countyscore

Best Counties for Retirement in Michigan 2026

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

Top 5 Retirement Counties in Michigan

1Presque Isle County
71.1
baseline 70.3
2Keweenaw County
69.1
baseline 70.6
3Leelanau County
66.3
baseline 60.9
4Montmorency County
66.2
baseline 56.6
5Ontonagon County
65.6
baseline 63.6

All 83 Retirement-Ranked Counties in Michigan

RankCountyCounty Fit Scorebaseline CountyScoreDelta
1Presque Isle County, MI71.170.3+0.8
2Keweenaw County, MI69.170.6-1.5
3Leelanau County, MI66.360.9+5.4
4Montmorency County, MI66.256.6+9.6
5Ontonagon County, MI65.663.6+2
6Alger County, MI65.164.7+0.4
7Dickinson County, MI64.658.8+5.8
8Houghton County, MI62.554+8.5
9Alcona County, MI62.260.9+1.3
10Charlevoix County, MI61.555.9+5.6
11Menominee County, MI61.555.6+5.9
12Antrim County, MI61.255.5+5.7
13Gogebic County, MI6155.8+5.2
14Alpena County, MI60.852.4+8.4
15Emmet County, MI60.155.5+4.6
16Luce County, MI60.153.3+6.8
17Lake County, MI59.855.6+4.2
18Mason County, MI5951.4+7.6
19Oscoda County, MI58.754.3+4.4
20Baraga County, MI58.456.1+2.3
21Arenac County, MI58.152.6+5.5
22Benzie County, MI57.953+4.9
23Crawford County, MI57.949.4+8.5
24Schoolcraft County, MI57.655.8+1.8
25Chippewa County, MI57.152.9+4.2
26Iosco County, MI5750.8+6.2
27Missaukee County, MI56.750+6.7
28Osceola County, MI56.450.3+6.1
29Iron County, MI56.359.5-3.2
30Ionia County, MI56.250.5+5.7
31Grand Traverse County, MI5651.4+4.6
32Huron County, MI5654.8+1.2
33Livingston County, MI55.654.6+1
34Otsego County, MI55.450+5.4
35Midland County, MI55.152.2+2.9
36Cheboygan County, MI54.652.8+1.8
37Sanilac County, MI54.652+2.6
38Delta County, MI54.449.7+4.7
39Newaygo County, MI53.650.4+3.2
40Roscommon County, MI53.547.3+6.2
41Marquette County, MI53.450.8+2.6
42Oceana County, MI52.847.8+5
43Manistee County, MI52.242.3+9.9
44Ottawa County, MI52.252+0.2
45Gladwin County, MI51.949.6+2.3
46Lapeer County, MI51.949.6+2.3
47Barry County, MI51.446.4+5
48Kalkaska County, MI50.845.2+5.6
49Ogemaw County, MI5043.1+6.9
50Mackinac County, MI49.746.7+3
51Gratiot County, MI49.343.3+6
52Tuscola County, MI49.346.6+2.7
53Clare County, MI48.743.4+5.3
54Hillsdale County, MI46.944.5+2.4
55Monroe County, MI46.442.8+3.6
56St. Clair County, MI45.742.4+3.3
57Cass County, MI45.440.7+4.7
58Montcalm County, MI45.338.8+6.5
59Eaton County, MI44.939.5+5.4
60Wexford County, MI44.736.5+8.2
61Oakland County, MI44.543.7+0.8
62Mecosta County, MI44.440.9+3.5
63Shiawassee County, MI4443+1
64Allegan County, MI43.840.6+3.2
65Bay County, MI43.739.1+4.6
66Lenawee County, MI42.740.8+1.9
67Ingham County, MI42.137.9+4.2
68Van Buren County, MI41.938.1+3.8
69Branch County, MI4137+4
70Clinton County, MI4133.7+7.3
71St. Joseph County, MI40.238.1+2.1
72Isabella County, MI39.134.9+4.2
73Washtenaw County, MI39.138+1.1
74Kent County, MI38.636.7+1.9
75Muskegon County, MI38.633.7+4.9
76Berrien County, MI37.132.9+4.2
77Jackson County, MI3733.2+3.8
78Macomb County, MI3737.2-0.2
79Kalamazoo County, MI35.730.9+4.8
80Saginaw County, MI34.732+2.7
81Genesee County, MI33.931+2.9
82Calhoun County, MI30.929+1.9
83Wayne County, MI26.725.4+1.3

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best county for retirement in Michigan?

Based on the Retiree lens, Presque Isle County ranks as the top retirement county in Michigan with a County Fit Score of 71.1. The baseline CountyScore remains visible for context.

How many counties in Michigan are ranked for retirement?

We rank 83 counties in Michigan with the Retiree lens, using independent importance values for health, safety, taxes, cost, disaster risk, water, and weather.

Also Browse Michigan Counties For

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Retirement Rankings by State

AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming

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