Best Places to Live in Michigan

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If you’re looking for some ideas on where to live in Michigan, you’ve come to the right place!

Obviously, the best place to live is a fairly subjective thing. It all depends on your lifestyle, your family, your job, your hobbies, and your budget. 

Here are some key questions to ask yourself when looking for the best place to live for YOU in Michigan:

  • What is the cost of housing? (Home prices and rent)
  • What is the job market like in the area? 
  • How is commuting and transportation? 
  • How good are public schools in the area?
  • Is it a safe place to live? 
  • What is the culture like? 
  • What is there to do for fun? 
  • What is the weather and climate like throughout the year?

With that said, our picks for the best places to live in Michigan include:

  1. Ann Arbor
  2. Grand Rapids
  3. Lansing

Read why they made the list below!

1. Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor is located in Washtenaw County within the southern part of Michigan.

With a population of 121,000, Ann Arbor ranks 5th largest in Michigan. It’s a medium sized city with a suburban and urban feel in most areas. 

Ann Arbor’s climate is classified as a humid continental climate influenced heavily by the Great Lakes. Its weather is marked with distinct seasons. Average highs range from 31 to 83 throughout the year, with July being the hottest month on average. 

Average lows range from 18 to 62, with January being the coldest month of the year on average. 

Here’s how we rate Ann Arbor on a few key categories:

CategoryRating
Value & Affordability3/5
Jobs4/5
Public Schools5/5
Crime & Safety3.5/5

2. Grand Rapids

Grand Rapids is located in Kent County within the central part of Michigan.

With a population of 198,401, Grand Rapids ranks 2nd largest in Michigan. It’s a medium-large sized city with a suburban feel in most areas. 

Grand Rapids’ weather ranges from warm, humid summers to snowy winters with mild seasons in between.

Here’s how we rate Grand Rapids on a few key categories:

CategoryRating
Value & Affordability4/5
Jobs4/5
Public Schools3/5
Crime & Safety3/5

3. Lansing

Lansing is located in Ingham County within the southern part of Michigan.

With a population of 117,000, Lansing ranks 6th largest in Michigan. It’s a medium sized city with a suburban feel in most areas. 

Here’s how we rate Lansing on a few key categories:

CategoryRating
Value & Affordability4/5
Jobs4/5
Public Schools4/5
Crime & Safety3/5

Next Steps: Prepare for your Move

Moving to a new state or new city can be a pretty daunting process! Trust us, we’ve been there. 


That’s why we’ve created this site to help you along the way. Check out some of our other resources as you continue down the path towards your new home:

Plus, we’ve made it easy for you to shop and compare all different types of insurance policies as you prepare for your move. (Expert tip: This is one of the BEST ways to save some money). Get started below: