Counties in Michigan where people spend most of their paycheck on housing

Written by:
October 3, 2021
Arina P Habich // Shutterstock

Counties in Michigan where people spend most of their paycheck on housing

It's no secret that many Americans are forgoing homeownership in favor of renting. In 2020, renters in the U.S. occupied 43 million housing units.

The Stacker team looked at data from a United States Census survey that revealed an estimated 43,378,800 renter-occupied homes in the United States as of 2017, which makes up 36.1% of all households in the country. In 2019, renting was more affordable than buying a median-priced home in 59% of the counties; in 2021, the opposite was true: Owning was more affordable than renting in 63% of U.S. counties.

Stacker compiled a list of counties in Michigan where people spend the highest percent of income on rent using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Of course, saving money by owning a home is unattainable for many Americans who don't have savings that could cover a down payment, those who are denied a mortgage, or both. Keep reading to see where in your home state most of people's take-home pay goes to their monthly rent.

You may also like: Most popular boy names in the 60s in Michigan

#50. Manistee County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.6%
- Total occupied households: 9,426
- Median household income: $50,055
- Median monthly housing cost: $724

#49. Antrim County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.7%
- Total occupied households: 9,899
- Median household income: $56,165
- Median monthly housing cost: $813

#48. Gladwin County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.7%
- Total occupied households: 11,047
- Median household income: $44,619
- Median monthly housing cost: $649

#47. Roscommon County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.9%
- Total occupied households: 11,139
- Median household income: $42,054
- Median monthly housing cost: $612

#46. Osceola County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 54.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.7%
- Total occupied households: 9,181
- Median household income: $44,032
- Median monthly housing cost: $641

You may also like: Best places to retire in Michigan

#45. Benzie County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.8%
- Total occupied households: 6,792
- Median household income: $57,974
- Median monthly housing cost: $845

#44. Mason County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 49.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 27.0%
- Total occupied households: 12,186
- Median household income: $51,725
- Median monthly housing cost: $755

#43. Bay County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.8%
- Total occupied households: 44,339
- Median household income: $48,819
- Median monthly housing cost: $713

#42. Eaton County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 54.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.3%
- Total occupied households: 44,480
- Median household income: $64,348
- Median monthly housing cost: $941

#41. Van Buren County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.4%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.0%
- Total occupied households: 29,411
- Median household income: $54,485
- Median monthly housing cost: $798

You may also like: Counties with the oldest homes in Michigan

#40. Cass County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 54.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 21.8%
- Total occupied households: 21,019
- Median household income: $55,107
- Median monthly housing cost: $808

#39. St. Joseph County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.2%
- Total occupied households: 24,150
- Median household income: $52,086
- Median monthly housing cost: $764

#38. Livingston County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 55.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.3%
- Total occupied households: 72,000
- Median household income: $84,221
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,240

#37. Hillsdale County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.8%
- Total occupied households: 18,107
- Median household income: $49,622
- Median monthly housing cost: $732

#36. Branch County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.4%
- Total occupied households: 16,650
- Median household income: $51,947
- Median monthly housing cost: $768

You may also like: Counties with the worst commutes in Michigan

#35. Chippewa County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.8%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.8%
- Total occupied households: 13,999
- Median household income: $46,486
- Median monthly housing cost: $690

#34. Houghton County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.8%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 27.0%
- Total occupied households: 13,386
- Median household income: $43,183
- Median monthly housing cost: $641

#33. Lapeer County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.8%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 54.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.2%
- Total occupied households: 33,700
- Median household income: $62,641
- Median monthly housing cost: $931

#32. Montmorency County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.8%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.4%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.7%
- Total occupied households: 4,452
- Median household income: $41,772
- Median monthly housing cost: $621

#31. Muskegon County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.0%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.3%
- Total occupied households: 65,939
- Median household income: $50,854
- Median monthly housing cost: $761

You may also like: Most popular girl names in the 60s in Michigan

#30. Monroe County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.0%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.5%
- Total occupied households: 59,929
- Median household income: $62,203
- Median monthly housing cost: $931

#29. Montcalm County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.0%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.9%
- Total occupied households: 23,913
- Median household income: $49,448
- Median monthly housing cost: $741

#28. Jackson County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.0%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.4%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.6%
- Total occupied households: 61,805
- Median household income: $53,658
- Median monthly housing cost: $807

#27. Oakland County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.1%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.5%
- Total occupied households: 504,585
- Median household income: $79,698
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,203

#26. Lenawee County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.5%
- Total occupied households: 38,345
- Median household income: $55,450
- Median monthly housing cost: $840

You may also like: Highest-rated things to do in Michigan, according to Tripadvisor

#25. Kalkaska County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.4%
- Total occupied households: 7,145
- Median household income: $46,898
- Median monthly housing cost: $713

#24. Gratiot County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.3%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.6%
- Total occupied households: 15,035
- Median household income: $47,848
- Median monthly housing cost: $729

#23. St. Clair County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.3%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.2%
- Total occupied households: 64,850
- Median household income: $56,951
- Median monthly housing cost: $868

#22. Kent County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.3%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.0%
- Total occupied households: 241,746
- Median household income: $63,053
- Median monthly housing cost: $962

#21. Crawford County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 54.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.6%
- Total occupied households: 6,141
- Median household income: $47,977
- Median monthly housing cost: $735

You may also like: Best counties to raise a family in Michigan

#20. Missaukee County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.8%
- Total occupied households: 6,055
- Median household income: $47,194
- Median monthly housing cost: $730

#19. Wexford County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.6%
- Total occupied households: 12,963
- Median household income: $47,193
- Median monthly housing cost: $730

#18. Leelanau County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 54.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 26.9%
- Total occupied households: 9,139
- Median household income: $65,249
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,011

#17. Saginaw County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 27.1%
- Total occupied households: 78,933
- Median household income: $48,000
- Median monthly housing cost: $745

#16. Otsego County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.2%
- Total occupied households: 9,944
- Median household income: $54,332
- Median monthly housing cost: $845

You may also like: Most popular boy names in the 80s in Michigan

#15. Mecosta County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 27.2%
- Total occupied households: 15,808
- Median household income: $45,018
- Median monthly housing cost: $703

#14. Kalamazoo County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.8%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 49.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 26.7%
- Total occupied households: 103,445
- Median household income: $56,511
- Median monthly housing cost: $884

#13. Berrien County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.8%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 26.6%
- Total occupied households: 63,665
- Median household income: $50,795
- Median monthly housing cost: $795

#12. Calhoun County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.8%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 50.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 28.1%
- Total occupied households: 53,991
- Median household income: $48,607
- Median monthly housing cost: $761

#11. Lake County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.8%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 50.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 27.8%
- Total occupied households: 4,631
- Median household income: $37,320
- Median monthly housing cost: $586

You may also like: Biggest sources of immigrants to Michigan

#10. Grand Traverse County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 49.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 26.0%
- Total occupied households: 37,319
- Median household income: $63,575
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,002

#9. Macomb County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.0%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 50.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 27.0%
- Total occupied households: 346,402
- Median household income: $62,855
- Median monthly housing cost: $996

#8. Ogemaw County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 49.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 28.3%
- Total occupied households: 9,184
- Median household income: $40,373
- Median monthly housing cost: $647

#7. Emmet County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.3%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 49.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 26.3%
- Total occupied households: 14,463
- Median household income: $55,829
- Median monthly housing cost: $897

#6. Clare County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 50.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 28.5%
- Total occupied households: 12,199
- Median household income: $39,565
- Median monthly housing cost: $638

You may also like: Highest-rated Class of 2021 football recruits from Michigan

#5. Genesee County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 47.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 29.0%
- Total occupied households: 167,902
- Median household income: $48,588
- Median monthly housing cost: $798

#4. Washtenaw County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 20.3%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 46.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 30.1%
- Total occupied households: 141,245
- Median household income: $72,586
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,226

#3. Isabella County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 20.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 44.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 31.9%
- Total occupied households: 24,739
- Median household income: $45,116
- Median monthly housing cost: $768

#2. Ingham County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 21.1%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 45.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 31.0%
- Total occupied households: 112,840
- Median household income: $52,872
- Median monthly housing cost: $928

#1. Wayne County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 21.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 43.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 32.6%
- Total occupied households: 682,282
- Median household income: $47,301
- Median monthly housing cost: $864

You may also like: Do you know Michigan's official state symbols?

Trending Now