Where Michigan Really Ranks Among the Best States to Live

Michigan didn’t top this year’s national “best places to live” lists, and that headline stung some locals. But once you look at what the rankings measure, how they weigh each factor, and what they don’t capture, the full picture of life in the Great Lakes State is a lot more nuanced, and in many ways, encouraging.

The headline result, plainly stated

WalletHub’s 2025 “Best States to Live” list places Michigan at No. 30 overall. Michigan scores well on Affordability (No. 12) and Quality of Life (No. 13), with lower marks in Education & Health (No. 33), Safety (No. 33), and Economy (No. 36). Michigan also ranks No. 3 for homeownership rate among its detailed metrics. Within WalletHub’s 12-state Midwest grouping, Michigan sits at the bottom this year, trailing neighbors like Wisconsin (No. 4), Minnesota (No. 5), Iowa (No. 12), Illinois (No. 17), and Ohio (No. 26).

Thinking about relocating, here is our no-fluff guide to moving to Michigan

What the ranking did well

Clear categories and transparent scoring. The list rolls up 51 data points into five big buckets, which makes it easy to see where a state is strong or needs work.
Comparable state-by-state snapshots. If you want a quick cross-state comparison that uses the same yardstick, this is a useful reference.

Where the ranking falls short

Weighting choices shape the outcome. WalletHub’s weights favor some inputs over others. Reasonable people can disagree with how much each factor matters to real, daily life in Michigan communities.
Economic score ≠ job reality for everyone. State-level economic composites can mask regional strengths like Metro Detroit’s deep advanced-manufacturing and mobility ecosystem, which attract employers even during national slowdowns. CNBC’s 2025 business climate study, for example, ranked Michigan No. 6 overall and No. 4 in Cost of Doing Business, reflecting momentum that a “livability” rollup may not capture.
Quality-of-life nuances get lost. Time outside, trail access, freshwater coastline, and four-season recreation are huge parts of how Michiganders actually live, yet many indices include these only indirectly.

Michigan’s strengths, backed by current data

Everyday affordability

Michigan is one of the more affordable states in 2025. MERIC’s Q1 2025 Cost of Living Index places Michigan at No. 8 cheapest with an overall score of 89.8. That supports WalletHub’s high affordability mark.

In housing specifically, Michigan’s July 2025 median sale price was $292,600, far below the U.S. median of $443,462. For families and first-time buyers, that gap is real buying power.

For a deeper look at pricing and inventory in Metro Detroit, read our 2025 housing market outlook

Commute sanity and daily rhythm

Census data show Michigan’s mean one-way commute sits around 24 to 24.4 minutes, while the U.S. 2023 one-year estimate is 26.8 minutes. Shorter drives mean more time for kids’ games, dinner at home, or a sunset walk.

The freshwater advantage you can feel

The Great Lakes hold about 21% of the world’s surface fresh water and 84% of North America’s. Michigan is steward to the nation’s longest freshwater coastline, about 3,288 miles. That’s not trivia. It shapes daily life, from summer beach days to lake-effect snow sports.

Trails, paddling, snow sports, and four-season play

Michigan manages more than 13,000 miles of state-designated trails across non-motorized, ORV, and snowmobile systems. In 2025, the state recognized the Betsie Valley Trail and the Chain of Lakes Water Trail with “Pure Michigan Trail” honors, highlighting top-tier experiences for biking, hiking, and paddling.

Outdoor recreation is not just lifestyle, it’s an economic engine

New federal data show outdoor recreation generated roughly $13.9 billion in Michigan in 2023 and supported about 118,000 jobs, led by boating and fishing. That is quality of life and real jobs in one story.

A business climate that’s trending up

Separate from livability lists, CNBC’s 2025 “Top States for Business” put Michigan at No. 6 overall after a multi-year climb, citing improvements in cost of doing business, workforce, and infrastructure. That is a forward-looking signal for careers and regional investment.

Where Michigan needs to improve

WalletHub’s weaker scores point to very real work on education and health outcomes, public safety, and parts of the state economy. These are multi-year projects that require consistent, local and statewide effort. A rankings table is a snapshot. The path to better outcomes is steady funding, strong local leadership, and accountability.

What the ranking doesn’t capture, and why it matters for real life

Here are lived-experience factors the list underweights that often tip decisions for families and professionals considering a move:

Freshwater lifestyle at scale. Year-round access to the Great Lakes plus thousands of inland lakes and rivers is hard to equal. That means beaches, sailing, salmon runs, lighthouse weekends, and lake-effect ski days within a few hours of Metro Detroit.

Planning weekends around the water is easy here, start with our Michigan Lake Towns Travel Guide

Four seasons of recreation and recover-in-nature time. From metro-area rail-trails and county parks to backpacking the Manistee River Trail or paddling the Chain of Lakes, restoration is close and affordable. The 2025 Pure Michigan Trail designations are only the latest proof of quality investments.
Community affordability that stretches your dollar. Lower housing costs and reasonable commutes change a family’s weekly rhythms in ways a composite index can’t fully reflect.
Stewardship in action. The Department of Natural Resources stocked 18.9 million fish through August 2025 to sustain fisheries that residents and visitors enjoy every weekend. It’s a small example of the state treating outdoor life as a shared asset.

Bottom line for movers and locals

If your priorities lean toward space, water, trails, and budget, Michigan stacks up better than a single rank suggests. The state offers a genuine shot at homeownership, shorter commutes, and weekends that feel a little longer.
If your priorities are elite school outcomes or specific safety metrics, you’ll want to evaluate communities carefully. Michigan’s averages leave room for improvement, and experiences can vary by city and district. Start with local data, not statewide composites.

How to use rankings wisely

Think of national lists as a starting point, then layer in what matters to your life:

Neighborhood-level data for schools, crime, and taxes. State averages are too blunt.
Current housing math for your target area, price, taxes, insurance, and commute.
Lifestyle fit, trails, lakes, youth sports, arts and food scenes that make your Tuesdays and Saturdays better.

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THINKING OF MOVING TO Metro Detroit, OR LOOKING TO RELOCATE IN THE AREA? VIEW A LIST OF CURRENT HOMES FOR SALE BELOW.
Metro Detroit Homes for Sale

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$1,799,000

633 N Center Street, Northville city
4 Beds 5 Baths 4,500 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025054488

$1,799,000
↓ $200,000
520 Pleasant St, Birmingham city
4 Beds 4 Baths 4,958 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050188477

$1,795,000

2891 Gale Road, Superior charter township
5 Beds 6 Baths 5,378 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025052519

$1,795,000
↑ $46,000
530 N Division Street Unit: Unit B, Ann Arbor city
3 Beds 4 Baths 2,354 SqFt Condominium MLS® # 81025037366

$1,750,000
↑ $151,000
3367 Lone Pine Road, West Bloomfield charter township
6 Beds 8 Baths 6,162 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025052160

$1,719,900

70910 Renata Crt, Bruce township
4 Beds 4 Baths 4,428 SqFt Residential MLS® # 20250034703

$1,699,000
↓ $51,000
13459 Haddon St, Fenton charter township
4 Beds 5 Baths 3,196 SqFt Residential MLS® # 20250030003

$1,695,000
↓ $204,000
355 Lincoln Rd, Grosse Pointe city
6 Beds 8 Baths 8,733 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050144007

$1,690,000
↓ $35,000
1015 Olivia Avenue, Ann Arbor city
5 Beds 5 Baths 4,817 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025033250

$1,689,000

5700 Seven Mile Rd, Salem township
4 Beds 5 Baths 3,250 SqFt Residential MLS® # 20230103631

$1,670,000

54 Belle Meade St, Village of Grosse Pointe Shores city
5 Beds 5 Baths 5,809 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050190429

$1,669,000
↓ $30,000
2086 Autumn Hill Drive, Scio township
4 Beds 6 Baths 8,147 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025041255

$1,650,000
↓ $150,000
7255 E Baldwin Rd, Atlas township
6 Beds 5 Baths 7,074 SqFt Residential MLS® # 20250013907

$1,600,000
↓ $100,000
404 W Liberty Street, Ann Arbor city
2 Beds 1 Bath 5,318 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025037513

$1,600,000

4990 Saddleridge Trl, Ann Arbor city
4 Beds 4 Baths 3,610 SqFt Residential MLS® # 20250002168

$1,600,000

5300 Belford Road, Holly township
4 Beds 1 Bath 2,624 SqFt Residential MLS® # 72024010741

$1,599,000
↓ $101,000
632 S Ashley Street, Ann Arbor city
3 Beds 4 Baths 2,538 SqFt Condominium MLS® # 81025025773

$1,599,000
↓ $101,000
48556 Harbor Dr, Chesterfield township
4 Beds 4 Baths 4,218 SqFt Residential MLS® # 20250035932

$1,598,000
↓ $100,000
19127 Maybury Meadow Court, Northville township
4 Beds 4 Baths 2,800 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81024059031

$1,575,000

1132 Longshore Drive Unit: Unit #2, Ann Arbor city
3 Beds 4 Baths 2,412 SqFt Condominium MLS® # 81025050136

New

$1,550,000

202 N River Street, Ypsilanti city
0 Beds 0 Baths 0 SqFt Multifamily MLS® # 81025055956

$1,550,000

5557 Cobble Lane, Webster township
6 Beds 6 Baths 6,778 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025051069

$1,550,000

2521 N Vermont Avenue, Royal Oak city
5 Beds 5 Baths 4,947 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025038657

$1,550,000
↓ $100,000
8252 Sandi Ln, Bruce township
3 Beds 4 Baths 4,933 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050176785

$1,549,900

70903 Renata Crt, Bruce township
4 Beds 4 Baths 3,610 SqFt Residential MLS® # 20250034723

$1,549,000
↓ $50,900
26918 Koerber St, St. Clair Shores city
4 Beds 5 Baths 5,200 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050171855

$1,500,000

1923 Geddes Avenue, Ann Arbor city
12 Beds 4 Baths 7,082 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025053261

$1,500,000

59 Fordcroft St, Village of Grosse Pointe Shores city
4 Beds 4 Baths 8,463 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050191003

$1,500,000

37330 Lakeshore Dr, Harrison charter township
4 Beds 3 Baths 2,991 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050173316

$1,500,000
↓ $150,000
607 Fairbrook St, Northville city
3 Beds 2 Baths 1,308 SqFt Residential MLS® # 219078024

$1,500,000

5845 Beech Daly Rd, Taylor city
2 Beds 1 Bath 928 SqFt Residential MLS® # 20240067977

$1,500,000

22440 23 Mile Rd, Macomb township
3 Beds 2 Baths 1,102 SqFt Residential MLS® # 20240065412

$1,499,900

9098 Dexter Pinckney Road, Dexter township
5 Beds 4 Baths 2,625 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025048637

$1,499,000
↓ $90,000
2969 Heather Way, Ann Arbor city
4 Beds 3 Baths 3,477 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025046505

$1,499,000

2734 E Wattles Rd, Troy city
3 Beds 2 Baths 2,300 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050187369

$1,499,000
↓ $50,000
70501 Renata Crt, Bruce township
4 Beds 4 Baths 3,125 SqFt Residential MLS® # 20250016520

$1,499,000

64164 W 8 Mile Rd, Green Oak township
4 Beds 4 Baths 3,032 SqFt Residential MLS® # 20240075767

New

$1,498,000

94 W Willis Road, York charter township
6 Beds 5 Baths 6,810 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025054997

$1,495,000
↑ $100,000
1136 Longshore Drive Unit: Unit #1, Ann Arbor city
3 Beds 4 Baths 2,412 SqFt Condominium MLS® # 81025036397

$1,495,000

19790 Westchester Dr, Clinton charter township
5 Beds 6 Baths 5,006 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050179594

$1,495,000
↓ $105,000
202 Orchard Hills Drive, Ann Arbor city
5 Beds 5 Baths 3,542 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025024093

$1,495,000
↓ $255,000
16600-16620 Greenfield Rd, Detroit city
92 Beds 80 Baths 45,852 SqFt Multifamily MLS® # 58050175782

$1,475,000

2925 Exmoor Road, Ann Arbor city
5 Beds 6 Baths 6,927 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025050577

$1,451,900

4483 Farm View Dr, Ann Arbor city
4 Beds 4 Baths 3,610 SqFt Residential MLS® # 20250001675

New

$1,450,000

333 Riverview Drive, Ann Arbor city
4 Beds 3 Baths 3,005 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025055791

New

$1,450,000

2417 Highland Drive, Superior charter township
4 Beds 7 Baths 6,846 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025055203

New

$1,450,000

321 Riverview Drive, Ann Arbor city
3 Beds 4 Baths 3,695 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025055077

$1,450,000

2861 Walnut Ridge Drive, Scio township
7 Beds 6 Baths 8,206 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025049302

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Posted by Michael Perna on August 22nd, 2025