Best Counties for Families in Michigan 2026

83 counties ranked with the Family lens of the County Fit Score.

Top 5 Family Counties in Michigan

1Keweenaw County

All 83 Family-Ranked Counties in Michigan

Rank	County	County Fit Score	baseline CountyScore	Delta
1	Keweenaw County, MI	76	70.6	+5.4
2	Presque Isle County, MI	71.8	70.3	+1.5
3	Alger County, MI	67.5	64.7	+2.8
4	Ontonagon County, MI	63.7	63.6	+0.1
5	Iron County, MI	62.6	59.5	+3.1
6	Leelanau County, MI	61.8	60.9	+0.9
7	Alcona County, MI	61.2	60.9	+0.3
8	Livingston County, MI	60.1	54.6	+5.5
9	Emmet County, MI	57.5	55.5	+2
10	Dickinson County, MI	57.3	58.8	-1.5
11	Baraga County, MI	56.8	56.1	+0.7
12	Charlevoix County, MI	56.6	55.9	+0.7
13	Ottawa County, MI	56.6	52	+4.6
14	Midland County, MI	56.1	52.2	+3.9
15	Antrim County, MI	55.4	55.5	-0.1
16	Lake County, MI	55.1	55.6	-0.5
17	Huron County, MI	54.9	54.8	+0.1
18	Schoolcraft County, MI	54.2	55.8	-1.6
19	Benzie County, MI	54	53	+1
20	Gogebic County, MI	53.7	55.8	-2.1
21	Chippewa County, MI	53	52.9	+0.1
22	Grand Traverse County, MI	51.9	51.4	+0.5
23	Menominee County, MI	51.6	55.6	-4
24	Houghton County, MI	51.1	54	-2.9
25	Lapeer County, MI	51.1	49.6	+1.5
26	Marquette County, MI	51	50.8	+0.2
27	Newaygo County, MI	51	50.4	+0.6
28	Cheboygan County, MI	50.1	52.8	-2.7
29	Ionia County, MI	50	50.5	-0.5
30	Oscoda County, MI	49.9	54.3	-4.4
31	Arenac County, MI	49.8	52.6	-2.8
32	Mason County, MI	49.3	51.4	-2.1
33	Sanilac County, MI	49.3	52	-2.7
34	Montmorency County, MI	48.8	56.6	-7.8
35	Otsego County, MI	48.8	50	-1.2
36	Gladwin County, MI	48.2	49.6	-1.4
37	Oakland County, MI	48	43.7	+4.3
38	Luce County, MI	47.9	53.3	-5.4
39	Missaukee County, MI	47.8	50	-2.2
40	Barry County, MI	47.5	46.4	+1.1
41	Osceola County, MI	46.9	50.3	-3.4
42	Delta County, MI	46.6	49.7	-3.1
43	Alpena County, MI	45.8	52.4	-6.6
44	Mackinac County, MI	45.6	46.7	-1.1
45	Crawford County, MI	45.2	49.4	-4.2
46	Shiawassee County, MI	45.1	43	+2.1
47	Iosco County, MI	44.6	50.8	-6.2
48	Tuscola County, MI	44.4	46.6	-2.2
49	Oceana County, MI	43.5	47.8	-4.3
50	Hillsdale County, MI	43	44.5	-1.5
51	Monroe County, MI	42.8	42.8	0
52	Lenawee County, MI	42.6	40.8	+1.8
53	Washtenaw County, MI	42.4	38	+4.4
54	St. Clair County, MI	42.1	42.4	-0.3
55	Kalkaska County, MI	41.4	45.2	-3.8
56	Allegan County, MI	41	40.6	+0.4
57	Roscommon County, MI	40.8	47.3	-6.5
58	Gratiot County, MI	40.7	43.3	-2.6
59	Macomb County, MI	40.2	37.2	+3
60	Eaton County, MI	39.8	39.5	+0.3
61	Ingham County, MI	38.8	37.9	+0.9
62	Cass County, MI	38.6	40.7	-2.1
63	Mecosta County, MI	38.1	40.9	-2.8
64	Clare County, MI	37.4	43.4	-6
65	Kent County, MI	37.2	36.7	+0.5
66	Ogemaw County, MI	37	43.1	-6.1
67	Van Buren County, MI	36.9	38.1	-1.2
68	Bay County, MI	36.4	39.1	-2.7
69	St. Joseph County, MI	36	38.1	-2.1
70	Branch County, MI	34.9	37	-2.1
71	Manistee County, MI	34.9	42.3	-7.4
72	Montcalm County, MI	34.1	38.8	-4.7
73	Isabella County, MI	32.6	34.9	-2.3
74	Clinton County, MI	32.3	33.7	-1.4
75	Wexford County, MI	31.4	36.5	-5.1
76	Jackson County, MI	30.8	33.2	-2.4
77	Muskegon County, MI	30.3	33.7	-3.4
78	Kalamazoo County, MI	29.5	30.9	-1.4
79	Saginaw County, MI	29.5	32	-2.5
80	Berrien County, MI	29.4	32.9	-3.5
81	Genesee County, MI	29.4	31	-1.6
82	Calhoun County, MI	28	29	-1
83	Wayne County, MI	24.3	25.4	-1.1

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best county for families in Michigan?

Based on the Family lens, Keweenaw County ranks as the top family county in Michigan with a County Fit Score of 76. The baseline CountyScore remains visible for context.

How many counties in Michigan are ranked for families?

We rank 83 counties in Michigan with the Family lens, using independent importance values for schools, safety, affordability, health, income, taxes, and disaster risk.

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Data: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS, 2019-2023 ACS — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.