You might think that the whole hippie movement has faded away, but the truth is, there are plenty of hippies out there in Michigan.
While they aren’t necessarily in your face all the time with war protests, and the next Woodstock isn’t being planned any time soon, we thought it would be fun to look at which cities in the Wolverine State where the most hippies would live.
And, after crunching the data, you know what? It was spot on.
How do you decide where the most hippies live? By the number of yoga studios, organic markets, and most importantly, where the liberals live in droves.
Using those criteria, it’s not hard to scrape the internet, run some scientific data on where hippies might live in Michigan, and then put out a list.
So, put on your tie-dye shirt and sandals as you go through this list with us.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Cities In Michigan With The Largest Hispanic Population For 2024
What’s the hippiest city in Michigan? The hippiest city in Michigan is Highland Park.
Read on below to see where your town ranked, Young Flower Child.
/10
Population: 10,951
% Liberal: 73.0%
More on Highland Park: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 9,029
% Liberal: 73.0%
More on Plymouth: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 6,310
% Liberal: 53.6%
More on Huntington Woods: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 7,761
% Liberal: 73.0%
More on River Rouge: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 6,001
% Liberal: 53.6%
More on Northville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 11,943
% Liberal: 53.6%
More on Clawson: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 15,136
% Liberal: 53.6%
More on Berkley: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 10,368
% Liberal: 53.6%
More on Beverly Hills: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 9,401
% Liberal: 73.0%
More on Ecorse: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 5,350
% Liberal: 73.0%
More on Grosse Pointe: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Methodology: How we determined the most beatnik city in Michigan
In order to rank the best cities for hippies in Michigan, we used Saturday Night Science to determine what criteria defines a hippie.
We threw a lot of criteria at this one in order to get the best, most complete results possible. Using the Google Places API, the Census’s 2018-2022 American Community Survey, and Voter Registration data, this is the criteria we used:
- Number of yoga studios per capita
- Number of organic markets per capita
- Number of pet adoption centers per capita
- Number of vegan restaurants per capita
- Number of thrift stores per capita
- Each city’s liberal voting population
For the sake of getting reliable numbers on places, we counted any place within a ~4.5 mile radius of a city’s center. The average city in the United States is about 18 square miles.
All of these results are listed in a per capita basis, meaning number of stores per person in a city. Additionally, we limited the analysis to non-CDPs that have over 5,000 people.
We ranked each place with scores from 1 to 147 in each category, where 1 was the most hippie.
Next, we averaged the rankings for each place to create a hippie index.
And finally, we crowned the city with the highest hippie index the “Best City for Hippies In Michigan.” We’re looking at you, Highland Park.
Read on below to learn more about what it’s like to live in hippie central. Or skip to the end to see the list of all the places in the state from hippiest to most square.
Summary: The Hippies Of Michigan
If you’re measuring the locations in Michigan where there are lots of liberals, and there are many options for vegan food, yoga and thrift stores, this is an accurate list.
The most hippie cities in Michigan are Highland Park, Plymouth, Huntington Woods, River Rouge, Northville, Clawson, Berkley, Beverly Hills, Ecorse, and Grosse Pointe.
If you’re curious, here are the most square places in Michigan:
- Niles
- Sturgis
- Grand Rapids
For more Michigan reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Michigan
- Cheapest Places To Live In Michigan
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Michigan
- Richest Cities In Michigan
- Safest Places In Michigan
Detailed List Of The Most Hippie Cities In Michigan
| Rank | City | Population | % Liberal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Highland Park | 10,951 | 73.0% |
| 2 | Plymouth | 9,029 | 73.0% |
| 3 | Huntington Woods | 6,310 | 53.6% |
| 4 | River Rouge | 7,761 | 73.0% |
| 5 | Northville | 6,001 | 53.6% |
| 6 | Clawson | 11,943 | 53.6% |
| 7 | Berkley | 15,136 | 53.6% |
| 8 | Beverly Hills | 10,368 | 53.6% |
| 9 | Ecorse | 9,401 | 73.0% |
| 10 | Grosse Pointe | 5,350 | 73.0% |
| 11 | Hazel Park | 16,532 | 53.6% |
| 12 | Walled Lake | 7,065 | 53.6% |
| 13 | Farmington | 10,472 | 53.6% |
| 14 | Hamtramck | 22,256 | 73.0% |
| 15 | Ferndale | 20,102 | 53.6% |
| 16 | Birmingham | 20,382 | 53.6% |
| 17 | East Grand Rapids | 10,999 | 45.5% |
| 18 | Harper Woods | 14,058 | 73.0% |
| 19 | Riverview | 12,347 | 73.0% |
| 20 | Melvindale | 10,584 | 73.0% |
| 21 | Swartz Creek | 5,664 | 63.6% |
| 22 | Grosse Pointe Farms | 9,371 | 73.0% |
| 23 | Grand Blanc | 8,147 | 63.6% |
| 24 | Springfield | 5,231 | 50.2% |
| 25 | Fraser | 14,544 | 51.5% |
| 26 | Madison Heights | 30,028 | 53.6% |
| 27 | Allen Park | 27,869 | 73.0% |
| 28 | Oak Park | 29,622 | 53.6% |
| 29 | Grosse Pointe Woods | 15,943 | 73.0% |
| 30 | Brighton | 7,562 | 37.9% |
| 31 | St. Joseph | 8,310 | 46.2% |
| 32 | Zeeland | 5,566 | 32.3% |
| 33 | Center Line | 8,279 | 51.5% |
| 34 | Grosse Pointe Park | 11,412 | 73.0% |
| 35 | Rochester | 12,872 | 53.6% |
| 36 | Muskegon Heights | 10,807 | 58.3% |
| 37 | Benton Harbor | 10,056 | 46.2% |
| 38 | Petoskey | 5,705 | 40.8% |
| 39 | Wixom | 13,640 | 53.6% |
| 40 | Milford | 6,325 | 53.6% |
| 41 | Ypsilanti | 19,844 | 67.3% |
| 42 | Woodhaven | 12,747 | 73.0% |
| 43 | Trenton | 18,635 | 73.0% |
| 44 | Wayne | 17,314 | 73.0% |
| 45 | Royal Oak | 58,382 | 53.6% |
| 46 | Inkster | 25,056 | 73.0% |
| 47 | Sault Ste. Marie | 14,121 | 45.6% |
| 48 | Flushing | 8,252 | 63.6% |
| 49 | Kingsford | 5,115 | 38.7% |
| 50 | Southgate | 29,710 | 73.0% |
| 51 | Flat Rock | 9,859 | 73.0% |
| 52 | Ludington | 8,061 | 46.9% |
| 53 | Howell | 9,543 | 37.9% |
| 54 | Hudsonville | 7,217 | 32.3% |
| 55 | Davison | 5,085 | 63.6% |
| 56 | Houghton | 7,897 | 44.5% |
| 57 | Holly | 6,142 | 53.6% |
| 58 | East Lansing | 48,611 | 63.2% |
| 59 | Eastpointe | 32,526 | 51.5% |
| 60 | Chelsea | 5,085 | 67.3% |
| 61 | Grandville | 15,613 | 45.5% |
| 62 | Mount Clemens | 16,345 | 51.5% |
| 63 | Iron Mountain | 7,593 | 38.7% |
| 64 | Auburn Hills | 21,639 | 53.6% |
| 65 | Norton Shores | 23,941 | 58.3% |
| 66 | Port Huron | 29,534 | 45.8% |
| 67 | Marysville | 9,842 | 45.8% |
| 68 | Mount Pleasant | 26,095 | 54.1% |
| 69 | Wyandotte | 25,470 | 73.0% |
| 70 | Lincoln Park | 37,648 | 73.0% |
| 71 | Manistee | 6,160 | 52.2% |
| 72 | Rockford | 5,876 | 45.5% |
| 73 | Monroe | 20,455 | 49.8% |
| 74 | Roseville | 47,408 | 51.5% |
| 75 | Allegan | 5,030 | 39.5% |
| 76 | Burton | 29,429 | 63.6% |
| 77 | Grand Haven | 10,687 | 32.3% |
| 78 | Ishpeming | 6,514 | 56.3% |
| 79 | Dowagiac | 5,822 | 42.6% |
| 80 | Kentwood | 49,736 | 45.5% |
| 81 | Cadillac | 10,306 | 41.6% |
| 82 | Saline | 9,000 | 67.3% |
| 83 | Menominee | 8,516 | 48.0% |
| 84 | Richmond | 5,806 | 51.5% |
| 85 | Ann Arbor | 115,985 | 67.3% |
| 86 | Fenton | 11,601 | 63.6% |
| 87 | Holland | 33,342 | 32.3% |
| 88 | Big Rapids | 10,543 | 44.4% |
| 89 | St. Clair | 5,428 | 45.8% |
| 90 | Lapeer | 8,801 | 43.6% |
| 91 | Grand Ledge | 7,779 | 50.9% |
| 92 | Walker | 24,015 | 45.5% |
| 93 | Portage | 47,137 | 56.1% |
| 94 | South Lyon | 11,514 | 53.6% |
| 95 | Farmington Hills | 80,682 | 53.6% |
| 96 | Ironwood | 5,237 | 53.6% |
| 97 | Kalamazoo | 75,190 | 56.1% |
| 98 | Marquette | 21,430 | 56.3% |
| 99 | Novi | 56,887 | 53.6% |
| 100 | Romulus | 23,721 | 73.0% |