. Northville is served by Northville Public Schools. The city is located 21 miles northeast of Ann Arbor and 29 miles northwest of Detroit.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$124,111 median income · $502,195 median home · #9 income in Michigan
Located in
Wayne County, Michigan
Grosse Pointe Park is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 11,555 at the 2010 census. Bordering on Detroit with frontage on southern Lake Saint Clair, it is the westernmost of the noted Grosse Pointe suburbs, with the oldest overall housing stock of the five cities. Grosse Pointe Park is 6 miles east of downtown Detroit and thus is home to many who commute to the city on a daily basis. The area is often referred to simply as ‘GPP’ or “The Park”. Many locals call the area from Alter Road to Nottingham in between Jefferson Avenue and Mack Avenue the Cabbage Patch, due to how the duplex style houses are closer together than the rest of the city.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$158,853 median income · $469,116 median home · #5 income in Michigan
Grosse Pointe is a waterfront city adjacent to Detroit in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The municipality covers just over one square mile and had a population of 5,421 at the 2010 census. It is bordered on the west by Grosse Pointe Park, on the north by Detroit, on the east by Grosse Pointe Farms, and on the south by Lake Saint Clair. Grosse Pointe is about eight miles east of downtown Detroit, accessible by Jefferson Avenue or several other cross streets. Grosse Pointe is one of five similarly named municipalities in northeastern Wayne County, and is often called “The City” or Grosse Pointe City.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$111,750 median income · $486,537 median home · #14 income 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
$112,145 median income · $471,425 median home · #13 income in Michigan
Located in
Wayne County, Michigan
Plymouth is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 9,132 at the 2010 census. The City of Plymouth is entirely surrounded by the Charter Township of Plymouth.
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 the snobs live in Michigan
Saturday Night Science
How we determined the snobbiest cities in the Wolverine State
Do you think we’d just come up with this list willy-nilly? Not a chance – we only use Saturday Night Science around here.
We gathered up all of the places in Michigan with populations of 5,000 people or more. This left us with a total of 150 places. Then, we looked at each place in terms of these snoot-er-iffic criteria (And no, it’s not a word. English snob.):
- Median home price (Higher is snobbier)
- Median household income (Higher is snobbier)
- Percent of population with a college degree (Higher is snobbier)
Incomes and college education levels come from the American Community Survey. Home prices come from Zillow.
Turned out this simple criteria was much better at sniffing out the snobby places then more snobby criteria like:
- Libaries per capita (Higher is snobbier)
- Museums per capita (Higher is snobbier)
- Private schools per capita (Higher is snobbier)
From there, we ranked each of our 150 places in each category with scores from one to 150. We then averaged each place’s ranking into one overall score, where the lowest score went to the snobbiest place in Michigan. So let’s all flip a table in honor of East Grand Rapids (with our pinkies up, of course.)
Before you get upset and ruin your blowout or something drastic here, let’s remember that this is all in good fun. Would we live in one of these 10 places if we had the chance? Of course, we would.
And it’s not like your real estate agent would ever point out how snobby the town you’re moving to is. We’re here to keep you grounded, even if you’re wearing a monocle.
The full plate
Table: The Snobbiest Cities In Michigan For 2026
Click any column to sort. Search by city name.
| Rank | City | Snob Score | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Adult Highly Educated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | East Grand Rapids | 2.33 | 11,445 | $166,610 | $664,184 | 79.0% |
| 2 | Huntington Woods | 2.33 | 6,328 | $190,150 | $537,208 | 83.0% |
| 3 | Beverly Hills | 3.33 | 10,524 | $177,412 | $587,951 | 78.0% |
| 4 | Birmingham | 3.67 | 21,763 | $153,510 | $733,351 | 78.0% |
| 5 | Grosse Pointe Farms | 5.67 | 9,904 | $161,208 | $513,933 | 77.0% |
| 6 | Northville | 6.83 | 6,069 | $145,530 | $588,077 | 68.0% |
| 7 | Grosse Pointe Park | 8.33 | 11,319 | $124,111 | $502,195 | 73.0% |
| 8 | Grosse Pointe | 8.33 | 5,541 | $158,853 | $469,116 | 74.0% |
| 9 | Rochester | 10.67 | 12,934 | $111,750 | $486,537 | 71.0% |
| 10 | Plymouth | 13.17 | 9,214 | $112,145 | $471,425 | 65.0% |
| 11 | Ann Arbor | 14.50 | 122,036 | $82,212 | $523,391 | 78.0% |
| 12 | Troy | 15.00 | 87,898 | $120,045 | $457,480 | 65.0% |
| 13 | Rochester Hills | 15.00 | 77,089 | $120,694 | $465,253 | 61.0% |
| 14 | Novi | 15.67 | 66,717 | $110,723 | $467,223 | 64.0% |
| 15 | Grosse Pointe Woods | 18.33 | 16,094 | $126,395 | $349,101 | 65.0% |
| 16 | Milford | 19.67 | 6,487 | $105,713 | $481,467 | 49.0% |
| 17 | Rockford | 20.00 | 6,218 | $107,121 | $450,322 | 54.0% |
| 18 | Saline | 21.67 | 9,006 | $88,346 | $465,110 | 59.0% |
| 19 | Farmington Hills | 22.33 | 83,515 | $104,836 | $387,308 | 57.0% |
| 20 | Royal Oak | 23.50 | 57,950 | $101,109 | $331,359 | 65.0% |
| 21 | South Lyon | 24.00 | 11,950 | $92,467 | $467,292 | 48.0% |
| 22 | Berkley | 25.00 | 15,149 | $116,239 | $314,815 | 59.0% |
| 23 | Farmington | 26.00 | 11,504 | $97,750 | $327,491 | 62.0% |
| 24 | Brighton | 28.83 | 7,688 | $80,682 | $432,666 | 50.0% |
| 25 | Petoskey | 29.00 | 5,856 | $74,196 | $472,426 | 53.0% |
| 26 | St. Joseph | 30.67 | 7,986 | $84,057 | $328,307 | 56.0% |
| 27 | Frankenmuth | 32.50 | 5,157 | $85,433 | $315,291 | 52.0% |
| 28 | Hudsonville | 34.17 | 7,769 | $91,280 | $417,204 | 36.0% |
| 29 | Chelsea | 35.17 | 5,426 | $72,098 | $411,817 | 52.0% |
| 30 | Livonia | 36.00 | 93,851 | $98,460 | $309,576 | 42.0% |
| 31 | New Baltimore | 37.67 | 12,072 | $106,033 | $354,733 | 31.0% |
| 32 | Fenton | 38.33 | 11,906 | $80,000 | $355,969 | 40.0% |
| 33 | Portage | 39.33 | 49,259 | $83,212 | $292,450 | 48.0% |
| 34 | Grandville | 40.17 | 16,356 | $78,442 | $353,731 | 41.0% |
| 35 | Milan | 40.33 | 5,987 | $96,949 | $303,662 | 38.0% |
| 36 | Auburn Hills | 40.50 | 25,105 | $84,375 | $277,483 | 50.0% |
| 37 | Ferndale | 40.67 | 19,190 | $94,640 | $250,328 | 58.0% |
| 38 | Clawson | 40.67 | 11,374 | $88,636 | $286,026 | 46.0% |
| 39 | Walker | 42.67 | 25,386 | $76,360 | $352,818 | 38.0% |
| 40 | Holland | 43.83 | 34,423 | $75,865 | $364,546 | 36.0% |
| 41 | Wixom | 44.50 | 17,295 | $65,485 | $384,492 | 47.0% |
| 42 | Kentwood | 45.33 | 54,296 | $74,373 | $331,531 | 37.0% |
| 43 | Sterling Heights | 49.83 | 133,573 | $79,909 | $306,785 | 32.0% |
| 44 | Dundee | 51.83 | 5,744 | $78,837 | $286,249 | 35.0% |
| 45 | Grand Rapids | 52.50 | 198,535 | $69,108 | $303,298 | 41.0% |
| 46 | Mason | 52.83 | 8,249 | $79,117 | $275,133 | 36.0% |
| 47 | Norton Shores | 53.17 | 25,041 | $76,579 | $287,720 | 33.0% |
| 48 | Grand Ledge | 55.00 | 7,804 | $68,980 | $296,333 | 38.0% |
| 49 | Grand Blanc | 55.33 | 7,987 | $68,052 | $285,257 | 43.0% |
| 50 | Grand Haven | 56.17 | 10,996 | $60,669 | $391,797 | 36.0% |
| 51 | Midland | 56.33 | 42,724 | $73,325 | $247,417 | 45.0% |
| 52 | Marshall | 57.00 | 6,804 | $76,050 | $240,469 | 42.0% |
| 53 | Marquette | 58.33 | 21,325 | $55,613 | $323,189 | 48.0% |
| 54 | Flat Rock | 59.33 | 10,340 | $81,585 | $257,473 | 29.0% |
| 55 | Southfield | 60.67 | 76,236 | $68,166 | $250,952 | 42.0% |
| 56 | St. Clair | 61.00 | 5,585 | $69,688 | $311,688 | 27.0% |
| 57 | Howell | 61.67 | 10,021 | $60,449 | $377,375 | 31.0% |
| 58 | East Lansing | 62.00 | 45,758 | $45,687 | $311,383 | 67.0% |
| 59 | Woodhaven | 62.33 | 12,690 | $78,648 | $266,356 | 27.0% |
| 60 | Wyoming | 63.50 | 77,353 | $73,677 | $286,890 | 26.0% |
| 61 | Trenton | 63.67 | 18,125 | $82,212 | $239,684 | 28.0% |
| 62 | Flushing | 63.83 | 8,284 | $80,025 | $235,733 | 30.0% |
| 63 | Walled Lake | 65.50 | 7,299 | $72,055 | $242,300 | 33.0% |
| 64 | Oak Park | 65.67 | 29,318 | $71,510 | $232,982 | 38.0% |
| 65 | St. Johns | 67.33 | 7,715 | $68,728 | $286,182 | 27.0% |
| 66 | Allen Park | 68.00 | 27,925 | $81,655 | $206,256 | 31.0% |
| 67 | Dearborn | 69.83 | 107,423 | $65,324 | $245,068 | 35.0% |
| 68 | Zeeland | 69.83 | 5,665 | $52,628 | $382,237 | 30.0% |
| 69 | St. Clair Shores | 70.17 | 58,140 | $73,500 | $227,950 | 30.0% |
| 70 | Richmond | 70.33 | 5,855 | $64,719 | $303,793 | 25.0% |
| 71 | New Haven | 71.67 | 6,475 | $66,125 | $308,844 | 22.0% |
| 72 | Houghton | 71.83 | 8,474 | $43,456 | $262,335 | 68.0% |
| 73 | Holly | 72.00 | 5,964 | $64,305 | $320,381 | 22.0% |
| 74 | Madison Heights | 72.33 | 28,419 | $69,503 | $219,511 | 34.0% |
| 75 | Ypsilanti | 74.50 | 19,857 | $46,588 | $282,887 | 47.0% |
| 76 | Utica | 78.17 | 5,180 | $58,718 | $253,468 | 32.0% |
| 77 | Tecumseh | 79.17 | 8,646 | $62,835 | $254,886 | 26.0% |
| 78 | Swartz Creek | 79.50 | 5,853 | $71,571 | $245,863 | 21.0% |
| 79 | Riverview | 79.83 | 12,186 | $73,468 | $242,241 | 21.0% |
| 80 | Kalamazoo | 82.67 | 73,076 | $52,272 | $236,274 | 38.0% |
| 81 | Ludington | 83.67 | 7,676 | $46,411 | $298,513 | 29.0% |
| 82 | Manistee | 83.67 | 6,275 | $60,541 | $257,759 | 24.0% |
| 83 | Marysville | 84.33 | 9,925 | $66,901 | $227,854 | 24.0% |
| 84 | Greenville | 84.67 | 8,995 | $63,285 | $265,109 | 20.0% |
| 85 | Fraser | 86.17 | 14,583 | $64,354 | $234,792 | 23.0% |
| 86 | Wyandotte | 88.17 | 24,489 | $71,987 | $186,227 | 23.0% |
| 87 | Mount Pleasant | 89.67 | 21,236 | $44,706 | $220,400 | 44.0% |
| 88 | Hastings | 91.33 | 7,520 | $58,286 | $235,811 | 25.0% |
| 89 | Hazel Park | 91.83 | 14,963 | $67,073 | $155,502 | 28.0% |
| 90 | Belding | 93.50 | 5,960 | $60,373 | $264,511 | 17.0% |
| 91 | Dearborn Heights | 93.67 | 61,771 | $60,391 | $212,389 | 25.0% |
| 92 | Allegan | 94.67 | 5,172 | $52,925 | $279,562 | 18.0% |
| 93 | Davison | 95.00 | 5,076 | $48,814 | $253,626 | 25.0% |
| 94 | Southgate | 95.50 | 29,366 | $66,118 | $192,161 | 21.0% |
| 95 | Westland | 95.67 | 83,633 | $62,076 | $211,889 | 22.0% |
| 96 | Harper Woods | 96.00 | 15,116 | $65,022 | $153,570 | 27.0% |
| 97 | Warren | 96.50 | 137,928 | $64,016 | $196,785 | 21.0% |
| 98 | Charlotte | 97.17 | 9,277 | $62,681 | $235,060 | 17.0% |
| 99 | Eaton Rapids | 97.33 | 5,183 | $63,875 | $250,600 | 14.0% |
| 100 | Springfield | 98.67 | 5,269 | $44,808 | $419,638 | 12.0% |
Source: U.S. Census ACS 2020-2024, Zillow research. 150 places with more than 5,000 residents.
Summary
There You Have It – Now That You’re On Your High Horse
When it comes to snobbery, these places in Michigan are heading ever upward. Residents in these communities are well educated, well paid, and appear to have all the sophisticated culture and entertainment of an Ernst Lubitsch film right at their fingertips.
Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
The snobbiest cities in Michigan are East Grand Rapids, Huntington Woods, Beverly Hills, Birmingham, Grosse Pointe Farms, Northville, Grosse Pointe Park, Grosse Pointe, Rochester, and Plymouth. Not sold on Michigan? Take the two-minute Find Your Place quiz and see which state actually fits you.
