Luce County

Michigan · MI

#4 in Michigan
74
County Score

County Report Card

About Luce County, Michigan

Luce County Ranks in the National Top Quarter

Luce County's composite score of 71.8 surpasses the national median of 50.0 by 44%, placing it among America's most livable counties overall. The exceptional performance stems from outstanding housing affordability and reasonable taxes.

Among Michigan's Best Communities

Luce County's 71.8 score significantly outpaces Michigan's state average of 68.7, ranking it as one of the state's most livable counties. The county delivers genuine value across the dimensions measured.

Outstanding Affordability Across Housing

Luce County's cost score of 83.6 reflects the lowest median home value in this group at just $110,400 and rents of only $799 monthly. Combined with a tax score of 73.7 and effective rate of 1.02%, the county offers exceptional living-cost advantage.

Limited Income Opportunity Locally

The income score of 18.9 and median household income of $54,338 indicate that Luce County's economic opportunities lag significantly behind state and national norms. Health, safety, schools, and environmental data remain unavailable for full context.

Best For: Remote Workers and Retirees

Luce County excels for remote professionals and retirees whose income comes from outside the local economy, offering them unmatched affordability. The ultra-low housing costs and minimal taxes stretch every dollar, making it ideal for those prioritizing cost of living over local employment.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax73.7Cost83.6SafetyComing SoonHealth72.2SchoolsComing SoonIncome18.9Risk97.5WaterComing Soon
🏛73.7
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty
🏠83.6
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty
💼18.9
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
72.2
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
97.5
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Deep Dives

Luce County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Luce County

via TaxByCounty

Luce's tax rate runs below state average

Luce County's 1.015% effective tax rate falls modestly below Michigan's state average of 1.166% and slightly above the national median of roughly 0.95%. The median property tax of $1,121 is less than half the national median of $2,690, reflecting Luce's modest median home value of $110,400 in Michigan's remote Upper Peninsula.

Luce ranks among Michigan's most affordable

Among Michigan's 83 counties, Luce County ranks in the lower tier for both effective tax rate (1.015%) and median tax ($1,121). The county's rural, sparsely populated character limits local revenue needs, creating a genuine affordability advantage for homeowners across the board.

Luce taxes heavier than Keweenaw, lighter than most

Luce's 1.015% rate exceeds Keweenaw County's 0.939% but trails most other counties in this comparison, including Lake's 1.150%. Luce remains one of the most affordable tax jurisdictions in Michigan, with a median bill of just $1,121—far below the state median of $2,102.

Median Luce home costs just $1,121 yearly

A property valued at Luce's median of $110,400 carries an annual property tax of approximately $1,121 under the county's 1.015% rate. Mortgaged properties pay about $1,181, while debt-free homes pay closer to $1,052.

Verify Luce assessments in a limited data environment

Luce County's small population and sparse comparable sales can make it harder to challenge assessments, but that also means fewer recent transactions may be driving inflated values. Request your assessment details and any comparable sales used by the assessor—if you've invested in recent improvements or the market has softened, file an appeal.

Cost of Living in Luce County

via CostByCounty

Luce County rents align with national standards

Luce County's 17.6% rent-to-income ratio exactly matches Kent County in this analysis and runs 2.1 percentage points above the national average, despite median household income of $54,338—$20,417 below the US norm. This Upper Peninsula county's tight affordability squeeze reflects constrained local earnings combined with modest rents.

Luce County's low incomes drive affordability challenge

At 17.6%, Luce County's rent-to-income ratio exceeds Michigan's statewide 16.3% average by 1.3 percentage points, with median rent of $799/month running only $74 below the state median. The real issue is the county's low median income of $54,338, which stretches housing costs to uncomfortable levels.

Luce County's modest rents mask income poverty

Luce County's $799 median rent sits between Keweenaw ($679, most affordable) and Lake County ($863), yet its median income of $54,338 rivals only Lake County ($49,680) among Upper Peninsula peers. Unlike Keweenaw, where low incomes pair with lower rents, Luce County's housing costs bite harder relative to earnings.

Homeownership offers modest relief but remains strained

Luce renters pay $799/month (17.6% of income), while homeowners spend $685/month (15.1% of income)—a meaningful difference that favors ownership. With median home values at $110,400, homeownership is theoretically accessible, yet low incomes make even entry-level purchases challenging.

Luce County demands independent income strategy

Luce County's combination of low rents and lower incomes suits only those with external income sources—remote work, retirement, or investment income—to offset limited local job markets. Prospective relocators relying on regional employment should consider this Upper Peninsula county carefully before committing.

Income & Jobs in Luce County

via IncomeByCounty

Luce County significantly trails national average

Luce County's median household income of $54,338 is 27% below the U.S. median of $74,755, placing it among lower-earning American counties. Remote Upper Peninsula geography and limited economic diversity constrain earning opportunities for residents.

Well below Michigan's statewide median

At $54,338, Luce County's median household income falls 15% short of Michigan's state average of $64,304. The county represents one of Michigan's economically challenged regions, with limited job markets and population pressures affecting household earnings.

Competing with other UP lower-income counties

Luce County's $54,338 median income slightly exceeds Lake County ($49,680) but trails Keweenaw County ($53,893) and significantly lags all Lower Peninsula counties surveyed. The county faces economic headwinds typical of remote Upper Peninsula communities.

Housing affordable but income strained

Luce County's 17.6% rent-to-income ratio indicates manageable housing costs, and the median home value of $110,400 is low in absolute terms. However, the lower median income means households have limited discretionary income after covering basic housing and living expenses.

Focus on financial resilience and growth

Luce County residents should prioritize building emergency savings and reducing high-interest debt to improve financial stability. Explore local workforce development programs, skills training, and education opportunities to increase earning potential and long-term economic security.

Health in Luce County

via HealthByCounty

Luce County slightly trails national average

At 76.3 years, Luce County's life expectancy matches Michigan's state average but falls just short of the U.S. average of 76.4 years. With 19.0% reporting poor or fair health, nearly 1 in 5 residents experiences chronic disease.

At state baseline, with health challenges

Luce County's 76.3-year life expectancy exactly matches Michigan's state average, but the 19.0% poor/fair health rate exceeds state trends. This suggests the county's residents manage to live as long as peers while dealing with higher disease burden.

Mid-pack with provider strength

Luce County's 76.3-year life expectancy ties the state average but lags behind healthier counties like Livingston (79.7 years) and Kent (78.5 years). Notably, Luce offers 132 primary care providers per 100,000 residents—the highest in this cohort—suggesting concentrated care capacity.

Uninsured rate equals state average

Luce County's 6.4% uninsured rate matches Michigan's state average exactly, leaving roughly 1 in 15 residents without coverage. Despite high primary care provider density (132 per 100,000), the county maintains 155 mental health providers per 100,000, indicating balanced care availability.

Get insured in Luce County

With 6.4% of residents uninsured and high rates of poor/fair health, coverage is critical for Luce County. Visit Healthcare.gov or contact the Luce County health department to explore Medicaid, marketplace plans, and community health resources.

Disaster Risk in Luce County

via RiskByCounty

Luce County enjoys exceptional safety

With a composite risk score of just 2.58, Luce County ranks as very low risk—among the safest counties in the nation. This remote Upper Peninsula county is sheltered from most major hazard exposures by its geography.

Second-safest county in Michigan

Luce County's composite risk score of 2.58 ranks it as Michigan's second-lowest risk county, trailing only Keweenaw County (0.67). The county faces virtually no tornado, earthquake, or hurricane risk.

Significantly safer than downstate counties

Luce County's risk score of 2.58 vastly exceeds the safety of neighboring Keweenaw County (0.67) but trounces all Lower Peninsula counties like Lake County (22.04). Its Upper Peninsula isolation provides natural protection.

Wildfire and flood are minimal concerns

Luce County's highest risk categories are wildfire (45.36) and flood (15.49), both remaining well below state averages. Tornado risk of 3.69 and earthquake risk of 2.29 are negligible, with zero hurricane risk.

Basic insurance covers your needs

Luce County's exceptionally low risk profile means standard homeowners insurance provides excellent protection without additional riders or specialized policies. Residents benefit from some of Michigan's most affordable insurance rates.

ByCounty Network

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.