This article, the ninth in a 50-state series, ranks the best places to live in Michigan based on three criteria: (1) median household income (adjusted for cost of living); (2) educational attainment (% of residents 25 years and over who have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher); and (3) property crime rates per 1,000 residents (burglary and automobile thefts). For purposes of these rankings, “places” are incorporated municipalities with populations greater than 2,000.
Among the twenty best places to live in Michigan, sixteen are suburbs of Detroit and Ann Arbor, three are suburbs of Grand Rapids, and one is a suburb of Saginaw and Flint. By county, eleven of the best places to live in Michigan are located in or partially in Oakland County, four in or partially in Wayne County, three in Kent County, two in Washtenaw County, one partially in Macomb County, and one in Midland County.
After reading “Best Places to Live in Michigan (2012),” return to this link to read “Largest Cities in Michigan (2012).” A collection of similar articles for the remaining 49 states can be found at these links: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
For the culmination of the 50-state series, read “Best Places to Live in America (2012).”
This article may be updated as new data becomes available.
1. Best Places to Live in Michigan (2012) – Orchard Lake Village, MI (Oakland County)
Population: 2,266
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $183,046
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 61.7%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 1.36
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Detroit, MI: 28 miles SE
Ann Arbor, MI: 39 miles SW
Lansing, MI: 73 miles WNW
2. Best Places to Live in Michigan (2012) – Franklin, MI (Oakland County)
Population: 2,961
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $148,517
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 72.6%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 3.78
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Detroit, MI: 22 miles SE
Ann Arbor, MI: 40 miles SW
Lansing, MI: 75 miles WNW
3. Best Places to Live in Michigan (2012) – Grosse Pointe Shores, MI (Wayne and Macomb Counties)
Population: 2,250
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $151,005
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 59.2%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 0.00
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Detroit, MI: 14 miles SW
Ann Arbor, MI: 51 miles WSW
Lansing, MI: 98 miles WNW
4. Best Places to Live in Michigan (2012) – Ann Arbor Charter Township, MI (Washtenaw County)
Population: 4,476
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $112,705
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 79.3%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 3.08
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Detroit, MI: 41 miles ENE
Ann Arbor, MI: 0.3 miles SE
Lansing, MI: 67 miles NW
5. Best Places to Live in Michigan (2012) – Bloomfield Charter Township, MI (Oakland County)
Population: 41,042
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $130,821
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 69.1%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 3.71
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Detroit, MI: 25 miles SSE
Ann Arbor, MI: 43 miles SW
Lansing, MI: 79 miles WNW
6. Best Places to Live in Michigan (2012) – Southfield Township, MI (Oakland County)
Population: 13,856
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $124,721
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 68.3%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 2.14
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Detroit, MI: 20 miles SE
Ann Arbor, MI: 41 miles SW
Lansing, MI: 77 miles WNW
7. Best Places to Live in Michigan (2012) – East Grand Rapids, MI (Kent County)
Population: 10,417
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $111,760
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 79.7%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 4.12
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Grand Rapids, MI: 4 miles NW
Kalamazoo, MI: 53 miles S
Lansing, MI: 64 miles ESE
8. Best Places to Live in Michigan (2012) – Huntington Woods, MI (Oakland County)
Population: 5,831
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $110,521
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 73.2%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 2.98
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Detroit, MI: 15 miles SSE
Ann Arbor, MI: 43 miles SW
Lansing, MI: 79 miles WNW
9. Best Places to Live in Michigan (2012) – Beverly Hills, MI (Oakland County)
Population: 9,898
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $115,612
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 67.1%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 2.14
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Detroit, MI: 19 miles SSE
Ann Arbor, MI: 42 miles SW
Lansing, MI: 77 miles WNW
10. Best Places to Live in Michigan (2012) – Bloomfield Hills, MI (Oakland County)
Population: 3,774
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $123,163
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 67.2%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 5.06
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Detroit, MI: 23 miles SE
Ann Arbor, MI: 45 miles SW
Lansing, MI: 81 miles WNW
11. Best Places to Live in Michigan (2012) – Birmingham, MI (Oakland County)
Population: 18,950
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $106,071
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 75.9%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 4.76
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Detroit, MI: 19 miles SSE
Ann Arbor, MI: 45 miles SW
Lansing, MI: 80 miles WNW
12. Best Places to Live in Michigan (2012) – Pleasant Ridge, MI (Oakland County)
Population: 2,487
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $119,370
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 64.9%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 3.66
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Detroit, MI: 12 miles SSE
Ann Arbor, MI: 45 miles SW
Lansing, MI: 81 miles WNW
13. Best Places to Live in Michigan (2012) – Grosse Pointe Farms, MI (Wayne County)
Population: 8,845
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $113,617
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 70.0%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 4.94
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Detroit, MI: 11 miles SSW
Ann Arbor, MI: 49 miles WSW
Lansing, MI: 98 miles WNW
14. Best Places to Live in Michigan (2012) – Northville, MI (Oakland and Wayne Counties)
Population: 6,408
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $116,805
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 61.9%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 2.52
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Detroit, MI: 30 miles ESE
Ann Arbor, MI: 22 miles SW
Lansing, MI: 67 miles WNW
15. Best Places to Live in Michigan (2012) – Webster Township, MI (Washtenaw County)
Population: 6,162
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $106,322
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 55.8%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 1.15
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Detroit, MI: 49 miles E
Ann Arbor, MI: 12 miles SSE
Lansing, MI: 59 miles NW
16. Best Places to Live in Michigan (2012) – Ada Township, MI (Kent County)
Population: 11,957
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $121,701
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 55.3%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 5.32
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Grand Rapids, MI: 10 miles W
Kalamazoo, MI: 62 miles S
Lansing, MI: 60 miles ESE
17. Best Places to Live in Michigan (2012) – West Bloomfield Charter Township, MI (Oakland County)
Population: 64,073
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $109,109
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 55.8%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 3.08
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Detroit, MI: 28 miles SE
Ann Arbor, MI: 38 miles SW
Lansing, MI: 72 miles WNW
18. Best Places to Live in Michigan (2012) – Northville Charter Township, MI (Wayne County)
Population: 24,846
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $110,841
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 55.0%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 3.64
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Detroit, MI: 27 miles ESE
Ann Arbor, MI: 22 miles SW
Lansing, MI: 73 miles WNW
19. Best Places to Live in Michigan (2012) – Cascade Charter Township, MI (Kent County)
Population: 16,800
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $104,992
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 55.8%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 3.45
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Grand Rapids, MI: 11 miles NW
Kalamazoo, MI: 53 miles S
Lansing, MI: 57 miles S
20. Best Places to Live in Michigan (2012) – Larkin Charter Township, MI (Midland County)
Population: 4,845
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $107,470
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 46.9%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 2.9
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Flint, MI: 69 miles SSE
Saginaw, MI: 31 miles SSE
Lansing, MI: 93 miles SSW
*In some cases, municipalities either do not report their crime statistics to the FBI or they contract for services with a county law enforcement agency or the state police. For those towns, crime rates are extrapolated from state, county, or contiguous municipality data.
Source(s):
“All Cities in Michigan,” City-Data.com
“American Community Survey,” U.S. Census Bureau
“American Fact Finder,” U.S. Census Bureau
“Michigan,” citymelt.com
“Michigan Demographics – Crime Statistics,” CLRsearch.com
Uniform Crime Reports – Michigan,” Federal Bureau of Investigation
