County housing intelligence
Michigan Housing Market by County
Michigan is not one housing market. Across 83 counties, the median county home value is $178,300 and the median county rent is $884/mo. The useful question is not whether Michigan is cheap. It is which county fits your income, tax tolerance, and buy-versus-rent plan.
County median home value
$178,300
Median of county medians, less distorted by the largest metros.
County median rent
$884/mo
Gross rent includes rent plus utilities where Census reports it.
Counties compared
83
Every county with available ACS housing data in this state.
Fast answers
Start with the housing question.
Market brief
The state-level housing signal
These benchmarks use the median county in the state, not one metro-weighted average. That makes the brief better for county comparison and rural-to-urban screening.
Purchase price
State county median vs national benchmark
Rent
State county median vs national benchmark
Owner cost
State county median vs national benchmark
Income base
State county median vs national benchmark
Tax rate
State county median vs national benchmark
The Michigan Pattern
These are the signals a statewide average hides. Start here before choosing counties to compare.
Price geography
Leelanau County, Washtenaw County, Livingston County sit at the top of the purchase market, while Gogebic County, Iron County, Ontonagon County anchor the lower-cost end.
Rent reality
Washtenaw County, Oakland County, Grand Traverse County lead on rent, while Ontonagon County, Baraga County, Gogebic County show where monthly lease costs are lowest.
Decision lens
Gogebic County, Iron County, Luce County screen best for purchase affordability when home values are measured against local household income.
Best Counties by Housing Goal
Different households need different rankings. Price alone is not enough, so these groups compare rent, income, owner costs, and tax exposure.
Cheapest to buy
Lowest median home values. Useful for purchase-price screening.
- 1. Gogebic County
$107,200
- 2. Iron County
$109,100
- 3. Ontonagon County
$111,700
- 4. Luce County
$112,000
- 5. Oscoda County
$125,500
Best buy affordability
Lowest home-value-to-income ratios. Better than price alone.
- 1. Gogebic County
2.0x home-value-to-income
- 2. Iron County
2.0x home-value-to-income
- 3. Luce County
2.0x home-value-to-income
- 4. Ontonagon County
2.1x home-value-to-income
- 5. Gratiot County
2.3x home-value-to-income
Cheapest to rent
Lowest median gross rent among counties with ACS rent data.
- 1. Ontonagon County
$540/mo
- 2. Baraga County
$616/mo
- 3. Gogebic County
$623/mo
- 4. Alpena County
$673/mo
- 5. Luce County
$675/mo
Lowest rent burden
Where typical renters spend the smallest share of income on rent.
- 1. Baraga County
21.0% rent burden
- 2. Alger County
21.9% rent burden
- 3. Ontonagon County
22.3% rent burden
- 4. Mackinac County
23.0% rent burden
- 5. Keweenaw County
23.3% rent burden
Lowest tax-rate signal
Lowest effective property-tax rates in the state data.
- 1. Leelanau County
0.68% effective tax rate
- 2. Benzie County
0.79% effective tax rate
- 3. Otsego County
0.80% effective tax rate
- 4. Alcona County
0.82% effective tax rate
- 5. Emmet County
0.83% effective tax rate
Owner-cost advantage
Counties where median owner costs are furthest below median rent.
- 1. Alcona County
$187/mo cheaper to own than rent
- 2. Roscommon County
$169/mo cheaper to own than rent
- 3. Lake County
$123/mo cheaper to own than rent
- 4. Wayne County
$118/mo cheaper to own than rent
- 5. Branch County
$103/mo cheaper to own than rent
Income-backed value
Higher-income counties that still hold a reasonable value-to-income profile.
- 1. Midland County
$77,705 income, 2.5x value-to-income
- 2. Clinton County
$88,210 income, 2.9x value-to-income
- 3. Eaton County
$79,597 income, 2.7x value-to-income
- 4. Livingston County
$103,039 income, 3.5x value-to-income
- 5. Ionia County
$75,611 income, 2.6x value-to-income
Tradeoffs to Check
The best page is not the one that crowns a winner. It is the one that shows where a county can surprise you after the headline price looks attractive.
| Signal | County | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Cheap price, weaker income base | Gogebic County $107,200 home value, $52,732 income | Low purchase prices can still feel tight when local wages are also low. |
| Affordable homes, higher tax rate | Gogebic County $107,200 home value, 1.43% tax rate | A low home price can be offset by the annual property-tax bill. |
| Renter pressure | Montmorency County $686/mo rent, 35.70% rent burden | Monthly rent alone does not show whether renters can comfortably absorb the cost. |
| Expensive, but income-supported | Leelanau County $458,400 home value, $99,422 income | Some high-price counties also have stronger incomes, so affordability depends on both sides of the equation. |
Lowest home values
Best value-to-income
Compare Every Michigan County
Sorted by home-value-to-income ratio so the first rows are not just cheap counties, but counties where purchase prices look smaller relative to local income.
| County | Home Value | Rent | Income | Value/Income | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gogebic County | $107,200 | $623/mo | $52,732 | 2.0x | 1.43% |
| Iron County | $109,100 | $716/mo | $55,940 | 2.0x | 1.34% |
| Luce County | $112,000 | $675/mo | $54,893 | 2.0x | 0.98% |
| Ontonagon County | $111,700 | $540/mo | $54,398 | 2.1x | 1.16% |
| Gratiot County | $147,500 | $834/mo | $63,556 | 2.3x | 1.24% |
| Tuscola County | $149,500 | $819/mo | $63,811 | 2.3x | 1.21% |
| Dickinson County | $153,300 | $797/mo | $65,156 | 2.4x | 1.27% |
| Baraga County | $138,100 | $616/mo | $55,327 | 2.5x | 1.22% |
| Bay County | $152,200 | $860/mo | $61,763 | 2.5x | 1.49% |
| Midland County | $195,400 | $1,016/mo | $77,705 | 2.5x | 1.47% |
| Oscoda County | $125,500 | $681/mo | $49,515 | 2.5x | 0.94% |
| Saginaw County | $152,800 | $947/mo | $60,622 | 2.5x | 1.49% |
| Schoolcraft County | $141,800 | $705/mo | $56,782 | 2.5x | 0.99% |
| Shiawassee County | $171,600 | $899/mo | $67,404 | 2.5x | 1.31% |
| Arenac County | $150,600 | $761/mo | $58,811 | 2.6x | 1.13% |
| Branch County | $162,500 | $959/mo | $63,724 | 2.6x | 1.16% |
| Calhoun County | $162,800 | $968/mo | $63,177 | 2.6x | 1.45% |
| Chippewa County | $161,900 | $797/mo | $62,217 | 2.6x | 1.26% |
| Huron County | $154,300 | $788/mo | $58,870 | 2.6x | 1.19% |
| Ionia County | $198,500 | $884/mo | $75,611 | 2.6x | 1.13% |
| Lake County | $133,900 | $875/mo | $50,805 | 2.6x | 1.09% |
| Missaukee County | $170,400 | $891/mo | $66,194 | 2.6x | 0.98% |
| Presque Isle County | $151,300 | $683/mo | $59,321 | 2.6x | 0.95% |
| Clare County | $133,800 | $765/mo | $49,384 | 2.7x | 1.11% |
| Crawford County | $163,000 | $862/mo | $60,392 | 2.7x | 1.06% |
| Delta County | $157,100 | $692/mo | $57,809 | 2.7x | 1.13% |
| Eaton County | $216,900 | $1,092/mo | $79,597 | 2.7x | 1.41% |
| Hillsdale County | $176,100 | $832/mo | $64,242 | 2.7x | 0.99% |
| Houghton County | $159,900 | $840/mo | $58,899 | 2.7x | 1.16% |
| Mackinac County | $174,500 | $760/mo | $63,909 | 2.7x | 1.07% |
| Menominee County | $151,800 | $692/mo | $56,435 | 2.7x | 1.01% |
| Osceola County | $155,400 | $807/mo | $58,267 | 2.7x | 1.02% |
| St. Joseph County | $178,300 | $849/mo | $66,425 | 2.7x | 1.10% |
| Iosco County | $142,200 | $719/mo | $50,066 | 2.8x | 0.96% |
| Kalkaska County | $188,900 | $853/mo | $68,578 | 2.8x | 0.87% |
| Lenawee County | $196,800 | $987/mo | $70,518 | 2.8x | 1.27% |
| Montcalm County | $185,500 | $869/mo | $67,344 | 2.8x | 1.01% |
| Ogemaw County | $154,900 | $823/mo | $54,666 | 2.8x | 0.95% |
| Wexford County | $170,400 | $897/mo | $61,085 | 2.8x | 1.13% |
| Alger County | $176,200 | $714/mo | $61,286 | 2.9x | 0.94% |
| Alpena County | $153,900 | $673/mo | $53,950 | 2.9x | 1.06% |
| Clinton County | $259,500 | $1,092/mo | $88,210 | 2.9x | 1.23% |
| Genesee County | $182,400 | $989/mo | $62,281 | 2.9x | 1.36% |
| Gladwin County | $162,300 | $690/mo | $55,349 | 2.9x | 1.15% |
| Jackson County | $193,700 | $985/mo | $66,073 | 2.9x | 1.26% |
| Manistee County | $182,200 | $842/mo | $63,516 | 2.9x | 1.04% |
| Mecosta County | $178,900 | $934/mo | $60,951 | 2.9x | 0.99% |
| Newaygo County | $186,700 | $904/mo | $63,304 | 2.9x | 1.10% |
| Roscommon County | $158,700 | $816/mo | $55,246 | 2.9x | 1.01% |
| Sanilac County | $168,300 | $807/mo | $58,863 | 2.9x | 0.90% |
| Wayne County | $178,500 | $1,132/mo | $60,539 | 2.9x | 1.63% |
| Alcona County | $162,800 | $867/mo | $54,993 | 3.0x | 0.82% |
| Ingham County | $198,800 | $1,084/mo | $65,526 | 3.0x | 1.83% |
| Monroe County | $228,900 | $1,059/mo | $77,335 | 3.0x | 1.16% |
| Muskegon County | $198,300 | $1,028/mo | $65,024 | 3.0x | 1.18% |
| Oceana County | $190,100 | $759/mo | $62,417 | 3.0x | 1.01% |
| Van Buren County | $206,500 | $870/mo | $68,114 | 3.0x | 1.23% |
| Cass County | $218,000 | $916/mo | $70,443 | 3.1x | 0.97% |
| Cheboygan County | $192,500 | $773/mo | $62,875 | 3.1x | 0.89% |
| Isabella County | $170,400 | $913/mo | $55,237 | 3.1x | 1.34% |
| Lapeer County | $239,000 | $988/mo | $77,306 | 3.1x | 0.92% |
| Macomb County | $243,900 | $1,211/mo | $77,837 | 3.1x | 1.40% |
| Allegan County | $267,100 | $1,100/mo | $83,283 | 3.2x | 1.08% |
| Keweenaw County | $169,800 | $688/mo | $52,583 | 3.2x | 0.99% |
| Montmorency County | $158,600 | $686/mo | $49,756 | 3.2x | 0.86% |
| Otsego County | $219,700 | $1,008/mo | $68,183 | 3.2x | 0.80% |
| St. Clair County | $224,600 | $1,029/mo | $71,270 | 3.2x | 1.14% |
| Kalamazoo County | $241,800 | $1,093/mo | $72,532 | 3.3x | 1.45% |
| Marquette County | $216,500 | $949/mo | $65,429 | 3.3x | 0.97% |
| Barry County | $264,100 | $972/mo | $77,500 | 3.4x | 1.05% |
| Berrien County | $224,300 | $942/mo | $65,425 | 3.4x | 1.08% |
| Mason County | $219,600 | $896/mo | $64,748 | 3.4x | 1.06% |
| Antrim County | $255,500 | $902/mo | $72,054 | 3.5x | 0.84% |
| Kent County | $289,900 | $1,243/mo | $82,631 | 3.5x | 1.11% |
| Livingston County | $356,800 | $1,287/mo | $103,039 | 3.5x | 0.97% |
| Oakland County | $343,600 | $1,376/mo | $97,760 | 3.5x | 1.27% |
| Charlevoix County | $276,800 | $949/mo | $76,531 | 3.6x | 0.90% |
| Ottawa County | $323,400 | $1,211/mo | $90,502 | 3.6x | 1.02% |
| Benzie County | $285,700 | $1,026/mo | $74,834 | 3.8x | 0.79% |
| Emmet County | $315,700 | $1,112/mo | $78,112 | 4.0x | 0.83% |
| Grand Traverse County | $339,400 | $1,288/mo | $81,647 | 4.2x | 0.89% |
| Washtenaw County | $374,100 | $1,463/mo | $89,180 | 4.2x | 1.52% |
| Leelanau County | $458,400 | $1,228/mo | $99,422 | 4.6x | 0.68% |
Questions This Page Answers
Each answer is generated from the current county dataset, so it changes when the underlying ACS data changes.
What is the typical home value in Michigan by county?
What is the typical rent in Michigan by county?
Which Michigan counties are most affordable to buy in?
Why do cheap counties still need a closer look?
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023) — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.