An ideal town or neighborhood looks different for everyone.
Those who can't get enough of the outdoors may prioritize proximity to trails, lakes, and beaches, while parents are looking for places with top-ranked schools for their children. Culture lovers might want to live in a city with museums and art walks, whereas sports fans look for professional or college sports teams nearby.
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Stacker compiled a list of the best places to live in Michigan using data from Niche. Niche ranks places to live based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather.
On the list, there's a robust mix of offerings from great schools and nightlife to high walkability and public parks. Some areas have enjoyed rapid growth thanks to new businesses moving to the area, while others offer glimpses into area history with well-preserved architecture and museums.
Keep reading to see if your hometown made the list.
#30. Northville Township, Michigan
- Overall Rank: 292
- Population: 31,461
- Median household income: $136,274
- Median home value: $490,800 (78% own)
- Median rent: $1,688 (22% rent)
- Top public schools: Northville High School (grade A+), Plymouth Scholars Charter Academy (grade A+), Moraine Elementary School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Greenhills School (grade A+), Detroit Country Day School (grade A+), Frankel Jewish Academy of Metro Detroit (grade A+)
#29. Northville, Michigan
- Overall Rank: 250
- Population: 6,088
- Median household income: $134,330
- Median home value: $431,500 (85% own)
- Median rent: $1,245 (15% rent)
- Top public schools: Northville High School (grade A+), Plymouth Scholars Charter Academy (grade A+), Amerman Elementary School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Mercy High School (grade A+), Southfield Christian School (grade A+), Detroit Catholic Central High School (grade A+)
#28. Novi, Michigan
- Overall Rank: 78
- Population: 65,870
- Median household income: $110,588
- Median home value: $380,200 (68% own)
- Median rent: $1,584 (32% rent)
- Top public schools: International Academy (grade A+), Novi High School (grade A+), Northville High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Detroit Country Day School (grade A+), Frankel Jewish Academy of Metro Detroit (grade A+), Brother Rice High School (grade A+)
#27. Oakland Charter Township, Michigan
- Overall Rank: 1,050
- Population: 20,019
- Median household income: $167,975
- Median home value: $528,900 (96% own)
- Median rent: $1,933 (4% rent)
- Top public schools: Rochester Adams High School (grade A+), Delta Kelly Elementary School (grade A), Brewster Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Cranbrook Schools (grade A+), Academy of the Sacred Heart (grade A+), Notre Dame Preparatory School (grade A+)
#26. Okemos, Michigan
- Overall Rank: 15
- Population: 25,549
- Median household income: $88,298
- Median home value: $304,800 (57% own)
- Median rent: $1,188 (43% rent)
- Top public schools: Okemos High School (grade A+), Chippewa Middle School (grade A+), Okemos Public Montessori School at Central (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Lansing Catholic High School (grade A minus), Lansing Christian School (grade B+), New Covenant Christian School (grade B)
#25. Orchard Lake Village, Michigan
- Overall Rank: 997
- Population: 2,342
- Median household income: $206,750
- Median home value: $767,900 (96% own)
- Median rent: $3,067 (4% rent)
- Top public schools: International Academy (grade A+), Bloomfield Hills High School (grade A+), Doherty Elementary School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Cranbrook Schools (grade A+), Detroit Country Day School (grade A+), Frankel Jewish Academy of Metro Detroit (grade A+)
#24. Pittsfield Charter Township, Michigan
- Overall Rank: 653
- Population: 39,151
- Median household income: $92,065
- Median home value: $367,500 (59% own)
- Median rent: $1,365 (41% rent)
- Top public schools: Washtenaw International High School (grade A+), Huron High School (grade A+), Community High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Greenhills School (grade A+), Michigan Islamic Academy (grade A+), Rudolf Steiner School of Ann Arbor (grade A+)
#23. Pleasant Ridge, Michigan
- Overall Rank: 1,502
- Population: 2,609
- Median household income: $164,861
- Median home value: $393,900 (95% own)
- Median rent: $1,657 (5% rent)
- Top public schools: Farmington Steam Academy (grade A), Northwood Elementary School (grade A minus), Royal Oak High School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Cranbrook Schools (grade A+), Detroit Country Day School (grade A+), The Roeper School - Grades 6-12 (grade A+)
#22. Plymouth Charter Township, Michigan
- Overall Rank: 1,270
- Population: 27,755
- Median household income: $103,214
- Median home value: $384,800 (83% own)
- Median rent: $1,076 (17% rent)
- Top public schools: Washtenaw International High School (grade A+), Plymouth Scholars Charter Academy (grade A+), Achieve Charter Academy (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Greenhills School (grade A+), Frankel Jewish Academy of Metro Detroit (grade A+), Michigan Islamic Academy (grade A+)
#21. Plymouth, Michigan
- Overall Rank: 671
- Population: 9,300
- Median household income: $107,156
- Median home value: $413,100 (67% own)
- Median rent: $1,044 (33% rent)
- Top public schools: Plymouth Scholars Charter Academy (grade A+), Achieve Charter Academy (grade A+), Washtenaw Technical Middle College (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Greenhills School (grade A+), Michigan Islamic Academy (grade A+), Mercy High School (grade A+)
#20. Portage, Michigan
- Overall Rank: 1,928
- Population: 48,936
- Median household income: $74,837
- Median home value: $222,600 (66% own)
- Median rent: $1,062 (34% rent)
- Top public schools:
- Top private schools: Portage West Middle School (grade A), Moorsbridge Elementary School (grade A), Portage Northern High School (grade A)
#19. Rochester Hills, Michigan
- Overall Rank: 571
- Population: 76,041
- Median household income: $115,968
- Median home value: $359,800 (77% own)
- Median rent: $1,497 (23% rent)
- Top public schools: Rochester Adams High School (grade A+), Brewster Elementary School (grade A), Stoney Creek High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Cranbrook Schools (grade A+), The Roeper School - Grades 6-12 (grade A+), Brother Rice High School (grade A+)
#18. Rochester, Michigan
- Overall Rank: 205
- Population: 12,978
- Median household income: $102,838
- Median home value: $447,800 (66% own)
- Median rent: $1,158 (34% rent)
- Top public schools: Stoney Creek High School (grade A), Long Meadow Elementary School (grade A), Rochester High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Academy of the Sacred Heart (grade A+), Notre Dame Preparatory School (grade A+), Auburn Hills Christian School (grade A)
#17. Royal Oak, Michigan
- Overall Rank: 394
- Population: 58,053
- Median household income: $92,799
- Median home value: $289,800 (65% own)
- Median rent: $1,260 (35% rent)
- Top public schools: Troy High School (grade A+), Wylie E. Groves High School (grade A+), Berkley High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Cranbrook Schools (grade A+), Detroit Country Day School (grade A+), The Roeper School - Grades 6-12 (grade A+)
#16. Saline, Michigan
- Overall Rank: 1,987
- Population: 8,973
- Median household income: $88,388
- Median home value: $302,200 (71% own)
- Median rent: $1,073 (29% rent)
- Top public schools:
- Top private schools: Washtenaw International High School (grade A+), South Arbor Charter Academy (grade A+), Washtenaw Technical Middle College (grade A+)
#15. Superior Charter Township, Michigan
- Overall Rank: 2,262
- Population: 14,879
- Median household income: $84,066
- Median home value: $244,400 (82% own)
- Median rent: $1,446 (18% rent)
- Top public schools:
- Top private schools: Washtenaw International High School (grade A+), Huron High School (grade A+), Community High School (grade A+)
#14. Troy, Michigan
- Overall Rank: 47
- Population: 87,170
- Median household income: $115,639
- Median home value: $375,600 (75% own)
- Median rent: $1,461 (25% rent)
- Top public schools: International Academy (grade A+), Troy High School (grade A+), Bloomfield Hills High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Cranbrook Schools (grade A+), Detroit Country Day School (grade A+), The Roeper School - Grades 6-12 (grade A+)
#13. Village of Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan
- Overall Rank: 860
- Population: 2,610
- Median household income: $170,850
- Median home value: $641,500 (97% own)
- Median rent: $1,807 (3% rent)
- Top public schools: George Defer Elementary School (grade A), Grosse Pointe North High School (grade A), Ferry Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: University Liggett School (grade A+), De La Salle Collegiate (grade A), Faith Christian School (grade B)
#12. West Bloomfield Charter Township, Michigan
- Overall Rank: 1,027
- Population: 65,816
- Median household income: $121,282
- Median home value: $375,900 (83% own)
- Median rent: $1,933 (17% rent)
- Top public schools: International Academy (grade A+), Wylie E. Groves High School (grade A+), Bloomfield Hills High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Cranbrook Schools (grade A+), Detroit Country Day School (grade A+), Frankel Jewish Academy of Metro Detroit (grade A+)
#11. Wixom, Michigan
- Overall Rank: 2,060
- Population: 17,007
- Median household income: $72,896
- Median home value: $321,000 (48% own)
- Median rent: $912 (52% rent)
- Top public schools:
- Top private schools: Plymouth Scholars Charter Academy (grade A+), Hickory Woods Elementary School (grade A), Farmington Steam Academy (grade A)
#10. East Hills, Michigan
- Overall Rank: 2,034
- Population: 3,562
- Median household income: $81,473
- Median home value: $270,621 (35% own)
- Median rent: $1,281 (65% rent)
- Top public schools: City Middle/High School (grade A+), Cross Creek Charter Academy (grade A+), Excel Charter Academy (grade A)
- Top private schools: West Michigan Lutheran High School (grade A), Grand Rapids Christian High School (grade A minus), The Potter's House High School (grade A minus)
#9. Houghton, Michigan
- Overall Rank: 2,017
- Population: 8,303
- Median household income: $29,821
- Median home value: $203,900 (35% own)
- Median rent: $819 (65% rent)
- Top public schools: Houghton Central High School (grade A), Houghton Elementary School (grade A), Houghton Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Copper Country Christian School (grade B), Little Huskies Child Development Center (grade unavailable)
#8. Webster Township, Michigan
- Overall Rank: 2,008
- Population: 6,588
- Median household income: $160,597
- Median home value: $504,200 (94% own)
- Median rent: $1,823 (6% rent)
- Top public schools: Community High School (grade A+), Skyline High School (grade A+), Plymouth Scholars Charter Academy (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Greenhills School (grade A+), Michigan Islamic Academy (grade A+), Rudolf Steiner School of Ann Arbor (grade A+)
#7. Petoskey, Michigan
- Overall Rank: 1,988
- Population: 5,859
- Median household income: $69,784
- Median home value: $256,400 (57% own)
- Median rent: $894 (43% rent)
- Top public schools: Lincoln School (grade A minus), Petoskey Middle School (grade A minus), Sheridan School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Harbor Light Christian School (grade C+), St. Francis Xavier School (grade unavailable), St. Mary School (grade unavailable)
#6. Lodi Township, Michigan
- Overall Rank: 1,829
- Population: data not available
- Median household income: data not available
- Median home value: data not available (data not available own)
- Median rent: data not available (data not available rent)
- Top public schools:
- Top private schools:
#5. Ottawa Hills, Michigan
- Overall Rank: 1,181
- Population: 1,505
- Median household income: $133,604
- Median home value: $430,907 (85% own)
- Median rent: $1,319 (15% rent)
- Top public schools: City Middle/High School (grade A+), Cross Creek Charter Academy (grade A+), Excel Charter Academy (grade A)
- Top private schools: West Michigan Lutheran High School (grade A), Grand Rapids Christian High School (grade A minus), The Potter's House High School (grade A minus)
#4. St. Joseph, Michigan
- Overall Rank: 1,012
- Population: 7,852
- Median household income: $79,103
- Median home value: $250,900 (62% own)
- Median rent: $948 (38% rent)
- Top public schools: St. Joseph High School (grade A), Upton Middle School (grade A), Brown School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Andrews Academy (grade A), Our Lady of the Lake Catholic School (grade A), Michigan Lutheran High School (grade A minus)
#3. Fulton Heights, Michigan
- Overall Rank: 635
- Population: 1,413
- Median household income: $86,250
- Median home value: $246,400 (77% own)
- Median rent: $1,632 (23% rent)
- Top public schools: City Middle/High School (grade A+), Cross Creek Charter Academy (grade A+), Excel Charter Academy (grade A)
- Top private schools: West Michigan Lutheran High School (grade A), Grand Rapids Christian High School (grade A minus), The Potter's House High School (grade A minus)
#2. Eastown, Michigan
- Overall Rank: 513
- Population: 7,722
- Median household income: $102,193
- Median home value: $308,745 (75% own)
- Median rent: $1,624 (25% rent)
- Top public schools: City Middle/High School (grade A+), Cross Creek Charter Academy (grade A+), Excel Charter Academy (grade A)
- Top private schools: West Michigan Lutheran High School (grade A), Grand Rapids Christian High School (grade A minus), The Potter's House High School (grade A minus)
#1. Eastgate, Michigan
- Overall Rank: 380
- Population: 5,623
- Median household income: $119,011
- Median home value: $320,345 (93% own)
- Median rent: $705 (7% rent)
- Top public schools: City Middle/High School (grade A+), Cross Creek Charter Academy (grade A+), Excel Charter Academy (grade A)
- Top private schools: West Michigan Lutheran High School (grade A), Grand Rapids Christian High School (grade A minus), The Potter's House High School (grade A minus)
This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 42 states.