So, you’re curious about living in Michigan? Well, you’ve come to the right place!
The expert movers, travelers, and worldwide locals that make up the team at Relocalate.com are here to help.
We’ve compiled the ultimate guides to answer the most common questions people just like you have about living in the great state of Michigan.
Dive deep into the topics you’re interested in to make sure your new home in Michigan matches what you’re looking for.
We’ll explore whether Michigan is a good place for YOU to live, and we’ll highlight some of the best cities for you to visit, explore, and ultimately call home.
Pros and Cons of Living in Michigan
You’ve heard it before, and it’s true: no place is perfect. What matters is how good of a fit it is for you.
Relocalate.com is here to help you decide whether Michigan is the best place for YOU to live.
Here are some reasons to love living in Michigan:
- Low cost of living.
- Lots of outdoor activities and nature to indulge in.
- Excellent universities.
- Lots of culture and nightlife to be found throughout the state.
And, on the flip side, here are some of the downsides of living in Michigan:
- Long winters – It’s long, cold, snowy, not to mention it can get dark early in the day since Michigan is further north than other states like California or Florida.
- Snowbirds- People who live near Lake Michigan will typically leave Michigan during the winter months for warmer climates because they don’t want to deal with all that snow and ice! You may find the winters a little lonely.
Read More: Is Michigan a Good Place to Live?
Best Place to Live in Michigan
So, you’ve got your heart set on living in Michigan? Well, the decision making doesn’t end there. You’ve still got to decide where to live in Michigan!
In some other articles, we’ll dive deeper into some of the best places to live in Michigan.
Our experts have considered a whole bunch of different criteria to select the top locations, including:
- The best places to live for families, retirees, singles, young adults, outdoor lovers, foodies, and more.
- The safest places to live.
- The cheapest places to live.
- The best schools.
- The best job markets.
- The best housing markets.
- And so much more.
Just want a quick list? No worries, here are some of the best cities to live in Michigan:
- Ann Arbor
- Detroit
- East Grand Rapids
- Grand Rapids
- Lansing
- Okemos
Read More: Best Places to Live in Michigan
Checklist for Moving to Michigan
So now you’re preparing for your big move to Michigan. Maybe you’ve even started packing!
As you probably already know, there are a lot of things to take care of when you’re moving. Both in your current state and once you get to Michigan.
Here are some of the major things you’ll want to take care of when you move to Michigan:
- Updating your address with USPS.
- Getting your Michigan driver’s license.
- Transferring your vehicle titles and registrations to Michigan
- Getting Michigan car insurance.
- Signing up for health insurance in Michigan and finding new doctors, dentists, and local hospitals.
- Updating/changing other insurance policies you may need (homeowner’s insurance, renter’s insurance, pet insurance, motorcycle insurance, etc.)
- Registering to vote in your district in Michigan.
- Updating your address with your banks, credit cards, subscription services, loans, investments, phone plans, and bill pay.
- Enrolling your kids in their new school district.
- Licensing your pets and finding a new vet.
- Setting up your utilities for your new home.
- Preparing to file state taxes for Michigan and your previous home state.
Visit your Michigan Moving Checklist for a detailed guide on all of the above.
Read More: Moving to Michigan Checklist
While we’re at it, let’s cover some high-level questions and fun facts about Michigan.
Things to Know About Living in Michigan
As you’re preparing for your move or getting settled into your new home in Michigan, here are some things to know about living there.
Cost of Living in Michigan
One thing to consider when moving to a new state is the relative cost of living.
Michigan ranks 13th on the Cost of Living Index with an overall rating of 91.9, meaning it’s a relatively inexpensive place to live.
Here is how Michigan scores for the cost of living in each specific category:
- Groceries: 91
- Housing: 80.2
- Utilities: 98.5
- Transportation: 101.8
- Health: 97.8
- Miscellaneous: 96.4
The average cost of living in this index is scored at 100. The numbers above represent the percentage of the average. A number higher than 100 represents an above average cost of living, while a number lower than 100 represents a lower cost of living. A lower rank indicates a lower cost of living.
This data comes from the Cost of Living Index prepared by the Council for Economic Research (C2ER), which compiles data from cities across the country to rank and compare the differences in costs of living.
Sales Tax Rates in Michigan
Sales tax is a way that state and local governments collect tax revenue from its residents and visitors.
These taxes are applied when you purchase something. It’ll show up on your receipt or bill. If you’ve recently moved to Michigan from somewhere else, the new sales tax rates may surprise you.
On top of the state sales tax rates, local rates for certain counties and cities may apply and vary as well.
Michigan’s state sales tax rate is higher than the national average at 6%.
Check with the Michigan tax office for the most current tax rates.
Real-Estate Property Tax Rates in Michigan
If you own or plan to own real estate in Michigan, you’ll want to think about the property tax rates when you move there.
Michigan ranks 38th (from low to high) for its state property tax rate of 1.54%.
There may be additional property taxes on top of the rate stated here depending on your county, city, and school districts.
Check with the Michigan tax office for the most current tax rates.
Michigan’s Job Market & Economy
Another thing to think about when moving to Michigan is the job market and economic indicators.
Overall, Michigan ranks 14th for Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the United States.
The GDP measures the overall monetary value of all goods and services produced within a certain place over a period of time.
Its top 10 industries (ranked from largest to smallest by economic contribution to the state) are:
- Manufacturing
- Professional and business services
- Real estate and rental and leasing
- Educational services, health care, and social assistance
- Wholesale trade
- Retail trade
- Finance and insurance
- Construction
- Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation, and food services
- Transportation and warehousing
The top employer in Michigan is University of Michigan.
Notable Destinations and Landmarks in Michigan
Our Michigan moving guide wouldn’t be complete without a brief mention of some of the most iconic destinations in the state.
When you get settled in, a road trip may just be in order.
One of the most iconic landmarks in Michigan is Mackinac Island.
National Parks that you can visit in Michigan include:
- Isle Royale National Park.
Facts about Michigan
Michigan is the 26th state of the United States that lies in the midwest region. To its north is Lake Superior and Canada, to its south is Indiana and Ohio, to its east is Lake Huron and Lake Erie, and to its west is Lake Michigan and Wisoncin.
What is the capital of Michigan?
The capital of Michigan is Lansing.
Lansing is located in Ingham County with a population of 114,297.
What is the population of Michigan?
The population of Michigan based on 2020 US Census data is 10,077,331.
What is the largest city in Michigan?
The largest city in Michigan is Detroit.
Detroit has a population of 672,662, and it is located in Wayne County.
What is the size of Michigan?
Michigan is 96,714 square miles, making it the 11th largest state in the U.S.
What is the state motto of Michigan?
The state motto of Michigan is: Si quaeris peninsulam amoenam circumspice / Tuebor
What is the state bird of Michigan?
The state bird of Michigan is the American robin.
What is the state flower of Michigan?
The state flower of Michigan is the Apple blossom.
What is the state tree of Michigan?
The state tree of Michigan is the Eastern White Pine.
What is the minimum wage in the state of Michigan?
The minimum wage in Michigan is $9.65 per hour.
What is the median income in Michigan?
The median annual household salary in Michigan is $56,697.