Best Counties in Michigan — 2026 Rankings
83 of 83 counties scored across 12 dimensions
83
83 scored
47/100
composite score
71.6/100
25.6—71.6
lowest to highest
State Overview
Understanding County Scores in Michigan
Michigan Trails the National Median Slightly
Michigan earns an average composite livability score of 47.1, placing it just behind the national median of 50.0. All 83 counties in the state are ranked, revealing a broad spectrum of quality of life across the peninsula.
A Strong Focus on Resident Health
The Great Lakes State excels in public health, boasting a high health dimension score of 69.4. Additionally, a risk score of 50.5 indicates that Michigan provides a stable environment for residents when compared to more hazard-prone states.
Tax Burdens and Moderate Incomes
The state's tax score of 29.2 is its primary weakness, suggesting a higher tax burden than many national peers. This fiscal pressure is compounded by an income score of 48.1, which falls slightly below the national middle ground.
Northern Counties Lead the Pack
Keweenaw County is the state's top performer with a score of 71.6, driven by exceptional affordability. Presque Isle and Alger counties follow closely, both leveraging low cost-of-living scores to maintain high overall livability.
Ideal for Health-Conscious Nature Lovers
Michigan is a premier choice for those prioritizing health and outdoor lifestyle, particularly in its high-scoring northern counties. Families seeking affordable housing will find great value here, provided they can navigate the state's higher tax structure.
All County Rankings in Michigan
Search, sort, and filter all 83 ranked counties
Showing 1–25 of 83 counties
| Rank | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Keweenaw County | 71.6 | 42.5 | 80.4 | 22.6 | 67.3 | 93 | 99.3 | 99.4 | 6.1 | 51.2 | 66.7 | ||
| 2 | Presque Isle County | 70.1 | 36.5 | 84 | 29.5 | 86 | 72.8 | 73.5 | 78.3 | 86 | 48.3 | 53.6 | 59.9 | |
| 3 | Alger County | 64.3 | 38.2 | 71.7 | 37.2 | 61.4 | 79.4 | 78.3 | 90.4 | 44.9 | 49.4 | 67.6 | 60 | |
| 4 | Ontonagon County | 63.5 | 24 | 92.7 | 18.1 | 80.7 | 52 | 57.3 | 95.8 | 86 | 48.7 | 66.9 | 60.1 | |
| 5 | Alcona County | 62.1 | 49.8 | 68.5 | 21.8 | 63.9 | 58.4 | 72.5 | 82.3 | 86 | 50.4 | 50.7 | 50.8 | |
| 6 | Leelanau County | 60.9 | 63.1 | 16.4 | 92.7 | 82.3 | 91.3 | 47 | 51.7 | 86 | 54.8 | 55.2 | 73 | |
| 7 | Iron County | 60.4 | 15.7 | 87.4 | 22 | 72.5 | 54.6 | 73.2 | 45 | 86 | 48.5 | 67.2 | 50.1 | |
| 8 | Dickinson County | 58.2 | 14.2 | 69.2 | 44.9 | 89.8 | 83 | 26.5 | 40.7 | 86 | 47.5 | 59.4 | 49.3 | |
| 9 | Menominee County | 56 | 35.9 | 82.3 | 27 | 68.5 | 75.4 | 22.3 | 55.6 | 27.2 | 48.3 | 71.1 | 53.7 | |
| 10 | Baraga County | 55.7 | 19.3 | 82.3 | 25.3 | 67.3 | 61.7 | 46 | 89.4 | 12.9 | 49.8 | 66.9 | 57.5 | |
| 11 | Schoolcraft County | 55.6 | 31.8 | 83.8 | 32.3 | 31.6 | 57.6 | 64.4 | 93.3 | 86 | 51.6 | 67.6 | 53.8 | |
| 12 | Gogebic County | 55.5 | 13.1 | 86.8 | 13.8 | 67.8 | 71 | 34 | 74.4 | 56.6 | 49.9 | 67 | 60.1 | |
| 13 | Huron County | 55.5 | 23.8 | 74.1 | 30.2 | 63.6 | 69.1 | 49.7 | 41 | 60.4 | 54.6 | 75.4 | 58.1 | |
| 14 | Emmet County | 55.3 | 44.9 | 25.4 | 75 | 74.2 | 87.2 | 44.2 | 61.9 | 40.3 | 51.4 | 51.4 | 61.6 | |
| 15 | Charlevoix County | 55.2 | 38.7 | 31.3 | 79.3 | 66.1 | 79.3 | 45.5 | 77.7 | 86 | 51 | 53.8 | 64.5 | |
| 16 | Lake County | 55.2 | 28.2 | 56.8 | 13.8 | 89.1 | 47.3 | 45 | 78 | 86 | 53.3 | |||
| 17 | Antrim County | 54.7 | 44.3 | 37 | 69.9 | 61.7 | 86.1 | 41 | 74.3 | 40.8 | 52.8 | 55.1 | 62.3 | |
| 18 | Houghton County | 54.6 | 22.3 | 66.6 | 29 | 70.3 | 80.3 | 25.8 | 75.7 | 65.3 | 49.9 | 67 | 53.5 | |
| 19 | Livingston County | 54.6 | 39 | 11.3 | 95.7 | 76.4 | 95.8 | 55.4 | 26.5 | 37.1 | 53.8 | 64.9 | 68.8 | |
| 20 | Oscoda County | 54.3 | 42.6 | 80.8 | 15.9 | 58.5 | 41 | 37.9 | 84.9 | 86 | 48.4 | 66 | 50.2 | |
| 21 | Benzie County | 52.8 | 50.2 | 29.8 | 72.9 | 64.7 | 78 | 38.7 | 77.3 | 14.7 | 57.5 | 78 | ||
| 22 | Chippewa County | 52.8 | 21.3 | 59.4 | 41 | 70.3 | 63.6 | 37.9 | 73.7 | 63 | 50.6 | 67.3 | 59.6 | |
| 23 | Montmorency County | 52.5 | 43.6 | 63.8 | 10.8 | 79.2 | 51.5 | 11.4 | 84.2 | 86 | 48.5 | 50.1 | 52.8 | |
| 24 | Midland County | 52.4 | 12.7 | 30.9 | 81 | 83.8 | 90.7 | 37.3 | 28.1 | 51.4 | 53.5 | 63.9 | 59.1 | |
| 25 | Alpena County | 52.2 | 29.2 | 82.1 | 18.3 | 48.7 | 70.9 | 21.3 | 71.7 | 86 | 49.1 | 72.6 | 59.7 |
Keweenaw County
Presque Isle County
Alger County
Ontonagon County
Alcona County
Leelanau County
Iron County
Dickinson County
Menominee County
Baraga County
Schoolcraft County
Gogebic County
Huron County
Emmet County
Charlevoix County
Lake County
Antrim County
Houghton County
Livingston County
Oscoda County
Benzie County
Chippewa County
Montmorency County
Midland County
Alpena County
Frequently Asked Questions about Counties in Michigan
Common questions about county rankings and scores in Michigan.
What is the best county in Michigan?
Keweenaw County is the top-ranked county in Michigan with a CountyScore of 71.6/100. It leads the state across the available scoring dimensions, which include Property Tax, Cost of Living, Income & Jobs, Safety, Health, Schools, Disaster Risk, Water Quality, Weather & Climate, Soil Quality, Lawn Care, Farmers Markets.
How many counties are ranked in Michigan?
Michigan has 83 counties in total. Of those, 83 have been ranked with a composite score based on available data dimensions. The remaining 0 counties do not yet have enough data for a full score.
What factors determine a county's score?
Each county is scored 0–100 across up to eight data dimensions: Property Tax, Cost of Living, Income & Jobs, Safety, Health, Schools, Disaster Risk, and Water Quality. The composite score is a weighted average of whichever dimensions have data. Currently available dimensions are: Property Tax, Cost of Living, Income & Jobs, Safety, Health, Schools, Disaster Risk, Water Quality, Weather & Climate, Soil Quality, Lawn Care, Farmers Markets. Higher scores are always better — a score of 100 represents the best possible performance for that dimension.
What is the average county score in Michigan?
The average composite CountyScore across all ranked counties in Michigan is 47/100. The national average is 50/100, so Michigan counties score 3 points below the national average.
How does Michigan compare to other states?
Michigan's average county score of 47/100 is 3 points below the national average of 50/100. You can compare Michigan counties to counties in any other state using the county detail pages or the CountyScore compare tool.
Explore County Data by Category
Dive deeper into specific dimensions for counties in Michigan.
Best counties in other states
Data: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS, 2019–2023 ACS — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.