You don’t need to strike it rich in the Michigan lottery or shovel a mountain of snow for cash to afford a home here.
The cheapest places to live in Michigan provide acces to the Mitten’s lakes and Detroit Style Pizza without breaking the bank.
To determine the most affordable places to live in Michigan, we used Saturday Night Science to analyze US Census data for home prices, incomes, and the cost of living. The result is a set of Michigan places that will let you save money to spend on ice fishing and eco-friendly snowmobile trails.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Table | FAQs | Summary
The 10 most affordable places to live in Michigan
What is the most affordable place to live in Michigan? The most affordable place in Michigan is Benton Harbor after crunching data from the US Census on median housing costs, median income, and overall cost of living for cities with over 5,000 residents.
If you care about home values, cost of living, and high quality of life, look at the list below to find the most affordable places in Michigan.
Check out some more reading about Michigan and the cheapest places in the country:
The 10 Cheapest Places To Live In Michigan For 2024
/10
Population: 9,101
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 73
Median Income: $26,592
Median Home Price: $112,898
Median Rent: $791
Benton Harbor, nestled in Michigan’s Berrien County, takes the top overall spot for affordability in Michigan for 2024. With a median home value of $112,898 and rent at $791, the city comes in with an overall cost of living index of 73. Some might say Benton Harbor is an excellent place to harbor your savings.
With all that savings on the cost of living, you can afford a boat on Lake Michigan. Or, you know, renting one for a weekend.
More on Benton Harbor: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
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Population: 7,732
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 73
Median Income: $41,594
Median Home Price: $119,538
Median Rent: $788
While I’ll be, Albion ranks as the second cheapest cities in Michigan. The city’s cost of living index of 73 is 20.7% lower than the state average thanks to a $119,538, according to Zillow.
You can save money on daily activities by taking advantage of free things to do nearby, like the Albion River Trail or Rieger Park. That’ll stretch the average Albion income of $41,594 further.
More on Albion: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
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Population: 11,871
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 74
Median Income: $42,181
Median Home Price: $181,757
Median Rent: $800
You’ll feel like the Queen of Nile no matter your income in Niles, Michigan, the third most affordable place in the state. With home values and rents placing 48th and 27th respectively, the overall cost of living clocks in at 74.
Near South Bend on the Indiana border, the city’s 11,871 residents can access Arthur Dodd Memorial Park and the Notre Dame campus within a short drive.
More on Niles: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
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Population: 5,268
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 74
Median Income: $40,091
Median Home Price: $372,983
Median Rent: $790
Where South Bedford Road meets Avenue A is our fourth most affordable city in Michigan for 2024, Springfield. This city in Calhoun County iis an ideal destination when you’re trying find that affordable big town feel. And while you’re deciding what home to buy, Springfield has great deals. They are the 154th cheapest place to buy based on home price to income ratio.
It’s also a great city when you’re looking for those affordable staycations to keep your budget in check. Springfield currently has four major parks within their city limits, and they are only a short drive from Fort Custer State Recreation Area.
More on Springfield: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
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Population: 31,420
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 75
Median Income: $41,988
Median Home Price: $168,255
Median Rent: $838
Ranked as the fifth most affordable city in Michigan, Jackson’s housing market is particularly attractive, with a home price to income ratio of 4.01x. According to the data, Jackson has cost of living index values for utilities, services, and transportation that add up to an overall score of 75.
Jackson is about 45 minutes south of Lansing and 45 minutes west of Ann Arbor.
More on Jackson: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
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Population: 5,088
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 75
Median Income: $35,722
Median Home Price: $88,927
Median Rent: $491
Heading back up to the UP, to the home of the World’s Tallest Indian, we have our sixth most affordable city in Michigan: Ironwood.
Once a mining town, Ironwood scored an 8/10 for affordability and an 8/10 in education. Ironwood has it going on: they are smart and affordable. Probably why they know a good deal when they see one. Ironwood is home to five ski resorts. Do we think that has something to do with why the city is so great and so affordable? Probably. More importantly, if you’re looking for a side hustle, ski instructing might be in your future.
More on Ironwood: Data | Crime | Real Estate
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Population: 52,469
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 76
Median Income: $49,684
Median Home Price: $163,207
Median Rent: $879
Battle Creek, the seventh most affordable city in Michigan, has a $163,207 price for homes and a $879 for rent. Nestled in northwest Calhoun County, the cost of living index sits at 76.
With a $49,684 median income that stretches further, you won’t have to battle your wallet to take a long weekend in Detroit or a road trip to Chicago.
More on Battle Creek: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
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Population: 9,954
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 78
Median Income: $35,216
Median Home Price: $65,905
Median Rent: $836
At the height of savings in Michigan, Muskegon Heights ranks as the eighth least expensive place in the state.
Muskegon Heights is a budget-friendly destination with historical and natural sights, such as the Muskegon South Pierhead Lighthouse, the Heritage Landing, and the P.J. Hoffmaster State Park. And you won’t have to worry about gas because the city has an overall cost of living index of 78 that is 15.2% lower than the Wolverine State average.
More on Muskegon Heights: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
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Population: 7,923
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 78
Median Income: $49,018
Median Home Price: $199,425
Median Rent: $821
In St. Joseph County, Three Rivers rushes in with an affordability ranking of 9 in the Wolverine State. Home to 7,923 people, the city offers outdoor activities, such as kayaking on the St. Joseph River, hiking at the Hidden Marsh Sanctuary, and biking on the Network Trail.
This tri-river city entices with a 78 overall cost of living index and a median income of $49,018, according to the most recent Census data.
More on Three Rivers: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
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Population: 5,680
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 78
Median Income: $41,864
Median Home Price: $200,572
Median Rent: $696
With a median home value of $200,572 and a median rent of only $696, Dowagiac is a great place to live if you’re looking for an affordable city in Michigan. Additionally, the median income in Dowagiac is $41,864, which means that residents are able to comfortably afford their housing costs and still have money left over for other expenses.
Dowagiac is located in a beautiful area of Michigan. Residents enjoy a variety of outdoor activities, including hiking and fishing. Downtown Dowagiac also offers plenty of local shops and restaurants, making it a great place to explore and support the community.
More on Dowagiac: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Cheapest places to live in Michigan FAQs
The county in Michigan with the lowest cost of living is Lapeer County. The average living wage in Lapeer County is $100,631 according to MIT data. Lapeer County has the lowest cost of living because it has relatively less expensive childcare and housing costs compared to Michigan as a whole. Childcare costs $26,186 a year in Lapeer County for two children compared to the Michigan average of $28,018. Housing costs, defined as a blend of the average rent and average mortgage payment, are $12,588 per year in Lapeer County compared to $11,412 on average in Michigan.
The cost of living in Michigan is 13.0% higher than the US average. According to MIT, the required living wage for a family of four with two working parents in Michigan is $101,378 vs the national average for a family of four with two working parents of $89,744. The median income of a Michigan household is $59,234.
The cheapest housing market in Michigan is Flint. The average home value in Flint is $31,700, the lowest in the state. The average home value in Michigan is $162,600, almost 5.1 times higher than Flint.
Methodology: How we determined the most affordable places to live in the Wolverine State for 2024
Determining affordability for places in Michigan boils down to how much it costs to live here.
You need to understand your costs relative to what people in the rest of the state are paying.
With that logic in mind, we derived several cost of living statistics from the latest Census American Community Survey 2018-2022 for Michigan using Saturday Night Science. We indexed the cost of living statistics across the following categories:
- Housing
- Transportation
- Services
- Groceries
- Healthcare
- Utilities
These are then weighted together to produce an overall cost of living index where 100 is the United States average. Anything below 100 is relatively affordable. Anything over 100 is relatively expensive.
We applied the biggest weight to housing as it typically accounts for 25% or more of your budget. Additionally, housing costs are the highest variant cost across a state. We then compare these cost of living metrics for each place in Michigan to figure out which is the least expensive.
The “Cost of Living Index” allows you to rank all of the 154 places in Michigan that have more than 5,000 people from least expensive to most expensive. Any ties went to the larger city.
The place in Michigan with the lowest cost of living according to the data is Benton Harbor.
We updated this article for 2024. This report reflects our tenth time ranking the cheapest places to live in Michigan.
Michigan Affordabilility Summary
This is an accurate list of the most affordable places to live in Michigan for 2024, if you’re looking at the cost of living numbers in Michigan.
The cheapest cities in Michigan are Benton Harbor, Albion, Niles, Springfield, Jackson, Ironwood, Battle Creek, Muskegon Heights, Three Rivers, and Dowagiac.
Here’s a look at the most expensive cities in Michigan according to the data:
- Birmingham
- Huntington Woods
- Beverly Hills
For more Michigan reading, check out:
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Michigan
- Best Places To Live In Michigan
- Richest Cities In Michigan
Cheapest Places To Live In Michigan
| Rank | City | Population | Cost Of Living Index | Median Income | Home Prices | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Benton Harbor | 9,101 | 73 | $26,592 | $112,898 | $791 |
| 2 | Albion | 7,732 | 73 | $41,594 | $119,538 | $788 |
| 3 | Niles | 11,871 | 74 | $42,181 | $181,757 | $800 |
| 4 | Springfield | 5,268 | 74 | $40,091 | $372,983 | $790 |
| 5 | Jackson | 31,420 | 75 | $41,988 | $168,255 | $838 |
| 6 | Ironwood | 5,088 | 75 | $35,722 | $88,927 | $491 |
| 7 | Battle Creek | 52,469 | 76 | $49,684 | $163,207 | $879 |
| 8 | Muskegon Heights | 9,954 | 78 | $35,216 | $65,905 | $836 |
| 9 | Three Rivers | 7,923 | 78 | $49,018 | $199,425 | $821 |
| 10 | Dowagiac | 5,680 | 78 | $41,864 | $200,572 | $696 |
| 11 | Coldwater | 13,704 | 79 | $48,531 | $194,078 | $912 |
| 12 | Escanaba | 12,403 | 79 | $38,457 | $148,191 | $615 |
| 13 | Menominee | 8,429 | 79 | $46,821 | $151,178 | $702 |
| 14 | Hillsdale | 8,005 | 79 | $47,205 | $183,760 | $765 |
| 15 | Iron Mountain | 7,522 | 79 | $53,215 | $138,100 | $706 |
| 16 | Ishpeming | 6,191 | 79 | $53,202 | $155,185 | $599 |
| 17 | Charlotte | 9,273 | 80 | $65,507 | $217,499 | $798 |
| 18 | Marshall | 6,806 | 80 | $72,813 | $220,197 | $903 |
| 19 | Gladstone | 5,231 | 80 | $59,133 | $162,888 | $820 |
| 20 | Kalamazoo | 73,342 | 81 | $48,649 | $219,925 | $974 |
| 21 | Sault Ste. Marie | 13,409 | 81 | $50,284 | $133,384 | $790 |
| 22 | Allegan | 5,180 | 81 | $42,162 | $235,225 | $965 |
| 23 | St. Louis | 6,932 | 82 | $47,662 | $139,183 | $769 |
| 24 | Manistee | 6,248 | 82 | $57,813 | $227,978 | $775 |
| 25 | Eaton Rapids | 5,201 | 82 | $62,708 | $231,272 | $930 |
| 26 | Lansing | 112,986 | 83 | $50,747 | $143,798 | $954 |
| 27 | Flint | 81,863 | 83 | $35,451 | $48,574 | $825 |
| 28 | Muskegon | 38,286 | 83 | $40,900 | $163,648 | $855 |
| 29 | Hamtramck | 27,842 | 83 | $39,648 | $157,381 | $853 |
| 30 | Sturgis | 11,050 | 83 | $56,337 | $190,122 | $773 |
| 31 | Alpena | 10,200 | 83 | $43,613 | $157,639 | $569 |
| 32 | Highland Park | 9,032 | 83 | $30,341 | $67,728 | $620 |
| 33 | Kingsford | 5,127 | 83 | $59,106 | $132,625 | $749 |
| 34 | Detroit | 636,787 | 84 | $37,761 | $66,544 | $989 |
| 35 | Portage | 48,936 | 84 | $74,837 | $271,509 | $1,062 |
| 36 | Saginaw | 44,316 | 84 | $35,521 | $112,429 | $868 |
| 37 | Mason | 8,284 | 84 | $75,000 | $247,725 | $1,048 |
| 38 | River Rouge | 7,200 | 84 | $26,343 | $62,263 | $731 |
| 39 | Belding | 5,942 | 84 | $52,083 | $215,547 | $824 |
| 40 | Bay City | 32,664 | 85 | $45,026 | $103,660 | $726 |
| 41 | Inkster | 25,839 | 85 | $38,381 | $86,767 | $1,097 |
| 42 | Ionia | 13,081 | 85 | $60,413 | $188,448 | $855 |
| 43 | Melvindale | 12,639 | 85 | $38,918 | $127,178 | $1,111 |
| 44 | Alma | 9,436 | 85 | $44,375 | $139,255 | $738 |
| 45 | Ecorse | 9,292 | 85 | $45,473 | $69,697 | $829 |
| 46 | Big Rapids | 7,915 | 85 | $36,058 | $191,904 | $732 |
| 47 | Pontiac | 61,965 | 86 | $40,307 | $114,719 | $947 |
| 48 | Lincoln Park | 39,807 | 86 | $55,777 | $137,851 | $943 |
| 49 | Cadillac | 10,400 | 86 | $45,123 | $173,364 | $753 |
| 50 | Center Line | 8,493 | 86 | $52,067 | $158,320 | $720 |
| 51 | Port Huron | 28,881 | 87 | $47,906 | $155,781 | $962 |
| 52 | Madison Heights | 28,521 | 87 | $63,224 | $203,911 | $1,095 |
| 53 | Wyandotte | 24,857 | 87 | $62,111 | $174,297 | $933 |
| 54 | Hazel Park | 15,065 | 87 | $59,576 | $154,739 | $1,175 |
| 55 | Greenville | 8,866 | 87 | $50,332 | $227,857 | $830 |
| 56 | Hastings | 7,504 | 87 | $54,118 | $198,616 | $725 |
| 57 | Wyoming | 76,732 | 88 | $67,234 | $245,215 | $1,070 |
| 58 | Holland | 34,186 | 88 | $69,152 | $321,850 | $1,065 |
| 59 | Adrian | 20,607 | 88 | $40,797 | $168,112 | $894 |
| 60 | Wayne | 17,568 | 88 | $52,709 | $153,609 | $900 |
| 61 | Owosso | 14,678 | 88 | $51,794 | $159,765 | $806 |
| 62 | Grand Haven | 10,961 | 88 | $57,650 | $342,638 | $920 |
| 63 | St. Joseph | 7,852 | 88 | $79,103 | $300,114 | $948 |
| 64 | Zeeland | 5,701 | 88 | $60,505 | $336,250 | $900 |
| 65 | Dearborn Heights | 62,474 | 89 | $58,335 | $186,873 | $1,204 |
| 66 | Roseville | 47,476 | 89 | $57,274 | $159,392 | $1,121 |
| 67 | Romulus | 25,055 | 89 | $63,854 | $179,648 | $989 |
| 68 | Monroe | 20,400 | 89 | $57,779 | $200,178 | $870 |
| 69 | Mount Clemens | 15,679 | 89 | $55,154 | $156,898 | $881 |
| 70 | Houghton | 8,303 | 89 | $29,821 | $209,785 | $819 |
| 71 | St. Johns | 7,711 | 89 | $60,991 | $245,248 | $877 |
| 72 | Ludington | 7,691 | 89 | $49,503 | $263,304 | $838 |
| 73 | Petoskey | 5,859 | 89 | $69,784 | $393,626 | $894 |
| 74 | Davison | 5,114 | 89 | $48,750 | $231,702 | $825 |
| 75 | Westland | 84,806 | 90 | $59,930 | $194,197 | $1,067 |
| 76 | Taylor | 62,937 | 90 | $59,352 | $161,574 | $984 |
| 77 | Eastpointe | 34,087 | 90 | $57,953 | $143,733 | $1,274 |
| 78 | Burton | 29,568 | 90 | $55,698 | $140,881 | $898 |
| 79 | Harper Woods | 15,296 | 90 | $60,030 | $146,667 | $1,296 |
| 80 | Lapeer | 9,034 | 90 | $50,510 | $246,318 | $899 |
| 81 | Holly | 5,997 | 90 | $58,957 | $286,258 | $868 |
| 82 | Grand Rapids | 198,096 | 91 | $61,634 | $262,762 | $1,138 |
| 83 | Southgate | 29,948 | 91 | $62,792 | $175,318 | $1,048 |
| 84 | Mount Pleasant | 21,826 | 91 | $41,512 | $192,895 | $846 |
| 85 | Marquette | 20,673 | 91 | $51,599 | $288,904 | $944 |
| 86 | Fraser | 14,668 | 91 | $61,039 | $217,570 | $782 |
| 87 | Riverview | 12,390 | 91 | $69,323 | $219,074 | $966 |
| 88 | Fenton | 11,967 | 91 | $76,195 | $330,634 | $1,188 |
| 89 | Tecumseh | 8,678 | 91 | $65,638 | $228,128 | $956 |
| 90 | Grand Ledge | 7,795 | 91 | $71,179 | $272,097 | $934 |
| 91 | Warren | 138,588 | 92 | $61,633 | $187,656 | $1,139 |
| 92 | Garden City | 27,203 | 92 | $63,630 | $181,299 | $950 |
| 93 | Norton Shores | 24,984 | 92 | $72,699 | $257,972 | $1,134 |
| 94 | Ferndale | 19,264 | 92 | $86,120 | $236,307 | $1,238 |
| 95 | Flushing | 8,349 | 92 | $75,813 | $216,845 | $933 |
| 96 | Hudsonville | 7,633 | 92 | $86,000 | $367,928 | $1,175 |
| 97 | Swartz Creek | 5,865 | 92 | $70,210 | $218,680 | $937 |
| 98 | St. Clair Shores | 58,656 | 93 | $71,481 | $211,168 | $1,135 |
| 99 | Kentwood | 54,042 | 93 | $66,945 | $293,250 | $1,123 |
| 100 | Oak Park | 29,495 | 93 | $61,991 | $212,139 | $1,274 |