Best counties to retire to in Michigan
Best counties to retire to in Michigan
Buyers and sellers of real estate alike—when asked what the three most essential considerations about a property are—will nearly always reply "location, location, location." While this answer is sometimes tongue-in-cheek, it is often quite accurate, and this reply perhaps applies to retirees more than any other demographic. Settling down after a lifetime of working and possibly raising a family calls for the perfect location: a spot where you can enjoy life with as few concerns as possible.
When seniors aged 65 or older decide where they want to live out their golden years, they consider particular factors, such as the cost of living, government services, health care facilities, weather and overall climate, crime rate, outdoor recreational activities, eating establishments, cultural and entertainment opportunities, and more.
To find the best counties to retire to in Michigan based on these criteria, Stacker compiled a list using 2025 rankings from Niche, which ranks counties based on cost of living, health care access, recreation, weather, and more. You can read more about Niche's methodology here.
While location is critical as retirees determine where to spend their senior years enjoying favorite activities, it's a unique decision based on many preferences and needs. Whether it be bustling downtowns or access to parks, affordable home prices or cultural amenities like museums, retirees seeking to settle in a permanent spot are sure to find a private paradise in any of these counties recommended by Niche because, in the end, there is no place like home—no matter the location.
Read on to discover the best counties to retire to in Michigan.
#25. Sanilac County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B+), weather (C), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 40,574
- Median household income: $59,074
- Median home value: $162,200
- Top places to live: Sandusky (B), Watertown Township (C+), Worth Township (C+)
#24. Menominee County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (C-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 23,295
- Median household income: $55,688
- Median home value: $142,700
- Top places to live: Menominee Township (B), Menominee (B), Harris Township (A-)
#23. Iosco County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (C-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 25,333
- Median household income: $47,777
- Median home value: $122,900
- Top places to live: Baldwin Township (A-), East Tawas (B+), Tawas City (B)
#22. Berrien County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B), weather (C-), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 153,411
- Median household income: $63,152
- Median home value: $211,400
- Top places to live: St. Joseph (A), Berrien Springs (A), Royalton Township (A-)
#21. Dickinson County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (C-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 25,940
- Median household income: $61,882
- Median home value: $130,300
- Top places to live: Iron Mountain (A), Norway Township (A-), Kingsford (A-)
#20. Wexford County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B+), weather (C-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 33,868
- Median household income: $63,123
- Median home value: $160,300
- Top places to live: Clam Lake Township (B+), Cadillac (B+), Cherry Grove Township (B)
#19. Bay County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B+), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 103,235
- Median household income: $60,523
- Median home value: $135,100
- Top places to live: Essexville (B+), Frankenlust Township (B+), Auburn (B+)
#18. Presque Isle County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (C-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 13,142
- Median household income: $56,713
- Median home value: $135,200
- Top places to live: Rogers City (B), Presque Isle Township (B), North Allis Township (B)
#17. Oakland County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 1,272,294
- Median household income: $95,296
- Median home value: $320,400
- Top places to live: Troy (A+), Rochester (A+), Beverly Hills (A+)
#16. Cass County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B+), weather (C-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 51,606
- Median household income: $68,011
- Median home value: $205,200
- Top places to live: Milton Township (B+), Howard Township (B), Pokagon Township (B)
#15. Huron County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A-), weather (C), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 31,258
- Median household income: $56,963
- Median home value: $141,300
- Top places to live: Bad Axe (B+), Colfax Township (B-), Verona Township (B-)
#14. Antrim County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (B), weather (C-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 23,876
- Median household income: $71,421
- Median home value: $222,500
- Top places to live: Elk Rapids (A), Elk Rapids Township (A-), Bellaire (A-)
#13. Grand Traverse County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (B-), weather (C-), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 95,757
- Median household income: $79,486
- Median home value: $296,200
- Top places to live: Traverse City (A), Acme Township (A-), East Bay Township (A-)
#12. Arenac County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A-), weather (C), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 15,054
- Median household income: $56,989
- Median home value: $129,000
- Top places to live: Au Gres (B), Standish Township (B), Whitney Township (B-)
#11. Crawford County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (B+), weather (C-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 13,271
- Median household income: $58,614
- Median home value: $149,900
- Top places to live: Grayling Charter Township (B+), Grayling (B-), Frederic Township (B)
#10. Benzie County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (B), weather (C), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 18,177
- Median household income: $72,603
- Median home value: $254,400
- Top places to live: Elberta (A-), Gilmore Township (A-), Lake Township (B+)
#9. Midland County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (B+), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 83,641
- Median household income: $77,538
- Median home value: $184,300
- Top places to live: Larkin Charter Township (A+), Midland (A+), Homer Township (A-)
#8. Gladwin County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (B+), weather (C), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 25,543
- Median household income: $55,576
- Median home value: $153,200
- Top places to live: Grout Township (B-), Gladwin Township (B-), Gladwin (C+)
#7. Ogemaw County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (B+), weather (C), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 20,853
- Median household income: $51,983
- Median home value: $138,600
- Top places to live: West Branch (B-), Ogemaw Township (B-), West Branch Township (B-)
#6. Cheboygan County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (B+), weather (C-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 25,778
- Median household income: $61,619
- Median home value: $175,200
- Top places to live: Beaugrand Township (B), Cheboygan (C+), Inverness Township (C+)
#5. Leelanau County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (B-), weather (C), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 22,607
- Median household income: $91,943
- Median home value: $406,900
- Top places to live: Bingham Township (B+), Greilickville (B+), Suttons Bay (A-)
#4. Clare County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (A-), weather (C), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 31,109
- Median household income: $49,805
- Median home value: $117,400
- Top places to live: Clare (B-), Grant Township (B-), Farwell (C+)
#3. Roscommon County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (B+), weather (C-), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 23,639
- Median household income: $54,106
- Median home value: $148,000
- Top places to live: Houghton Lake (C+), Markey Township (C), Lake Township (C)
#2. Charlevoix County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (B), weather (C-), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 26,143
- Median household income: $76,495
- Median home value: $242,800
- Top places to live: Boyne City (A-), Marion Township (A-), Charlevoix Township (B+)
#1. Emmet County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (B), weather (C-), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 34,159
- Median household income: $73,724
- Median home value: $275,300
- Top places to live: Petoskey (A), Resort Township (A), Little Traverse Township (A)
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.
