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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$949,900
↑ $1
2323 Canterwood, Highland charter township
4 Beds 4 Baths 3,200 SqFt Residential MLS® # 20250022602

$949,000

7847 Scully Road, Webster township
3 Beds 4 Baths 3,785 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025048543

$945,000

4251 Fleming Way, Superior charter township
4 Beds 4 Baths 3,820 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025041619

$940,000

16199 Via Colico, Macomb township
4 Beds 3 Baths 3,100 SqFt Residential MLS® # 20250035612

$939,900
↑ $25,000
3515 Forster Ln, Shelby charter township
4 Beds 4 Baths 3,578 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050098669

$938,000
↓ $60,500
1131 Audubon Rd, Grosse Pointe Park city
4 Beds 4 Baths 4,550 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050189098

$935,000

7949 Bridge Valley Dr, Village of Clarkston city
4 Beds 5 Baths 6,289 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050121405

$929,000
↓ $20,900
55733 Whitney Ct, Shelby charter township
6 Beds 5 Baths 6,866 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050177458

$925,000
↓ $25,000
1055 Philip St, Detroit city
0 Beds 20 Baths 11,949 SqFt Multifamily MLS® # 20240088848

$924,900
↓ $25,099
6768 Merrick Drive, Troy city
4 Beds 7 Baths 5,074 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025050458

$920,000

221 N Normal Street, Ypsilanti city
0 Beds 0 Baths 0 SqFt Multifamily MLS® # 81025045228

$919,000
↓ $30,000
13970 Quail View Dr, Washington township
3 Beds 3 Baths 5,000 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050188187

$914,999
↓ $10,000
22631 Bayview Dr, St. Clair Shores city
5 Beds 5 Baths 5,486 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050166542

$914,900
↑ $15,000
3371 Forster Ln, Shelby charter township
4 Beds 4 Baths 3,578 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050099494

$909,995

102 Samara Ln, Ann Arbor charter township
4 Beds 3 Baths 3,256 SqFt Residential MLS® # 20250037375

$907,000

2020 Watkins Lake Road, Waterford charter township
3 Beds 3 Baths 2,240 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025051638

$905,000

1212 Wells Street, Ann Arbor city
4 Beds 4 Baths 3,060 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025031883

$900,000

16217 Greenfield Road, Detroit city
0 Beds 0 Baths 0 SqFt Multifamily MLS® # 81025040401

$900,000
↓ $200,000
2941 E Warren Ave, Detroit city
0 Beds 24 Baths 29,400 SqFt Multifamily MLS® # 20250000212

$900,000

3737 Scovel Place, Detroit city
0 Beds 0 Baths 0 SqFt Multifamily MLS® # 81024029554

$899,999

7090 E Hill Rd, Atlas township
5 Beds 5 Baths 6,086 SqFt Residential MLS® # 5050184354

$899,995

3415 Maple Ridge Dr, Ann Arbor charter township
4 Beds 4 Baths 3,272 SqFt Residential MLS® # 20250037843

$899,900

18401 Fox Hollow Court, Northville city
4 Beds 4 Baths 6,988 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025045525

$899,900

3191 Forster Ln, Shelby charter township
4 Beds 4 Baths 3,651 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050182900

$899,900
↓ $50,000
61801 Cetnor Ct, Washington township
4 Beds 4 Baths 4,422 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050178869

$899,900
↓ $100,000
916 Brooks Street, Ann Arbor city
4 Beds 5 Baths 2,728 SqFt Residential MLS® # 65025023858

$899,900

11400 Hillman, Springfield charter township
3 Beds 3 Baths 2,278 SqFt Residential MLS® # 20250036601

$899,900
↓ $15,100
9855 Ortonville Rd, Independence charter township
5 Beds 5 Baths 3,915 SqFt Residential MLS® # 20250033828

$899,900
↓ $50,000
5238 Windmill Dr, Troy city
4 Beds 5 Baths 5,920 SqFt Residential MLS® # 20250023550

$899,900

1078 N Ravensview Trl Nw, Milford charter township
4 Beds 4 Baths 3,000 SqFt Residential MLS® # 20250000275

$899,900
↓ $20,000
9 Annandale, Addison township
4 Beds 4 Baths 3,500 SqFt Residential MLS® # 20240073234

$899,900

7113 Oak Ridge Crt, Independence charter township
4 Beds 4 Baths 4,493 SqFt Residential MLS® # 20240061171

$899,900
↓ $15,000
51581 Forster Ln, Shelby charter township
4 Beds 4 Baths 3,668 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050138818

$899,900
↑ $10,000
3479 Forster Ln, Shelby charter township
4 Beds 4 Baths 3,651 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050099498

$899,900
↑ $30,000
51557 Forster Ln, Shelby charter township
4 Beds 4 Baths 3,668 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050099490

$899,500
↓ $100,000
1295 Bald Eagle Lake Road, Groveland township
0 Beds 0 Baths 12,150 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81024050318

$899,194

7124 Black Cherry Lane, Pittsfield charter township
4 Beds 4 Baths 3,531 SqFt Condominium MLS® # 81025045120

$899,000

62747 Braun Dr, Washington township
4 Beds 4 Baths 3,200 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050192517

$899,000
↓ $50,000
922 Pauline Boulevard, Ann Arbor city
4 Beds 3 Baths 3,062 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025049546

$899,000

49335 Dominion Court, Canton charter township
0 Beds 0 Baths 3,873 SqFt Residential MLS® # 71025049014

$899,000

2910 Loon Dr, Wixom city
4 Beds 3 Baths 2,200 SqFt Residential MLS® # 20240037222

$899,000
↑ $50,000
72859 Sorrel Dr, Bruce township
3 Beds 3 Baths 2,500 SqFt Residential MLS® # 2220023123

$898,500

3110 Raffler Dr, Rochester Hills city
4 Beds 3 Baths 3,068 SqFt Residential MLS® # 20240061845

$882,817
↑ $15,000
55735 Bay Oaks Ct, Shelby charter township
4 Beds 4 Baths 3,424 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050182386

$880,000
↓ $19,000
1293 Huntcliff, Milford charter township
3 Beds 5 Baths 6,000 SqFt Residential MLS® # 20250030277

$879,999
↓ $20,000
2785 Tulip Way, Commerce charter township
5 Beds 4 Baths 3,792 SqFt Residential MLS® # 20240091023

$879,900

4114 Edgeland Ave, Royal Oak city
4 Beds 3 Baths 2,500 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050186944

$879,900
↓ $20,000
880 Hemlock Dr, Addison township
3 Beds 3 Baths 2,800 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050162969

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Posted by Michael Perna on August 22nd, 2025