Top 8 Cities in Michigan to Buy a New Home

Jackson

Housing cost to income ratio: 2.10
Average childcare cost to income ratio: 1.74%
Violent crime index: 55.5
Nonviolent crime index: 63.2
Cost of living index: 80.6

Jackson is a small community of around 30,000. You’ll find warm summers and cold winters with 34 inches of rain, 37 inches of snow, and 174 sunny days per year to be exact. With the third-lowest housing cost to income ratio on this list, there are many prominent neighborhoods like Spring Arbor and Liberty Township to raise a family. In Jackson, you can visit parks like Horace Blackman Park, Bloomfield Park, and William Nixon Memorial Park. Cascade Park is a great open space for family fun and pups. If you visit at night, be sure to catch the waterfall light show at The Cascades. The cost of admission is around $5 per person. The up-and-coming town leans conservative, perhaps because this is recognized as the birthplace of the Republican Party. You can visit the designated site called Under the Oaks, which is a humble, interesting slice of American history. 

Kalamazoo-Battle Creek

Housing cost to income ratio: 2.71
Average childcare cost to income ratio: 1.56%
Violent crime index: 57.9
Nonviolent crime index: 55.5
Cost of living index: 76.5

Kalamazoo is a friendly town in the southwest region of Michigan. The town has approximately 76,000 residents, 28 hospitals, and 20 pet-friendly hotels. Kalamazoo College, also called ‘K-Zoo’, offers a scholarship program called the Kalamazoo Promise, which grants eligible public-school graduates up to 100 percent of their in-state college tuition costs. This is an amazing opportunity for those looking to start a family in Kalamazoo. The downtown area is surrounded by historic and eclectic neighborhoods and a vibrant microbrewery scene. Popular suburbs include Oakland-Winchell, Hill N’ Brook, and Westnedge Hill. Top-rated activities are the Air Zoo Aerospace & Science Museum, the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, and the Kalamazoo Valley Museum. As a medium-sized city, the town is moderately liberal in its views. 

Drive 30 minutes east of Kalamazoo and you’ll find the smaller city of Battle Creek. The weather here is like its western neighbor: It receives 33 inches of rain per year, 46 inches of snow, and 175 days of sunshine. Both Kalamazoo and Battle Creek offer plenty of free fun family activities, hiking trails, museums, and many public parks. In Kalamazoo, you’ll have a lovely sense of community that is relaxed and reassuring.

Benton Harbor

Housing cost to income ratio: 2.89
Average childcare cost to income ratio: 2.97%
Violent crime index: 95.2
Nonviolent crime index: 68.7
Cost of living index: 71.9

A town like no other, Benton Harbor is on the Saint Joseph River with easy access to the beach and waterfront. The city receives 38 inches of rain, 79 inches of snow, and 175 sunny days per year. Benton Harbor has just under 10,000 residents, 22 hospitals, and 13 pet-friendly hotels. The top-rated things to do in the town are all kid-friendly and geared towards the outdoors. You can visit the soft sands of Silver Beach County Park, tee off at the beautiful courses of Harbor Shores Golf Club, or check out White Pine’s Winery Tasting Room. Popular suburbs include St. Joseph, Berrien Springs, and Royalton Township – the latter has top-rated schools. Although Benton Harbor and St. Joseph are known as the ‘twin cities’, Benton Harbor is somewhat liberal while St. Joseph leans conservative. 

Ludington

Housing cost to income ratio: 4.07
Average childcare cost to income ratio: 1.44%
Violent crime index: 24.5
Nonviolent crime index: 32.6
Cost of living index: 76.6

With ​​163 sunny days per year, Ludington is a beautiful beach town that attracts visitors from all over the world every summer. During the fall and winter, Ludington takes a breather and slips back into a quaint, small town of around 8,000. The town rests right on gorgeous Lake Michigan, making outdoor recreation a no-brainer. Go fishing at Pere Marquette River, take your pup to Buttersville Park, or squish sand between your toes at Stearns Park. There are also plenty of retail shops and places to eat. With a great public school system, and neighborhoods like Pere Marquette Charter Township, Hamlin Township, and Amber Township – Ludington is a delightful place to raise a family. 

Grand Rapids

Housing cost to income ratio: 4.31
Average childcare cost to income ratio: 1.28%
Violent crime index: 36.7
Nonviolent crime index: 36.7
Cost of living index: 89.5

Grand Rapids, the second-largest city in Michigan, is a charming, diverse place bustling with a multitude of young professionals and activities. You’re spoiled for choice in the F&B scene, close to beaches and the parks are extremely dog friendly. The city places a large emphasis on the arts – popular attractions include the Grand Rapids Museum of Fine Art and Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture. Grand Rapids, nicknamed River City, has a family feel paired with a young and progressive aspect, making the town’s political views somewhat liberal. The city is small enough for breezy driving but big enough that there’s usually something happening (check out Rosa Parks Circle!). 

Lansing

Housing cost to income ratio: 4.97
Average childcare cost to income ratio: 1.28%
Violent crime index: 55.7
Nonviolent crime index: 25.7
Cost of living index: 76.6

The capital of Michigan, Lansing is a clean and moderately liberal city served by 23 hospitals. This city is diverse and home to many types of people, many of whom attend Michigan State University, a top school offering students an outstanding education. While some parts of the city may be considered a college town, there are also many areas that are family-friendly. Observe beautiful peacocks at Potter Park Zoo, enjoy free admission to Michigan History Center on Sundays, or hike the trails at Fenner Nature Center. Lansing is a relatively affordable city with plenty of options for food and entertainment. Music lovers will be delighted to know the town has an active arts and music scene with various music summer festivals.

Ann Arbor

Housing cost to income ratio: 7.23
Average childcare cost to income ratio: 1.28%
Violent crime index: 15.0
Nonviolent crime index: 29.4
Cost of living index: 110.7

Located about 45 miles west of Detroit is Ann Arbor, which was ranked the sixth-best city to live in America by Niche.com in 2022. The city of 120,000 residents has world-class research facilities, innovative startups, and large corporations. With the University of Michigan in the heart of the city, the atmosphere is lively, and the city’s political views are strongly liberal. The university was ranked the number one by value on Money’s 2022 list of ‘Best Colleges in America’. The public school system is also highly rated with many International Baccalaureate (IB) options. Foodies will love this city. Here, you’ll find restaurants for every budget, taste, and cuisine – along with excellent gourmet shops and a year-round farmer’s market. The city is walkable: You can pop into the University of Michigan Museum of Art for free, explore the grounds of Matthaei Botanical Gardens & Nichols Arboretum, or visit County Farm Park with the kiddos. As a large city, ‘Tree Town’ is very pet friendly with more than 40 verified pet-friendly hotels. 

Traverse City

Housing cost to income ratio: 51.78
Average childcare cost to income ratio: 9.21%
Violent crime index: 26.5
Nonviolent crime index: 30.4
Cost of living index: 98.2

Traverse is a safe, picturesque community with endless activities to keep you busy year-round. You can enjoy all four seasons here with 33 inches of rain, 118 inches of snow, and 163 sunny days per year. The small lake town of around 15,500 has nine hospitals and politically leans conservative. You can explore recreation trails, parks, campgrounds, rivers, lakes, and beaches during any season. Traverse City is also known as the Cherry Capital of the World where a film festival occurs every July; the city was featured by National Geographic as one of America’s best adventure towns. In addition to boundless opportunities, you’ll discover the city’s emphasis on academics; it has many public and private schools for your children to attend. Perfect for nature lovers and families, Traverse may be your next place to permanently call home.