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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$1,200,000

19199 Lahser Rd, Detroit city
24 Beds 18 Baths 15,845 SqFt Multifamily MLS® # 58050188317

$1,200,000

15211 Fenkell St, Detroit city
20 Beds 20 Baths 10,800 SqFt Multifamily MLS® # 58050188297

$1,200,000

5750 South Ridge, Wayne city
3 Beds 3 Baths 1,750 SqFt Residential MLS® # 20250027013

$1,200,000

3595 E Huron River Drive, Ann Arbor city
3 Beds 3 Baths 2,486 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025042458

$1,200,000

441 S Ashley Street Unit: 405, Ann Arbor city
3 Beds 2 Baths 1,665 SqFt Condominium MLS® # 81025000692

$1,200,000

512 Fernhurst Crt, Orion charter township
2 Beds 2 Baths 981 SqFt Residential MLS® # 20221055222

$1,200,000

820 W Baltimore St, Detroit city
4 Beds 4 Baths 4,159 SqFt Residential MLS® # 20250000860

$1,200,000

23831 John R Rd, Hazel Park city
0 Beds 5 Baths 5,425 SqFt Multifamily MLS® # 20250022739

$1,199,989

27927 Ponchartrain St, Harrison charter township
3 Beds 4 Baths 3,850 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050191772

$1,199,900
↓ $49,100
61784 Bunker Hill Dr, Washington township
3 Beds 5 Baths 6,502 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050190343

$1,199,900

60 Timber Ridge Court, York charter township
5 Beds 4 Baths 6,477 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025019371

$1,199,000

535 Ballantyne Rd, Village of Grosse Pointe Shores city
4 Beds 5 Baths 4,700 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050192252

$1,199,000
↓ $51,000
3093 Overridge Drive, Ann Arbor city
4 Beds 3 Baths 3,144 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025043691

$1,199,000

1833 N Washington Ave, Royal Oak city
4 Beds 5 Baths 4,045 SqFt Residential MLS® # 20250037529

$1,199,000
↓ $51,000
29135 Scotten St, Farmington Hills city
4 Beds 4 Baths 3,829 SqFt Residential MLS® # 20250020254

$1,198,000
↓ $41,000
2735 Blue Bird Lane, Highland charter township
4 Beds 3 Baths 2,430 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025004721

$1,189,995
↓ $139,000
4763 Vorhies Road, Superior charter township
5 Beds 4 Baths 3,956 SqFt Residential MLS® # 65025051898

New

$1,189,000

3075 Hunting Valley Drive, Ann Arbor city
4 Beds 4 Baths 2,653 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025055972

$1,185,001
↑ $1
2673 Pine Bluffs Ct, Highland charter township
4 Beds 4 Baths 3,800 SqFt Residential MLS® # 20240033950

$1,185,000

11400 Bayberry Dr, Bruce township
3 Beds 5 Baths 4,392 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050191861

$1,179,000

11762 Encore Dr, Shelby charter township
4 Beds 4 Baths 4,000 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050175239

$1,175,000

877 Quarry Dr, Rochester Hills city
4 Beds 5 Baths 5,365 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050174664

$1,169,000
↑ $1,168,999
614 S 7th Street, Ann Arbor city
4 Beds 4 Baths 3,482 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025049933

$1,169,000
↑ $69,000
3960 Harvest Creek Crt, Oakland charter township
4 Beds 4 Baths 6,160 SqFt Residential MLS® # 20250031556

$1,160,000

9470 Pontiac Lake Rd, White Lake charter township
0 Beds 15 Baths 2,700 SqFt Multifamily MLS® # 20240009340

$1,159,000

6411 Lapham Court, Salem township
5 Beds 6 Baths 5,887 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025050821

$1,150,000
↓ $100,000
1928 Lorraine Place, Ann Arbor city
4 Beds 6 Baths 3,677 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025044234

$1,150,000
↓ $50,000
209 N Seventh Street, Ann Arbor city
5 Beds 4 Baths 2,701 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025031502

New

$1,149,000

695 Westchester Way, Birmingham city
3 Beds 4 Baths 2,633 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025055868

$1,135,000

1704 Shadford Road, Ann Arbor city
4 Beds 3 Baths 2,454 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025049417

$1,125,000
↓ $125,000
3401 Michigan Ave, Detroit city
2 Beds 2 Baths 3,000 SqFt Residential MLS® # 20250028849

$1,115,000

6577 Heron Court, Lodi township
5 Beds 5 Baths 5,066 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025029484

$1,114,995

3440 Maple Ridge Dr, Ann Arbor charter township
4 Beds 4 Baths 3,904 SqFt Residential MLS® # 20250031963

$1,100,000

63240 Indian Hills Dr, Washington township
4 Beds 3 Baths 4,145 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050189927

$1,100,000
↓ $100,000
438 State Park Rd Rd, Groveland township
4 Beds 4 Baths 4,142 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050188557

$1,100,000
↓ $74,000
32830 Jefferson Ave, St. Clair Shores city
5 Beds 3 Baths 4,763 SqFt Residential MLS® # 20250022356

$1,100,000
↓ $85,000
2316 Brockman Boulevard, Ann Arbor city
4 Beds 4 Baths 2,612 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025024043

$1,100,000

511 S Gulley Rd, Dearborn city
3 Beds 2 Baths 1,719 SqFt Residential MLS® # 20250036590

$1,099,900
↓ $100,000
47 Sheron St, Orion charter township
3 Beds 4 Baths 3,042 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050169229

$1,098,000

209 Sunset Road, Ann Arbor city
3 Beds 3 Baths 3,161 SqFt Condominium MLS® # 81025030002

$1,097,500

1128 Longshore Drive Unit: Unit #2, Ann Arbor city
2 Beds 3 Baths 2,014 SqFt Condominium MLS® # 81025036400

$1,095,000

1323 Bennaville Avenue, Birmingham city
3 Beds 4 Baths 2,830 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025054952

$1,090,000
↓ $300,000
4900 Estes Dr, Orion charter township
2 Beds 2 Baths 1,152 SqFt Residential MLS® # 20250026207

$1,088,790
↑ $11,360
7376 Mulberry Dr, Washington township
3 Beds 3 Baths 2,793 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050182391

$1,088,000
↑ $90,000
5050 E Joy Road, Superior charter township
4 Beds 4 Baths 3,148 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025004725

$1,080,000
↓ $20,000
1194 Eagle Nest, Milford village
4 Beds 4 Baths 5,825 SqFt Residential MLS® # 20250023618

$1,050,000

93 Merriweather Rd, Grosse Pointe Farms city
6 Beds 5 Baths 5,200 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050191680

$1,050,000
↓ $49,000
6420 Commerce Rd, West Bloomfield charter township
4 Beds 5 Baths 4,240 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050185964

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Posted by Michael Perna on August 22nd, 2025