Best Counties to Raise a Family in Michigan

Agnieszka Gaul // Shutterstock

Best counties to raise a family in Michigan

Known in other parts of the world as shires, provinces, or territories, the United States’ counties (also known in certain states as boroughs or parishes) date back to the 1600s, when settlers first came to find freedom from British rule. Today, those counties remain, with the 50 states divided into several, each with its own unique makeup.

For people looking to find a home to raise a family in, choosing a county is an important decision. Most families place affordable homes, safe neighborhoods, a quality school system, and family-friendly activities at the top of their wishlists.

Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to raise a family in Michigan using data from Niche. Niche ranks counties based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, healthcare, recreation and weather.

The list features counties that boast some of the top schools and fun, family-friendly activities for every season. Keep reading to explore the best counties to raise a family. Maybe you’ll find one that suits your brood.

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Flintmichigan // Wikicommons

#25. Genesee County

- Population: 407,875
- Median home value: $111,100 (70% own)
- Median rent: $767 (30% rent)
- Median household income: $48,588
- Top public schools: Mason Elementary School (A), Genesee Early College (A), Hill Elementary School (A-)
- Top private schools: Genesee Academy (A), Powers Catholic High School (A), Faith Baptist School (B)
- Top places to live: Grand Blanc (A), Grand Blanc Charter Township (A), Linden (A-)

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SBarnes // Wikimedia Commons

#24. Eaton County

- Population: 109,456
- Median home value: $155,000 (72% own)
- Median rent: $858 (28% rent)
- Median household income: $64,348
- Top public schools: Willow Ridge Elementary School (A-), Delta Center Elementary School (B+), Leon W. Hayes Middle School (B+)
- Top private schools: New Covenant Christian School (B), St. Gerard Elementary School (unavailable), Our Savior Lutheran School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Waverly (A), Grand Ledge (A-), Dimondale (B+)

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Lawrence G. Miller // Wikimedia Commons

#23. Van Buren County

- Population: 75,358
- Median home value: $139,400 (77% own)
- Median rent: $705 (23% rent)
- Median household income: $54,485
- Top public schools: Mattawan High School (A-), Mattawan Later Elementary School (B+), Mattawan Middle School (B+)
- Top private schools: St. Basil School (unavailable), Trinity Lutheran School (unavailable), St. Mary School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: South Haven (B+), Almena Township (B+), Mattawan (B)

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Tony Webster // Wikimedia Commons

#22. Marquette County

- Population: 66,686
- Median home value: $153,400 (71% own)
- Median rent: $738 (29% rent)
- Median household income: $53,970
- Top public schools: Graveraet Elementary School (A-), Sandy Knoll School (A-), Marquette Senior High School (B+)
- Top private schools: Father Marquette Catholic Academy (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Marquette (A-), Trowbridge Park (A-), Harvey (A-)

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kennethaw88 // Wikimedia Commons

#21. Saginaw County

- Population: 191,821
- Median home value: $101,300 (71% own)
- Median rent: $780 (29% rent)
- Median household income: $48,000
- Top public schools: Hemmeter Elementary School (A-), E.F. Rittmueller Middle School (A-), Saginaw Arts & Sciences Academy (A-)
- Top private schools: Michigan Lutheran Seminary (A-), Nouvel Catholic Central High School (A-), Valley Lutheran High School (B)
- Top places to live: Frankenmuth (A), Saginaw Charter Township (A-), Frankenmuth Township (B+)

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US Army Corps of Engineer // Wikimedia Commons

#20. Benzie County

- Population: 17,615
- Median home value: $185,500 (90% own)
- Median rent: $702 (10% rent)
- Median household income: $57,974
- Top public schools: Frankfort Elementary School (A-), Frankfort High School (B), Benzie Central Senior High School (B-)
- Top private schools:
- Top places to live: Crystal Lake Township (A-), Almira Township (A-), Frankfort (B+)

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Adam Buzzo // Wikimedia Commons

#19. Allegan County

- Population: 116,143
- Median home value: $165,400 (83% own)
- Median rent: $814 (17% rent)
- Median household income: $62,965
- Top public schools: Dix Street Elementary School (A), Saugatuck Middle School (A), Douglas Elementary School (A-)
- Top private schools: Holland Christian High School (A-), South Side Christian School (unavailable), Moline Christian School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Holland (A), Laketown Township (A), Saugatuck Township (A-)

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NOAA Great Lakes Envorinmental Ressearch Laboritory // Flickr

#18. Muskegon County

- Population: 173,297
- Median home value: $117,900 (75% own)
- Median rent: $760 (25% rent)
- Median household income: $50,854
- Top public schools: North Muskegon High School (A), North Muskegon Middle School (A), North Muskegon Elementary School (A)
- Top private schools: Western Michigan Christian High School (A-), Muskegon Catholic Central School (B+), Calvary Christian Schools (B+)
- Top places to live: North Muskegon (A), Roosevelt Park (A-), Norton Shores (A-)

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Andrew Jameson // Wikimedia Commons

#17. Macomb County

- Population: 870,325
- Median home value: $166,800 (73% own)
- Median rent: $962 (27% rent)
- Median household income: $62,855
- Top public schools: International Academy of Macomb (A+), Messmore Elementary School (A), Noor International Academy (A)
- Top private schools: De La Salle Collegiate (A), Austin Catholic High School (A-), Regina High School (A-)
- Top places to live: Shelby Charter Township (A-), Sterling Heights (A-), Fraser (A-)

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rossograph // Wikimedia Commons

#16. Dickinson County

- Population: 25,439
- Median home value: $101,800 (77% own)
- Median rent: $665 (23% rent)
- Median household income: $51,645
- Top public schools: Kingsford High School (A-), Woodland Elementary School (B+), Kingsford Middle School (B+)
- Top private schools: Holy Spirit Central School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Iron Mountain (A-), Norway (A-), Kingsford (A-)

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User:My name // Wikimedia Commons

#15. Charlevoix County

- Population: 26,188
- Median home value: $166,300 (81% own)
- Median rent: $694 (19% rent)
- Median household income: $55,760
- Top public schools: Beaver Island Community School (A-), Boyne City Elementary School (B+), Boyne City High School (B+)
- Top private schools: St. Mary School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Charlevoix Township (A-), Boyne City (A-), Marion Township (B+)

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kennethaw88 // Wikimedia Commons

#14. Clinton County

- Population: 78,389
- Median home value: $172,800 (80% own)
- Median rent: $839 (20% rent)
- Median household income: $70,390
- Top public schools: Scott Elementary School (A-), DeWitt High School (A-), DeWitt Junior High School (A-)
- Top private schools: St. Mary Elementary School (unavailable), St. Joseph Catholic School (unavailable), Most Holy Trinity School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: DeWitt (A), DeWitt Charter Township (A-), Eagle Township (A-)

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Notorious4life // Wikimedia Commons

#13. Emmet County

- Population: 33,104
- Median home value: $186,900 (73% own)
- Median rent: $818 (27% rent)
- Median household income: $55,829
- Top public schools: Shay Elementary School (A-), Petoskey Middle School (A-), Harbor Springs High School (A-)
- Top private schools: Harbor Light Christian School (B), St. Francis Xavier School (unavailable), St. Michael Academy (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Resort Township (A), Petoskey (A), Bay View (A)

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Joshuay04 // Wikimedia Commons

#12. Livingston County

- Population: 189,754
- Median home value: $247,100 (85% own)
- Median rent: $1,053 (15% rent)
- Median household income: $84,221
- Top public schools: Hawkins Elementary School (A), Spencer Road Elementary School (A), Creekside Elementary School (A)
- Top private schools: St. Patrick School (unavailable), Shepherd of the Lakes Lutheran School (unavailable), Cornerstone Christian School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Brighton Township (A), Green Oak Township (A), Hamburg Township (A-)

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Alexey Stiop // Shutterstock

#11. Leelanau County

- Population: 21,652
- Median home value: $268,400 (88% own)
- Median rent: $959 (12% rent)
- Median household income: $65,249
- Top public schools: Leland Public School (A-), Maple City-Glen Lake Junior/Senior High School (B), Suttons Bay Senior High School (B)
- Top private schools: The Leelanau School (A-), St. Mary School - Lake Leelanau (B), The Pathfinder School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Bingham Township (B+), Greilickville (B), Leland Township (A)

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Jcvertin // Wikimedia Commons

#10. Houghton County

- Population: 36,070
- Median home value: $108,700 (67% own)
- Median rent: $640 (33% rent)
- Median household income: $43,183
- Top public schools: Houghton Elementary School (A), Houghton Central High School (A-), Houghton Middle School (A-)
- Top private schools: Copper Country Christian School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Portage Charter Township (A), Houghton (A), Hancock (A-)

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Russell Sekeet (amtrak_russ) // Wikimedia Commons

#9. Berrien County

- Population: 154,133
- Median home value: $150,700 (71% own)
- Median rent: $743 (29% rent)
- Median household income: $50,795
- Top public schools: Brown School (A+), Upton Middle School (A), St. Joseph High School (A)
- Top private schools: Andrews Academy (A), Grace Christian School (A-), Michigan Lutheran High School (B+)
- Top places to live: St. Joseph (A+), Royalton Township (A), Berrien Springs (A-)

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O. David Redwine // Wikimedia Commons

#8. Midland County

- Population: 83,355
- Median home value: $141,700 (77% own)
- Median rent: $777 (23% rent)
- Median household income: $62,625
- Top public schools: H.H. Dow High School (A), Jefferson Middle School (A), Woodcrest Elementary School (A)
- Top private schools: Calvary Baptist Academy (B+), St. Brigid Catholic School (unavailable), St. John's Lutheran School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Larkin Charter Township (A+), Midland (A+), Homer Township (B+)

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stanthejeep // Wikimedia Commons

#7. Grand Traverse County

- Population: 92,181
- Median home value: $212,500 (76% own)
- Median rent: $951 (24% rent)
- Median household income: $63,575
- Top public schools: Courtade Elementary School (A-), Central High School (A-), Kingsley Area Elementary School (A-)
- Top private schools: Interlochen Arts Academy (A+), St. Francis High School (A-), Traverse City Christian School (B)
- Top places to live: Peninsula Township (A), Acme Township (A), Traverse City (A)

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Bryan Robb // Wikimedia Commons

#6. Ingham County

- Population: 290,587
- Median home value: $135,600 (58% own)
- Median rent: $877 (42% rent)
- Median household income: $52,872
- Top public schools: Okemos High School (A+), Okemos Public Montessori School at Central (A+), Chippewa Middle School (A+)
- Top private schools: Lansing Christian School (A-), Lansing Catholic High School (A-), St. Thomas Aquinas Parish School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Okemos (A+), Haslett (A+), East Lansing (A+)

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Mxobe // Wikimedia Commons

#5. Kalamazoo County

- Population: 262,745
- Median home value: $159,300 (64% own)
- Median rent: $812 (36% rent)
- Median household income: $56,511
- Top public schools: Moorsbridge Elementary School (A), Portage Northern High School (A), Portage Central High School (A)
- Top private schools: Hackett Catholic Prep (A), Kalamazoo Christian High School (A-), Heritage Christian Academy (B)
- Top places to live: Portage (A+), Texas Charter Township (A), Westwood (A)

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Grguy2011 // Wikimedia Commons

#4. Kent County

- Population: 648,121
- Median home value: $173,700 (70% own)
- Median rent: $899 (30% rent)
- Median household income: $63,053
- Top public schools: Northern High School (A+), Central High School (A+), East Grand Rapids High School (A)
- Top private schools: Grand Rapids Christian High School (A), West Michigan Lutheran High School (A), Catholic Central High School (A-)
- Top places to live: East Grand Rapids (A+), Forest Hills (A+), Eastgate (A+)

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Gpwitteveen // Wikimedia Commons

#3. Ottawa County

- Population: 286,558
- Median home value: $191,800 (78% own)
- Median rent: $898 (22% rent)
- Median household income: $69,314
- Top public schools: Eagle Crest Charter Academy (A+), Lakewood Elementary School (A), Jeffers Elementary School (A)
- Top private schools: Calvary Schools of Holland (B), Unity Christian High School (B), Zeeland Christian School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Zeeland Charter Township (A), Hudsonville (A), Grand Haven Charter Township (A)

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Andrew Jameson // Wikimedia Commons

#2. Oakland County

- Population: 1,253,185
- Median home value: $242,700 (71% own)
- Median rent: $1,080 (29% rent)
- Median household income: $79,698
- Top public schools: International Academy (A+), Troy High School (A+), Novi High School (A+)
- Top private schools: Cranbrook Schools (A+), Detroit Country Day School (A+), The Roeper School - Birmingham Campus (A+)
- Top places to live: Troy (A+), Bloomfield Charter Township (A+), Beverly Hills (A+)

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Agnieszka Gaul // Shutterstock

#1. Washtenaw County

- Population: 367,000
- Median home value: $263,600 (61% own)
- Median rent: $1,114 (39% rent)
- Median household income: $72,586
- Top public schools: Washtenaw International High School (A+), Pioneer High School (A+), Huron High School (A+)
- Top private schools: Greenhills School (A+), Rudolf Steiner School of Ann Arbor (A), Michigan Islamic Academy (A)
- Top places to live: Ann Arbor (A+), Lodi Township (A+), Pittsfield Charter Township (A+)