Michigan Cost of Living
Housing costs and affordability data for 83 counties.
Average Monthly Rent
$873/mo
Average Home Value
$182,224
Average Owner Cost
$902/mo
County cost atlas
Michigan housing costs by county
Compare rent, entry-price context, owner costs, and cost score in one state view. Pin a county, switch layers, then open the full county profile when a place needs closer review.
Counties
83
Avg rent
$873/mo
Owner cost
$902/mo
Avg score
49.3
Higher means lower cost pressure
Atlas layers use U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates. Rent, owner cost, and home value are county medians. Cost score rewards lower rent and lower owner costs, but affordability still depends on income, household size, commute, debt, and personal finances. Use this as decision context, not personalized financial advice.
State Cost Summary
Use these state averages as a starting point, then scan the atlas and rankings for the county-level spread behind them.
Housing Costs in Michigan: An Overview
The median rent in Michigan is $873 per month, which is 25% below the national median of $1,163. That is useful statewide context, but rent burden still depends on local income, household size, commute, and the county a household chooses.
Within Michigan, housing costs vary significantly by county. Washtenaw County has the highest median rent in this dataset at $1,400 per month and a median home value of $353,000. Iron County has the lowest reported median rent at $510 per month and a median home value of $101,500.
The average home value across Michigan counties is $182,224, 35% lower than the national median of $281,900. Median household income is roughly $64,304, so home values should be read alongside local wages, financing costs, taxes, insurance, and supply.
Before comparing places in Michigan, start with the county-level pattern. Costs can swing dramatically between rural and urban counties. Use the atlas, rankings, and county links below to compare rent, home values, owner costs, and rent burden before opening a specific county profile.
Distribution
Rent Distribution in Michigan
How median rents are spread across 83 counties
Highest Median Rent Counties
Lowest Median Rent Counties
All Michigan Counties
Sorted by median rent, highest first. A higher cost score means lower rent and owner cost pressure within the national scoring model.
| County | Median Rent | Home Value | Owner Cost | Cost Score | Rent/Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washtenaw County | Moderate$1,400/mo | $353,000 | $1,612/mo | 7.8 | 32.0% |
| Oakland County | Moderate$1,319/mo | $320,400 | $1,483/mo | 10.1 | 27.0% |
| Livingston County | Moderate$1,236/mo | $331,100 | $1,502/mo | 11.3 | 28.0% |
| Leelanau County | Moderate$1,223/mo | $406,900 | $1,199/mo | 16.4 | 25.0% |
| Grand Traverse County | Moderate$1,215/mo | $296,200 | $1,170/mo | 17.1 | 30.0% |
| Kent County | Moderate$1,176/mo | $265,700 | $1,181/mo | 17.8 | 29.0% |
| Macomb County | Moderate$1,175/mo | $231,400 | $1,191/mo | 17.6 | 30.0% |
| Ottawa County | Moderate$1,148/mo | $291,200 | $1,227/mo | 17.6 | 28.0% |
| Wayne County | Moderate$1,087/mo | $170,200 | $990/mo | 26.6 | 32.0% |
| Allegan County | Moderate$1,065/mo | $247,000 | $1,082/mo | 24.1 | 28.0% |
| Ingham County | Moderate$1,058/mo | $187,500 | $1,161/mo | 21.9 | 31.0% |
| Kalamazoo County | Moderate$1,049/mo | $227,500 | $1,162/mo | 22.1 | 29.0% |
| Eaton County | Moderate$1,042/mo | $206,700 | $1,139/mo | 23.0 | 25.0% |
| Clinton County | Moderate$1,039/mo | $243,700 | $1,202/mo | 21.6 | 26.0% |
| Emmet County | Moderate$1,033/mo | $275,300 | $1,081/mo | 25.4 | 26.0% |
| Monroe County | Moderate$1,017/mo | $215,700 | $1,119/mo | 24.5 | 31.0% |
| St. Clair County | Affordable$999/mo | $213,900 | $1,007/mo | 29.4 | 32.0% |
| Benzie County | Affordable$974/mo | $254,400 | $1,035/mo | 29.8 | 27.0% |
| Midland County | Affordable$974/mo | $184,300 | $1,003/mo | 30.9 | 30.0% |
| Lenawee County | Affordable$965/mo | $181,100 | $1,019/mo | 31.1 | 29.0% |
| Muskegon County | Affordable$960/mo | $180,900 | $917/mo | 36.0 | 29.0% |
| Lapeer County | Affordable$959/mo | $229,100 | $1,105/mo | 28.3 | 30.0% |
| Jackson County | Affordable$958/mo | $182,900 | $946/mo | 34.9 | 29.0% |
| Barry County | Affordable$955/mo | $243,700 | $1,095/mo | 29.0 | 26.0% |
| Calhoun County | Affordable$937/mo | $151,500 | $918/mo | 37.3 | 29.0% |
| Genesee County | Affordable$936/mo | $172,900 | $992/mo | 33.9 | 31.0% |
| Charlevoix County | Affordable$929/mo | $242,800 | $1,081/mo | 31.3 | 28.0% |
| Berrien County | Affordable$923/mo | $211,400 | $987/mo | 35.1 | 29.0% |
| Marquette County | Affordable$923/mo | $202,000 | $873/mo | 41.0 | 31.0% |
| Saginaw County | Affordable$921/mo | $139,400 | $830/mo | 44.6 | 32.0% |
| Antrim County | Affordable$920/mo | $222,500 | $952/mo | 37.0 | 25.0% |
| Branch County | Affordable$900/mo | $147,500 | $837/mo | 45.8 | 25.0% |
| Newaygo County | Affordable$882/mo | $178,300 | $868/mo | 44.7 | 28.0% |
| Otsego County | Affordable$880/mo | $196,500 | $971/mo | 39.3 | 31.0% |
| Wexford County | Affordable$877/mo | $160,300 | $885/mo | 44.1 | 29.0% |
| Shiawassee County | Affordable$876/mo | $164,600 | $947/mo | 41.0 | 29.0% |
| Cass County | Affordable$870/mo | $205,200 | $995/mo | 39.1 | 28.0% |
| Mecosta County | Affordable$867/mo | $169,900 | $782/mo | 52.2 | 31.0% |
| Montcalm County | Affordable$867/mo | $172,100 | $908/mo | 43.5 | 27.0% |
| Isabella County | Affordable$863/mo | $165,100 | $931/mo | 42.9 | 32.0% |
| Lake County | Affordable$863/mo | $122,900 | $729/mo | 56.8 | 32.0% |
| Van Buren County | Affordable$845/mo | $189,900 | $1,000/mo | 41.8 | 29.0% |
| Ionia County | Affordable$840/mo | $189,400 | $1,000/mo | 42.1 | 28.0% |
| Mason County | Affordable$840/mo | $199,300 | $863/mo | 49.5 | 28.0% |
| Missaukee County | Affordable$838/mo | $163,700 | $868/mo | 49.3 | 30.0% |
| Ogemaw County | Affordable$828/mo | $138,600 | $702/mo | 62.1 | 37.0% |
| Crawford County | Affordable$825/mo | $149,900 | $763/mo | 58.0 | 28.0% |
| St. Joseph County | Affordable$825/mo | $167,600 | $875/mo | 50.1 | 24.0% |
| Cheboygan County | Affordable$822/mo | $175,200 | $793/mo | 56.5 | 30.0% |
| Manistee County | Affordable$820/mo | $166,600 | $784/mo | 57.3 | 33.0% |
| Sanilac County | Affordable$814/mo | $162,200 | $786/mo | 57.6 | 28.0% |
| Montmorency County | Affordable$811/mo | $142,000 | $705/mo | 63.8 | 39.0% |
| Bay County | Affordable$809/mo | $135,100 | $825/mo | 56.0 | 27.0% |
| Gratiot County | Affordable$808/mo | $136,800 | $912/mo | 49.9 | 30.0% |
| Hillsdale County | Affordable$801/mo | $170,500 | $850/mo | 55.0 | 27.0% |
| Luce County | Affordable$799/mo | $110,400 | $685/mo | 67.5 | 31.0% |
| Tuscola County | Affordable$796/mo | $136,900 | $793/mo | 59.8 | 26.0% |
| Chippewa County | Affordable$793/mo | $153,100 | $805/mo | 59.4 | 28.0% |
| Alcona County | Affordable$790/mo | $157,500 | $686/mo | 68.5 | 28.0% |
| Roscommon County | Affordable$789/mo | $148,000 | $634/mo | 72.3 | 31.0% |
| Oceana County | Affordable$768/mo | $167,600 | $836/mo | 60.6 | 26.0% |
| Houghton County | Affordable$767/mo | $140,300 | $752/mo | 66.6 | 32.0% |
| Kalkaska County | Affordable$767/mo | $174,300 | $866/mo | 58.6 | 29.0% |
| Osceola County | Affordable$764/mo | $139,600 | $761/mo | 66.2 | 26.0% |
| Mackinac County | Affordable$761/mo | $165,600 | $766/mo | 66.0 | 22.0% |
| Dickinson County | Affordable$744/mo | $130,300 | $750/mo | 69.2 | 27.0% |
| Clare County | Affordable$743/mo | $117,400 | $706/mo | 72.4 | 29.0% |
| Huron County | Affordable$743/mo | $141,300 | $688/mo | 74.1 | 25.0% |
| Arenac County | Affordable$741/mo | $129,000 | $709/mo | 72.5 | 28.0% |
| Alger County | Affordable$712/mo | $165,700 | $766/mo | 71.7 | 22.0% |
| Delta County | Affordable$698/mo | $146,800 | $762/mo | 73.0 | 26.0% |
| Gladwin County | Affordable$689/mo | $153,200 | $794/mo | 71.6 | 28.0% |
| Keweenaw County | Affordable$679/mo | $181,400 | $686/mo | 80.4 | 23.0% |
| Menominee County | Affordable$675/mo | $142,700 | $664/mo | 82.3 | 26.0% |
| Oscoda County | Affordable$675/mo | $126,000 | $684/mo | 80.8 | 24.0% |
| Alpena County | Affordable$660/mo | $137,800 | $681/mo | 82.1 | 28.0% |
| Iosco County | Affordable$659/mo | $122,900 | $629/mo | 85.7 | 27.0% |
| Schoolcraft County | Affordable$654/mo | $123,500 | $660/mo | 83.8 | 32.0% |
| Presque Isle County | Affordable$625/mo | $135,200 | $676/mo | 84.0 | 28.0% |
| Gogebic County | Affordable$577/mo | $99,700 | $660/mo | 86.8 | 29.0% |
| Ontonagon County | Affordable$571/mo | $101,000 | $570/mo | 92.7 | 27.0% |
| Baraga County | Affordable$557/mo | $124,400 | $721/mo | 82.3 | 20.0% |
| Iron County | Affordable$510/mo | $101,500 | $661/mo | 87.4 | 30.0% |
Compare Michigan to Other States
See how Michigan counties stack up against counties in other states. Compare rent, home values, and affordability side by side.
Start a ComparisonFrequently Asked Questions About Michigan Housing Costs
What is the most affordable county in Michigan?
What is the most expensive county to live in Michigan?
How does Michigan's cost of living compare to the national average?
What is the average home value in Michigan?
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Compare Moving QuotesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.