
Bernie Parsons // Shutterstock
1 / 30#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)
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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Bernie Parsons // Shutterstock
1 / 30- Overall Rank: 1,239
- Population: 103,752
- Median household income: $57,887
- Median home value: $125,000 (76% own)
- Median rent: $786 (24% rent)

Roberto Galan // Shutterstock
2 / 30- Overall Rank: 1,228
- Population: 60,887
- Median household income: $62,281
- Median home value: $152,800 (75% own)
- Median rent: $811 (25% rent)

Canva
3 / 30- Overall Rank: 1,218
- Population: 36,670
- Median household income: $58,408
- Median home value: $142,000 (74% own)
- Median rent: $785 (26% rent)

Roberto Galan // Shutterstock
4 / 30- Overall Rank: 1,214
- Population: 45,698
- Median household income: $59,425
- Median home value: $159,000 (80% own)
- Median rent: $770 (20% rent)

Canva
5 / 30- 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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Canva
6 / 30- Overall Rank: 1,136
- Population: 13,197
- Median household income: $57,998
- Median home value: $135,400 (82% own)
- Median rent: $834 (18% rent)

Darlene Stanley // Shutterstock
7 / 30- Overall Rank: 1,114
- Population: 23,556
- Median household income: $49,898
- Median home value: $133,400 (83% own)
- Median rent: $776 (17% rent)

Canva
8 / 30- Overall Rank: 1,105
- Population: 37,414
- Median household income: $52,736
- Median home value: $129,200 (69% own)
- Median rent: $743 (31% rent)

Canva
9 / 30- Overall Rank: 1,103
- Population: 8,866
- Median household income: $55,528
- Median home value: $156,500 (82% own)
- Median rent: $716 (18% rent)

Jeff Caverly // Shutterstock
10 / 30- 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
11 / 30- Overall Rank: 1,098
- Population: 25,461
- Median household income: $53,717
- Median home value: $140,600 (88% own)
- Median rent: $680 (12% rent)

Roberto Galan // Shutterstock
12 / 30- Overall Rank: 1,055
- Population: 41,534
- Median household income: $57,934
- Median home value: $126,500 (78% own)
- Median rent: $757 (22% rent)

Susan Sea // Shutterstock
13 / 30- Overall Rank: 1,020
- Population: 30,998
- Median household income: $47,816
- Median home value: $112,400 (85% own)
- Median rent: $750 (15% rent)

Canva
14 / 30- Overall Rank: 1,001
- Population: 10,843
- Median household income: $60,620
- Median home value: $157,000 (76% own)
- Median rent: $749 (24% rent)

Canva
15 / 30- 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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Fsendek // Shutterstock
16 / 30- Overall Rank: 942
- Population: 53,218
- Median household income: $59,815
- Median home value: $127,200 (85% own)
- Median rent: $782 (15% rent)

ehrlif // Shutterstock
17 / 30- Overall Rank: 916
- Population: 8,264
- Median household income: $48,692
- Median home value: $122,500 (87% own)
- Median rent: $736 (13% rent)

Canva
18 / 30- Overall Rank: 902
- Population: 23,022
- Median household income: $54,875
- Median home value: $128,200 (83% own)
- Median rent: $739 (17% rent)

Canva
19 / 30- 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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20 / 30- 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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Canva
21 / 30- 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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22 / 30- Overall Rank: 733
- Population: 25,937
- Median household income: $59,651
- Median home value: $122,600 (83% own)
- Median rent: $710 (17% rent)

Roberto Galan // Shutterstock
23 / 30- 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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24 / 30- 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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25 / 30- 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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Canva
26 / 30- Overall Rank: 566
- Population: 5,442
- Median household income: $51,015
- Median home value: $104,600 (82% own)
- Median rent: $746 (18% rent)

Roberto Galan // Shutterstock
27 / 30- Overall Rank: 489
- Population: 13,083
- Median household income: $55,986
- Median home value: $124,800 (89% own)
- Median rent: $633 (11% rent)

Canva
28 / 30- 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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29 / 30- Overall Rank: 332
- Population: 8,062
- Median household income: $55,071
- Median home value: $129,100 (84% own)
- Median rent: $572 (16% rent)

Canva
30 / 30- 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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