Counties with the lowest cost of living in Michigan

Written by:
April 12, 2024
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Counties with the lowest cost of living in Michigan

While inflation has fallen from 2022 peaks, high prices are still eating into household budgets. Many Americans are paying keen attention to their finances and finding ways to reduce spending.

Home prices, rent, and food inflation, as well as higher prices for gas in the last couple of years, are making it so that each dollar earned has even less purchasing power than before. In the first two months of 2024, Americans were able to save about 3.9% of their disposable income, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, well below historic levels.

Stacker compiled a list of counties with the lowest cost of living in Michigan using rankings from Niche.

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#30. Bay County, Michigan

- Overall Rank: 1,239
- Population: 103,752
- Median household income: $57,887
- Median home value: $125,000 (76% own)
- Median rent: $786 (24% rent)

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#29. St. Joseph County, Michigan

- Overall Rank: 1,228
- Population: 60,887
- Median household income: $62,281
- Median home value: $152,800 (75% own)
- Median rent: $811 (25% rent)

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#28. Chippewa County, Michigan

- Overall Rank: 1,218
- Population: 36,670
- Median household income: $58,408
- Median home value: $142,000 (74% own)
- Median rent: $785 (26% rent)

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#27. Hillsdale County, Michigan

- Overall Rank: 1,214
- Population: 45,698
- Median household income: $59,425
- Median home value: $159,000 (80% own)
- Median rent: $770 (20% rent)

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#26. Sanilac County, Michigan

- Overall Rank: 1,165
- Population: 40,759
- Median household income: $55,740
- Median home value: $149,300 (80% own)
- Median rent: $770 (20% rent)

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#25. Crawford County, Michigan

- Overall Rank: 1,136
- Population: 13,197
- Median household income: $57,998
- Median home value: $135,400 (82% own)
- Median rent: $834 (18% rent)

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#24. Roscommon County, Michigan

- Overall Rank: 1,114
- Population: 23,556
- Median household income: $49,898
- Median home value: $133,400 (83% own)
- Median rent: $776 (17% rent)

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#23. Houghton County, Michigan

- Overall Rank: 1,105
- Population: 37,414
- Median household income: $52,736
- Median home value: $129,200 (69% own)
- Median rent: $743 (31% rent)

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#22. Alger County, Michigan

- Overall Rank: 1,103
- Population: 8,866
- Median household income: $55,528
- Median home value: $156,500 (82% own)
- Median rent: $716 (18% rent)

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#21. Ogemaw County, Michigan

- Overall Rank: 1,101
- Population: 20,820
- Median household income: $50,377
- Median home value: $125,300 (82% own)
- Median rent: $782 (18% rent)

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Melissa L White // Shutterstock

#20. Gladwin County, Michigan

- Overall Rank: 1,098
- Population: 25,461
- Median household income: $53,717
- Median home value: $140,600 (88% own)
- Median rent: $680 (12% rent)

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Roberto Galan // Shutterstock

#19. Gratiot County, Michigan

- Overall Rank: 1,055
- Population: 41,534
- Median household income: $57,934
- Median home value: $126,500 (78% own)
- Median rent: $757 (22% rent)

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#18. Clare County, Michigan

- Overall Rank: 1,020
- Population: 30,998
- Median household income: $47,816
- Median home value: $112,400 (85% own)
- Median rent: $750 (15% rent)

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#17. Mackinac County, Michigan

- Overall Rank: 1,001
- Population: 10,843
- Median household income: $60,620
- Median home value: $157,000 (76% own)
- Median rent: $749 (24% rent)

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#16. Delta County, Michigan

- Overall Rank: 966
- Population: 36,839
- Median household income: $53,852
- Median home value: $139,200 (78% own)
- Median rent: $655 (22% rent)

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#15. Tuscola County, Michigan

- Overall Rank: 942
- Population: 53,218
- Median household income: $59,815
- Median home value: $127,200 (85% own)
- Median rent: $782 (15% rent)

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#14. Oscoda County, Michigan

- Overall Rank: 916
- Population: 8,264
- Median household income: $48,692
- Median home value: $122,500 (87% own)
- Median rent: $736 (13% rent)

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#13. Osceola County, Michigan

- Overall Rank: 902
- Population: 23,022
- Median household income: $54,875
- Median home value: $128,200 (83% own)
- Median rent: $739 (17% rent)

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#12. Iosco County, Michigan

- Overall Rank: 852
- Population: 25,319
- Median household income: $46,224
- Median home value: $118,400 (81% own)
- Median rent: $696 (19% rent)

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#11. Huron County, Michigan

- Overall Rank: 848
- Population: 31,461
- Median household income: $54,475
- Median home value: $129,500 (82% own)
- Median rent: $710 (18% rent)

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#10. Alpena County, Michigan

- Overall Rank: 842
- Population: 28,911
- Median household income: $49,133
- Median home value: $128,000 (79% own)
- Median rent: $638 (21% rent)

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#9. Dickinson County, Michigan

- Overall Rank: 733
- Population: 25,937
- Median household income: $59,651
- Median home value: $122,600 (83% own)
- Median rent: $710 (17% rent)

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Roberto Galan // Shutterstock

#8. Arenac County, Michigan

- Overall Rank: 692
- Population: 15,031
- Median household income: $53,487
- Median home value: $118,200 (85% own)
- Median rent: $665 (15% rent)

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#7. Menominee County, Michigan

- Overall Rank: 648
- Population: 23,433
- Median household income: $54,074
- Median home value: $132,200 (81% own)
- Median rent: $663 (19% rent)

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#6. Baraga County, Michigan

- Overall Rank: 577
- Population: 8,245
- Median household income: $51,911
- Median home value: $121,700 (77% own)
- Median rent: $562 (23% rent)

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#5. Luce County, Michigan

- Overall Rank: 566
- Population: 5,442
- Median household income: $51,015
- Median home value: $104,600 (82% own)
- Median rent: $746 (18% rent)

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Roberto Galan // Shutterstock

#4. Presque Isle County, Michigan

- Overall Rank: 489
- Population: 13,083
- Median household income: $55,986
- Median home value: $124,800 (89% own)
- Median rent: $633 (11% rent)

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#3. Iron County, Michigan

- Overall Rank: 388
- Population: 11,585
- Median household income: $52,241
- Median home value: $95,800 (84% own)
- Median rent: $627 (16% rent)

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#2. Schoolcraft County, Michigan

- Overall Rank: 332
- Population: 8,062
- Median household income: $55,071
- Median home value: $129,100 (84% own)
- Median rent: $572 (16% rent)

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#1. Ontonagon County, Michigan

- Overall Rank: 134
- Population: 5,862
- Median household income: $48,316
- Median home value: $89,700 (88% own)
- Median rent: $545 (12% rent)

This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 32 states.

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