CountyScore

Missaukee County

Michigan · MI

#11 in Michigan
72.7
County Score

County Report Card

About Missaukee County, Michigan

Missaukee punches above national average

With a composite score of 71.1, Missaukee County ranks well above the national median of 50.0, placing it in the upper tier of American counties for livability. This 42% advantage over the national baseline reflects strong performance in affordability and tax-friendly policies.

Outperforming Michigan's typical county

Missaukee's 71.1 score exceeds Michigan's state average of 68.7, ranking it solidly among the better-performing counties statewide. The county's above-average standing reflects competitive advantages in cost of living and tax burden.

Affordability and tax relief shine here

Missaukee excels in cost of living with a score of 80.1, supported by median home values of $163,700 and rent averaging just $838 monthly. The county's effective tax rate of 0.977% is among Michigan's lowest, earning a tax score of 74.8.

Income growth lags behind housing deals

The county's income score of 23.8 reflects a median household income of just $61,868, considerably below state and national averages. Data on safety, health, schools, and environmental quality remain unavailable, limiting a full livability picture.

Perfect for budget-conscious families and retirees

Missaukee suits people prioritizing low taxes and affordable housing over high incomes or urban amenities. Young families, early retirees, and remote workers earning solid salaries elsewhere will find strong value here.

Score breakdown

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

Tax74.8Cost80.1SafetyComing SoonHealth71.8SchoolsComing SoonIncome23.8Risk88.9WaterComing Soon
🏛74.8
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠80.1
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼23.8
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤71.8
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡88.9
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Missaukee County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

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Yuma County
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Median income: $60,051
Schley County
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Median income: $59,647
Wheeler County
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Median income: $45,262

Deep Dives

Missaukee County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Missaukee County

via TaxByCounty

Missaukee's taxes run well below national average

At 0.977%, Missaukee's effective tax rate sits significantly lower than the national median of 1.099%, placing the county in the bottom 30% nationally. The median property tax of $1,600 annually is roughly 40% less than the national median of $2,690, reflecting both lower home values and a lighter tax burden overall.

Among Michigan's lowest tax counties

Missaukee ranks in the bottom tier statewide, with an effective rate of 0.977% compared to Michigan's average of 1.166%. This 16% discount relative to the state average means Missaukee homeowners keep more of their property's value free from taxation.

Lower taxes than rural peers

Montmorency County (0.922%) is the only nearby county with a lower rate, but Missaukee still beats Montcalm (1.075%) and Oceana (1.143%). Among this cluster of northern Michigan counties, Missaukee offers moderate tax relief without being the absolute cheapest option.

What $163,700 home costs annually

A homeowner with the median-valued property in Missaukee pays roughly $1,600 in annual property taxes. With mortgage-related assessments included, that figure rises to approximately $1,798—still well below the national norm.

Verify your assessment is fair

Many Michigan homeowners discover their properties are overassessed relative to market value. Missaukee residents can file an appeal with the county assessor's office if they believe their property valuation doesn't match recent comparable sales.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Missaukee County

via CostByCounty

Missaukee's affordability mirrors the nation

Residents spend 16.3% of household income on rent, matching the national trend exactly despite earning $12,887 less than the U.S. median. This alignment suggests Missaukee's housing costs scale proportionally with local wages, making it neither a bargain nor a burden compared to the broader American landscape.

Right in Michigan's sweet spot

Missaukee's 16.3% rent-to-income ratio ties the state average, placing it squarely in Michigan's affordability middle ground. Among Michigan's 83 counties, this positioning means Missaukee offers typical housing costs for the state without standing out as particularly expensive or cheap.

Competitive with nearby counties

Missaukee's $838 monthly rent sits between neighboring Montcalm County ($867) and Montmorency County ($811), offering a middle option for renters considering the region. Homebuyers here pay $868 monthly, outpacing Montmorency but trailing Montcalm's $908, giving prospective owners choices across a tight range.

Housing takes one-sixth of income

With median rent at $838 and homeownership costs at $868, Missaukee residents allocate roughly equal amounts whether renting or buying. At a $61,868 median household income, renters and owners each dedicate about 16% of earnings to housing, leaving substantial income for other needs.

A balanced choice for Michigan movers

If you're relocating within Michigan and want predictable housing costs, Missaukee offers stable affordability aligned with state norms—neither stretching your budget nor offering exceptional savings. Compare this 16.3% rent-to-income ratio to your current situation to see if Missaukee's balance fits your financial goals.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Missaukee County

via IncomeByCounty

Missaukee lags behind national income

Missaukee County's median household income of $61,868 falls about $12,900 below the national median of $74,755. This places the county in the lower-middle income bracket nationally, suggesting residents earn roughly 17% less than their typical American counterpart.

Below Michigan's county average income

At $61,868, Missaukee's median household income sits about $2,400 below Michigan's county average of $64,304. The county ranks in the lower half of Michigan's 83 counties by household income.

Comparable to nearby rural counties

Missaukee's median income of $61,868 closely mirrors Newaygo County ($61,931) and Montcalm County ($64,892) in the region. However, Monroe County to the south earns notably more at $75,272, while Montmorency County to the north lags further behind at $47,803.

Housing costs are manageable here

Missaukee's rent-to-income ratio of 16.3% is well below the 30% affordability threshold, meaning housing remains accessible on typical county incomes. With a median home value of $163,700, homeownership remains within reach for many households earning the county median.

Build savings with budget-friendly housing

Because housing costs consume only 16% of income in Missaukee, residents have room to save and invest the difference. Starting a retirement account or building an emergency fund becomes more achievable when housing doesn't strain your paycheck.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Missaukee County

via HealthByCounty

Missaukee slightly outlives the nation

At 76.7 years, Missaukee County's life expectancy edges above the U.S. average of 76.4 years, a modest but meaningful advantage. However, 17.9% of residents report poor or fair health, slightly below the national average of 18%, suggesting overall health outcomes are comparable to most American counties.

Above state average, but room to gain

Missaukee's 76.7-year life expectancy outpaces Michigan's 76.3-year state average by four months. The county's 8.1% uninsured rate, however, runs higher than Michigan's 6.4% average, indicating more residents lack insurance coverage than typical for the state.

Healthier than nearby Montmorency

Missaukee residents live 3.1 years longer than those in neighboring Montmorency County (73.6 years), a substantial gap. With 20 primary care providers per 100,000 residents, Missaukee lags behind most comparable Michigan counties, which average around 50 per 100,000.

Primary care access is a challenge

Only 20 primary care providers per 100,000 residents means many Missaukee residents must travel for routine care or wait longer for appointments. The 8.1% uninsured rate means about 1 in 12 people lack coverage, leaving them vulnerable to unexpected medical costs.

Check your insurance options today

If you're among Missaukee's uninsured residents, explore Michigan's marketplace plans or Medicaid eligibility at Healthcare.gov or Michigan's official health insurance portal. Getting covered can mean the difference between preventive care and costly emergency visits.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Missaukee County

via RiskByCounty

Missaukee's natural disaster risk ranks very low

With a composite risk score of 11.10, Missaukee County sits well below the national average and faces substantially lower overall natural disaster exposure than most U.S. counties. This "Very Low" rating reflects relatively modest hazard risks across all major disaster types, from tornadoes to earthquakes.

Among Michigan's safest counties

Missaukee's score of 11.10 ranks it as one of the lowest-risk counties in Michigan, where the state average composite risk is 49.56. This means residents face roughly one-quarter of the typical natural disaster risk compared to other Michigan communities.

Safer than surrounding counties

Missaukee's 11.10 score outperforms neighboring Montcalm County (56.87) and Newaygo County (47.07), making it one of the more protected areas in west-central Michigan. Only Montmorency County (15.87) nearby presents a comparably low risk profile.

Wildfire and flood are the primary concerns

Wildfire risk ranks highest at 35.15, followed by tornado risk at 25.19—both still well below state and national averages. Flood risk of 21.95 and earthquake risk of 10.18 present minimal threat to the county's residents.

Homeowners insurance protects against limited threats

While Missaukee County faces low overall disaster risk, standard homeowners policies should cover the modest wildfire and tornado exposure. Residents in flood-prone areas should verify whether flood insurance is included, as standard policies typically exclude flood damage.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

🏛Property Tax🏠Cost of Living💼Income & Jobs🛡Safety❤Health🎓Schools⚡Disaster Risk💧Water Quality

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