Best counties to live in Michigan

- Overall Rank: 1,158
- Population: 175,947
- Median household income: $61,347
- Median home value: $162,300 (77% own)
- Median rent: $915 (23% rent)
- Top public schools: North Muskegon Middle School (grade A), Mona Shores High School (grade A), North Muskegon Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Muskegon Catholic Central School (grade A minus), Western Michigan Christian High School (grade B+), Calvary Christian Schools (grade B)
- Top places: North Muskegon (grade A), Whitehall (grade A minus), Norton Shores (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 1,118
- Population: 8,866
- Median household income: $55,528
- Median home value: $156,500 (82% own)
- Median rent: $716 (18% rent)
- Top public schools: AuTrain-Onota Public School (grade A), William G. Mather Elementary School (grade B), Superior Central School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Munising Baptist School (grade B)
- Top places: Munising (grade B+), Au Train Township (grade B+), Munising Township (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 1,114
- Population: 405,280
- Median household income: $58,594
- Median home value: $158,400 (70% own)
- Median rent: $893 (30% rent)
- Top public schools: Genesee Early College (grade A), Mason Elementary School (grade A minus), Myers Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Genesee Academy (grade A), Powers Catholic High School (grade A), CenterPoint Christian Academy (grade B+)
- Top places: Grand Blanc Charter Township (grade A), Grand Blanc (grade A), Fenton (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 1,108
- Population: 134,011
- Median household income: $58,191
- Median home value: $138,700 (72% own)
- Median rent: $897 (28% rent)
- Top public schools: Lakeview High School (grade B+), Marshall High School (grade B), Walters Elementary School (grade B)
- Top private schools: St. Philip Catholic Central High School (grade A minus), Battle Creek Academy (grade A minus), Calhoun Christian School (grade C+)
- Top places: Marshall (grade A minus), Marshall Township (grade A minus), Albion (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 895
- Population: 23,662
- Median household income: $68,850
- Median home value: $199,800 (87% own)
- Median rent: $919 (13% rent)
- Top public schools: Cherryland Middle School (grade A minus), Elk Rapids High School (grade B+), Lakeland Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Ebenezer Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Elk Rapids (grade A), Elk Rapids Township (grade A minus), Bellaire (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 863
- Population: 189,821
- Median household income: $56,579
- Median home value: $131,100 (73% own)
- Median rent: $876 (27% rent)
- Top public schools: Saginaw Arts & Sciences Academy (grade A), Hemmeter Elementary School (grade A minus), Robert B. Havens Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Michigan Lutheran Seminary (grade A minus), Nouvel Catholic Central High School (grade A minus), Community Baptist Christian School (grade A minus)
- Top places: Frankenmuth (grade A), Freeland (grade A minus), Saginaw Charter Township (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 839
- Population: 1,781,641
- Median household income: $57,223
- Median home value: $158,600 (64% own)
- Median rent: $1,043 (36% rent)
- Top public schools: Northville High School (grade A+), Plymouth Scholars Charter Academy (grade A+), Grosse Pointe South High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: University Liggett School (grade A+), University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy (grade A), Al-Ikhlas Training Academy (grade A)
- Top places: Northville (grade A+), Northville Township (grade A+), Grosse Pointe Farms (grade A+)

- Overall Rank: 831
- Population: 64,938
- Median household income: $52,638
- Median home value: $159,500 (62% own)
- Median rent: $840 (38% rent)
- Top public schools: Winn Elementary School (grade B+), Shepherd High School (grade B+), Pullen Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Sacred Heart Academy (grade A minus), Saginaw Chippewa Academy (grade unavailable), St. Joseph the Worker School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Mount Pleasant (grade B+), Chippewa Township (grade B+), Union Charter Township (grade B)

- Overall Rank: 729
- Population: 10,843
- Median household income: $60,620
- Median home value: $157,000 (76% own)
- Median rent: $749 (24% rent)
- Top public schools: Cedarville School (grade B), Mackinac Island School (grade B), St. Ignace Elementary/Middle School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: St. Ignace (grade B+), Mackinac Island (grade A minus), Clark Township (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 630
- Population: 36,670
- Median household income: $58,408
- Median home value: $142,000 (74% own)
- Median rent: $785 (26% rent)
- Top public schools: Washington Elementary School (grade A minus), Drummond Island Elementary School (grade B+), Joseph K. Lumsden Bahweting Anishnabe Academy (grade B)
- Top private schools: Maplewood Baptist Academy (grade A minus), St. Mary's School (grade unavailable), Rudyard Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Sault Ste. Marie (grade A minus), Soo Township (grade B+), Kinross Charter Township (grade B)

- Overall Rank: 558
- Population: 109,072
- Median household income: $77,158
- Median home value: $194,500 (74% own)
- Median rent: $1,013 (26% rent)
- Top public schools: Leon W. Hayes Middle School (grade A minus), Willow Ridge Elementary School (grade B+), Delta Center Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: New Covenant Christian School (grade B), St. Gerard Elementary School (grade unavailable), Our Savior Lutheran School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Waverly (grade A), Grand Ledge (grade A minus), Dimondale (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 536
- Population: 878,453
- Median household income: $73,876
- Median home value: $216,200 (75% own)
- Median rent: $1,124 (25% rent)
- Top public schools: International Academy of Macomb (grade A+), Messmore Elementary School (grade A), Middle School Mathematics Science Technology Cente (grade A)
- Top private schools: De La Salle Collegiate (grade A), Regina High School (grade A minus), Parkway Christian School (grade A minus)
- Top places: Shelby Charter Township (grade A minus), Sterling Heights (grade A minus), Utica (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 524
- Population: 18,058
- Median household income: $71,327
- Median home value: $243,600 (88% own)
- Median rent: $970 (12% rent)
- Top public schools: Frankfort Elementary School (grade A minus), Frankfort High School (grade B), Lake Ann Elementary School (grade B)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Elberta (grade A minus), Gilmore Township (grade A minus), Lake Township (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 507
- Population: 25,937
- Median household income: $59,651
- Median home value: $122,600 (83% own)
- Median rent: $710 (17% rent)
- Top public schools: Norway Elementary School (grade A minus), Woodland Elementary School (grade A minus), Kingsford High School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Holy Spirit Central School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Kingsford (grade A), Iron Mountain (grade A minus), Norway Township (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 506
- Population: 79,249
- Median household income: $82,594
- Median home value: $226,000 (82% own)
- Median rent: $1,022 (18% rent)
- Top public schools: Waldron Elementary/Middle School (grade A minus), DeWitt High School (grade A minus), DeWitt Junior High School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: St. Mary Elementary School (grade unavailable), St. Joseph Catholic School (grade unavailable), Most Holy Trinity School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: DeWitt (grade A), DeWitt Charter Township (grade A minus), Eagle Township (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 465
- Population: 194,302
- Median household income: $96,135
- Median home value: $311,800 (86% own)
- Median rent: $1,207 (14% rent)
- Top public schools: Hornung Elementary School (grade A), Spencer Road Elementary School (grade A), Maltby Intermediate School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Livingston Christian Schools (grade B+), St. Patrick School (grade unavailable), Shepherd of the Lakes Lutheran School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Brighton Township (grade A), Green Oak Township (grade A), Brighton (grade A)

- Overall Rank: 425
- Population: 26,174
- Median household income: $69,764
- Median home value: $220,000 (82% own)
- Median rent: $894 (18% rent)
- Top public schools: Boyne City Elementary School (grade B+), Charlevoix Elementary School (grade B+), Boyne City High School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: St. Mary School (grade unavailable), Charlevoix Children's House (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Boyne City (grade A minus), Marion Township (grade A minus), Charlevoix Township (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 422
- Population: 153,938
- Median household income: $60,379
- Median home value: $193,600 (73% own)
- Median rent: $885 (27% rent)
- Top public schools: St. Joseph High School (grade A), Upton Middle School (grade A), New Buffalo Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Andrews Academy (grade A), Our Lady of the Lake Catholic School (grade A), Grace Christian School (grade A minus)
- Top places: St. Joseph (grade A+), Berrien Springs (grade A), Royalton Township (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 358
- Population: 66,376
- Median household income: $63,115
- Median home value: $184,300 (71% own)
- Median rent: $904 (29% rent)
- Top public schools: Lakeview Elementary School (grade A minus), Negaunee High School (grade A minus), Graveraet Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Father Marquette Catholic Academy (grade B+), Marquette Sda Elem. School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Marquette (grade A), Negaunee (grade A), Harvey (grade A)

- Overall Rank: 311
- Population: 34,072
- Median household income: $69,690
- Median home value: $246,300 (76% own)
- Median rent: $985 (24% rent)
- Top public schools: Lincoln School (grade A minus), Petoskey Middle School (grade A minus), Sheridan School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Harbor Light Christian School (grade C+), St. Francis Xavier School (grade unavailable), St. Michael Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Petoskey (grade A), Resort Township (grade A), Bay View (grade A)

- Overall Rank: 209
- Population: 95,315
- Median household income: $75,553
- Median home value: $273,300 (76% own)
- Median rent: $1,147 (24% rent)
- Top public schools: Woodland School (grade A), Kingsley Area Middle School (grade A minus), Central High School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Interlochen Arts Academy (grade A+), St. Francis High School (grade B+), Traverse City Christian School (grade B minus)
- Top places: Traverse City (grade A), Acme Township (grade A), East Bay Township (grade A)

- Overall Rank: 201
- Population: 83,503
- Median household income: $73,643
- Median home value: $171,600 (78% own)
- Median rent: $931 (22% rent)
- Top public schools: H.H. Dow High School (grade A), Jefferson Middle School (grade A), Adams Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Calvary Baptist Academy (grade B), St. Brigid Catholic School (grade unavailable), St. John's Lutheran School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Larkin Charter Township (grade A+), Midland (grade A+), Homer Township (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 147
- Population: 22,426
- Median household income: $82,345
- Median home value: $371,200 (90% own)
- Median rent: $1,157 (10% rent)
- Top public schools: Leland Public School (grade A minus), Glen Lake Community Schools (grade B), Leelanau Montessori Public School Academy (grade B)
- Top private schools: The Leelanau School (grade A), St. Mary School - Lake Leelanau (grade B+), The Pathfinder School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Greilickville (grade B+), Bingham Township (grade B), Northport (grade A)

- Overall Rank: 138
- Population: 261,426
- Median household income: $67,905
- Median home value: $209,700 (64% own)
- Median rent: $994 (36% rent)
- Top public schools: Portage West Middle School (grade A), Moorsbridge Elementary School (grade A), Portage Northern High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Hackett Catholic Prep (grade A), Kalamazoo Christian High School (grade B+), Heritage Christian Academy (grade B+)
- Top places: Portage (grade A), Westwood (grade A), Texas Charter Township (grade A)

- Overall Rank: 126
- Population: 37,414
- Median household income: $52,736
- Median home value: $129,200 (69% own)
- Median rent: $743 (31% rent)
- Top public schools: Houghton Central High School (grade A), Houghton Elementary School (grade A), Houghton Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Copper Country Christian School (grade B), Little Huskies Child Development Center (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Houghton (grade A), Portage Charter Township (grade A), Hancock (grade A)

- Overall Rank: 112
- Population: 296,183
- Median household income: $83,932
- Median home value: $269,200 (78% own)
- Median rent: $1,080 (22% rent)
- Top public schools: Eagle Crest Charter Academy (grade A+), Lakewood Elementary School (grade A), Holmes Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Calvary Schools of Holland (grade B minus), Unity Christian High School (grade B minus), Hudsonville Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Zeeland Charter Township (grade A), Spring Lake (grade A), Grand Haven Charter Township (grade A)

- Overall Rank: 102
- Population: 282,540
- Median household income: $62,548
- Median home value: $173,600 (59% own)
- Median rent: $1,027 (41% rent)
- Top public schools: Okemos High School (grade A+), Chippewa Middle School (grade A+), Okemos Public Montessori School at Central (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Lansing Catholic High School (grade A minus), Lansing Christian School (grade B+), St. Thomas Aquinas Parish School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Okemos (grade A+), Haslett (grade A+), East Lansing (grade A)

- Overall Rank: 84
- Population: 657,321
- Median household income: $76,247
- Median home value: $242,200 (70% own)
- Median rent: $1,111 (30% rent)
- Top public schools: City Middle/High School (grade A+), Cross Creek Charter Academy (grade A+), Northern High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: West Michigan Lutheran High School (grade A), Grand Rapids Christian High School (grade A minus), The Potter's House High School (grade A minus)
- Top places: East Grand Rapids (grade A+), Eastgate (grade A+), Eastown (grade A+)

- Overall Rank: 30
- Population: 370,231
- Median household income: $84,245
- Median home value: $336,300 (61% own)
- Median rent: $1,335 (39% rent)
- Top public schools: Washtenaw International High School (grade A+), Huron High School (grade A+), Community High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Greenhills School (grade A+), Michigan Islamic Academy (grade A+), Rudolf Steiner School of Ann Arbor (grade A+)
- Top places: Ann Arbor (grade A+), Pittsfield Charter Township (grade A+), Lodi Township (grade A)

- Overall Rank: 23
- Population: 1,272,264
- Median household income: $92,620
- Median home value: $302,800 (72% own)
- Median rent: $1,243 (28% rent)
- Top public schools: International Academy (grade A+), Novi High School (grade A+), Troy High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Cranbrook Schools (grade A+), Detroit Country Day School (grade A+), Frankel Jewish Academy of Metro Detroit (grade A+)
- Top places: Troy (grade A+), Novi (grade A+), Birmingham (grade A+)

This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.