You don’t have to throw a dart at the Michigan mitten to find the best place for your family to live: HomeSnacks has created a list of the most family friendly places in the Great Lakes State for 2024.
But, before we let you in on Michigan’s top ten best places for families, we should tell you a little bit about how we determined the state’s most family friendly places.
First, we consulted the US Census on places in The Wolverine State with more than 10,000 residents. We looked at several factors including crime, education, family friendly activities, and the percent of households that currently have children. We then entered it into our snackability formula and ended up with 87 family friendly Michigan places.
Matter of fact, if you ask any Michigander, they will tell you that Michigan is the best and that their spot on the mitten is above the rest. They will also tell you that the state is great for families because Michigan has one of the highest median household incomes, so they have plenty of extra money to spend on the things that matter. Like, making their neighborhoods safe, their schools competitive, and their families happy, healthy, and entertained.
Speaking of family entertainment, when Michigan families are ready for some fun in the sun, there is plenty of family friendly fun to be had. We think the best family weekend in Michigan would go something like this: first, a trip to the freshest pasty (pronounced pah-sty) shop in Midland; then, a quick road trip to the center of the mitten to watch a football game at the University of Michigan in East Lansing; followed up by a lazy Sunday at Grand Haven Beach.
To learn more about our methodology and to see why Michigan’s top ten best places to raise a family are truly the best of the best, read on.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Best Cities To Raise A Family In Michigan For 2024
Michigan does have beautiful, mild summers, but super snowy winters; so for many, the burning question is: what is it about Michigan that makes over ten million people — 3.8 million families — happy to call it home?
We’ll tell you, point blank, it has a lot to offer. And this is especially evident in Michigan’s number one best place to raise a family, Grosse Pointe Farms.
If you want to see how Michigan’s other amazing best places to raise a family faired, take a look at the list below. And if you don’t see your favorite there, head to the bottom.
More reading about Michigan and the best places for families in the country:
- Best Places To Live In Michigan
- Cheapest Places To Live In Michigan
- Best Cities To Raise A Family In America
- Best States To Raise A Family In America
The 10 Best Places To Raise A Family In Michigan For 2024
/10
Population: 10,018
Median Income: $156,465
Average Home Price: $446,876
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 60
Closest Major City: Detroit
Households with kids: 28.2%
More on Grosse Pointe Farms: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 21,738
Median Income: $151,556
Average Home Price: $600,237
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 53
Closest Major City: Detroit
Households with kids: 30.6%
More on Birmingham: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 12,978
Median Income: $102,838
Average Home Price: $428,006
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 52
Closest Major City: Detroit
Households with kids: 27.8%
More on Rochester: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 12,104
Median Income: $90,028
Average Home Price: $325,237
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 44
Closest Major City: Detroit
Households with kids: 29.4%
More on New Baltimore: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 10,550
Median Income: $162,364
Average Home Price: $498,630
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 37
Closest Major City: Detroit
Households with kids: 35.1%
More on Beverly Hills: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 76,041
Median Income: $115,968
Average Home Price: $414,974
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 40
Closest Major City: Detroit
Households with kids: 32.1%
More on Rochester Hills: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 65,870
Median Income: $110,588
Average Home Price: $425,204
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 50
Closest Major City: Detroit
Households with kids: 35.5%
More on Novi: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 15,150
Median Income: $108,125
Average Home Price: $285,101
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 34
Closest Major City: Detroit
Households with kids: 23.6%
More on Berkley: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 87,170
Median Income: $115,639
Average Home Price: $398,962
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 48
Closest Major City: Detroit
Households with kids: 32.6%
More on Troy: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 11,388
Median Income: $82,713
Average Home Price: $261,691
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 61
Closest Major City: Detroit
Households with kids: 16.6%
More on Clawson: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Methodology: How do you determine which place is best for families in Michigan anyways?
To give you the places in Michigan that are best for families, we must look at a handful of metrics. We want to measure the criteria people want in a family-friendly city utilizing Saturday Night Science.
After researching U.S. Census data produced for the state of Michigan, we looked at the data for every single city in the state. We paid particular attention to:
- Crime (Both violent and property)
- Quality of local schools
- Distance to a major city without necessarily being in it
- % of households with children
- Family-friendly amenities nearby (museums, libraries, and colleges)
We then gave each city a “Family Score.”
The higher the score, the better the city is for families. We also limited our results to cities with over 10,000 people. For Michigan, that meant a total of 87 cities.
We updated this article for 2024. This is our tenth time ranking the best cities for families in Michigan.
Summary: The Best Places To Raise A Family In Michigan
If you’re looking for a breakdown of cities in Michigan ranked by criteria that most agree make a place a great spot for families, this is an accurate list.
The best places for families in Michigan are Grosse Pointe Farms, Birmingham, Rochester, New Baltimore, Beverly Hills, Rochester Hills, Novi, Berkley, Troy, and Clawson.
Here’s a look at the best cities for singles Michigan according to the data:
- Burton
- Roseville
- Saginaw
For more Michigan reading, check out:
- Cheapest Places To Live In Michigan
- Safest Places In Michigan
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Michigan
Best Places For Families In Michigan
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price | Amenities Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grosse Pointe Farms, MI | 10,018 | $156,465 | $446,876 | 37 |
| 2 | Birmingham, MI | 21,738 | $151,556 | $600,237 | 35 |
| 3 | Rochester, MI | 12,978 | $102,838 | $428,006 | 53 |
| 4 | New Baltimore, MI | 12,104 | $90,028 | $325,237 | 61 |
| 5 | Beverly Hills, MI | 10,550 | $162,364 | $498,630 | 52 |
| 6 | Rochester Hills, MI | 76,041 | $115,968 | $414,974 | 59 |
| 7 | Novi, MI | 65,870 | $110,588 | $425,204 | 37 |
| 8 | Berkley, MI | 15,150 | $108,125 | $285,101 | 39 |
| 9 | Troy, MI | 87,170 | $115,639 | $398,962 | 59 |
| 10 | Clawson, MI | 11,388 | $82,713 | $261,691 | 48 |