Counties with the lowest cost of living in Michigan

·Stacker

Appz Dreamer // Shutterstock
Appz Dreamer // Shutterstock

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

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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)

#29. St. Joseph County, Michigan

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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)

#28. Chippewa County, Michigan

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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)

#27. Hillsdale County, Michigan

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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)

#26. Sanilac County, Michigan

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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

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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)

#24. Roscommon County, Michigan

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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)

#23. Houghton County, Michigan

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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)

#22. Alger County, Michigan

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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)

#21. Ogemaw County, Michigan

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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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#20. Gladwin County, Michigan

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#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)

#19. Gratiot County, Michigan

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#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)

#18. Clare County, Michigan

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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)

#17. Mackinac County, Michigan

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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)

#15. Tuscola County, Michigan

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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)

#14. Oscoda County, Michigan

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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)

#13. Osceola County, Michigan

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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)

#12. Iosco County, Michigan

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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)

#10. Alpena County, Michigan

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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)

#9. Dickinson County, Michigan

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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)

#8. Arenac County, Michigan

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#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)

#7. Menominee County, Michigan

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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)

#6. Baraga County, Michigan

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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

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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)

#4. Presque Isle County, Michigan

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#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)

#3. Iron County, Michigan

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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)

#2. Schoolcraft County, Michigan

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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)

#1. Ontonagon County, Michigan

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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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