Ranked from NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals
Driest Counties in Michigan
The least rainfall in the country. Dry is easier on a building than wet, but it moves the cost somewhere else: irrigation, foundation movement in shrink-swell soils, and in the driest counties the price and reliability of water itself. Figures are NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals from the weather station nearest each county seat, so they describe a thirty-year average rather than any single year.
Where does yours land?
Every county in America is somewhere on this scale, including the one you live in.
Michigan ranked
| # | County | Annual rainfall | FEMA risk rating | Median home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dickinson County | 20.8" | Relatively Low | $130,300 |
| 2 | Menominee County | 28.8" | Relatively Low | $142,700 |
| 3 | Grand Traverse County | 29.1" | Relatively Low | $296,200 |
| 4 | Leelanau County | 29.1" | Relatively Low | $406,900 |
| 5 | Alcona County | 29.1" | Very Low | $157,500 |
| 6 | Oakland County | 29.2" | Relatively High | $320,400 |
| 7 | Otsego County | 29.5" | Very Low | $196,500 |
| 8 | Oscoda County | 29.6" | Very Low | $126,000 |
| 9 | Roscommon County | 29.6" | Relatively Low | $148,000 |
| 10 | Washtenaw County | 29.8" | Relatively Moderate | $353,000 |
| 11 | Lenawee County | 29.9" | Relatively Low | $181,100 |
| 12 | Charlevoix County | 30.0" | Very Low | $242,800 |
| 13 | Cheboygan County | 30.0" | Relatively Low | $175,200 |
| 14 | Mackinac County | 30.0" | Very Low | $165,600 |
| 15 | Huron County | 30.4" | Relatively Low | $141,300 |
| 16 | Sanilac County | 30.4" | Relatively Low | $162,200 |
| 17 | Arenac County | 30.7" | Very Low | $129,000 |
| 18 | Delta County | 31.3" | Relatively Low | $146,800 |
| 19 | Iron County | 31.4" | Relatively Low | $101,500 |
| 20 | Calhoun County | 31.5" | Relatively Low | $151,500 |
| 21 | Alger County | 31.7" | Very Low | $165,700 |
| 22 | Luce County | 31.7" | Very Low | $110,400 |
| 23 | Lapeer County | 31.9" | Relatively Low | $229,100 |
| 24 | Alpena County | 31.9" | Very Low | $137,800 |
| 25 | Presque Isle County | 31.9" | Very Low | $135,200 |
| 26 | Montmorency County | 32.0" | Very Low | $142,000 |
| 27 | Genesee County | 32.0" | Relatively Moderate | $172,900 |
| 28 | Bay County | 32.1" | Relatively Low | $135,100 |
| 29 | Midland County | 32.1" | Relatively Low | $184,300 |
| 30 | Saginaw County | 32.1" | Relatively Moderate | $139,400 |
| 31 | Jackson County | 32.2" | Relatively Low | $182,900 |
| 32 | Iosco County | 32.3" | Very Low | $122,900 |
| 33 | Antrim County | 32.8" | Very Low | $222,500 |
| 34 | Ontonagon County | 32.9" | Very Low | $101,000 |
| 35 | Livingston County | 33.1" | Relatively Low | $331,100 |
| 36 | Emmet County | 33.2" | Very Low | $275,300 |
| 37 | Kalamazoo County | 33.2" | Relatively Moderate | $227,500 |
| 38 | Crawford County | 33.2" | Very Low | $149,900 |
| 39 | Schoolcraft County | 33.3" | Very Low | $123,500 |
| 40 | Missaukee County | 33.4" | Very Low | $163,700 |
| 41 | Ogemaw County | 33.6" | Very Low | $138,600 |
| 42 | Kalkaska County | 33.7" | Very Low | $174,300 |
| 43 | Clinton County | 34.0" | Relatively Low | $243,700 |
| 44 | Clare County | 34.0" | Relatively Low | $117,400 |
| 45 | Gladwin County | 34.0" | Very Low | $153,200 |
| 46 | Tuscola County | 34.3" | Relatively Low | $136,900 |
| 47 | Ingham County | 34.3" | Relatively Moderate | $187,500 |
| 48 | Monroe County | 34.3" | Relatively Moderate | $215,700 |
| 49 | Wayne County | 34.3" | Relatively High | $170,200 |
| 50 | Benzie County | 34.3" | Very Low | $254,400 |
| 51 | Shiawassee County | 34.5" | Relatively Low | $164,600 |
| 52 | Gratiot County | 34.5" | Relatively Low | $136,800 |
| 53 | Macomb County | 35.0" | Relatively High | $231,400 |
| 54 | Van Buren County | 35.0" | Relatively Low | $189,900 |
| 55 | Lake County | 35.2" | Very Low | $122,900 |
| 56 | Osceola County | 35.2" | Very Low | $139,600 |
| 57 | Wexford County | 35.2" | Very Low | $160,300 |
| 58 | Muskegon County | 35.2" | Relatively Low | $180,900 |
| 59 | Isabella County | 35.5" | Relatively Low | $165,100 |
| 60 | Chippewa County | 35.5" | Very Low | $153,100 |
| 61 | Eaton County | 35.8" | Relatively Low | $206,700 |
| 62 | St. Clair County | 35.9" | Relatively Moderate | $213,900 |
| 63 | Ionia County | 35.9" | Relatively Low | $189,400 |
| 64 | Manistee County | 36.3" | Very Low | $166,600 |
| 65 | Mason County | 36.3" | Very Low | $199,300 |
| 66 | Montcalm County | 36.6" | Relatively Low | $172,100 |
| 67 | Keweenaw County | 36.7" | Very Low | $181,400 |
| 68 | Marquette County | 36.7" | Relatively Low | $202,000 |
| 69 | Allegan County | 37.2" | Relatively Low | $247,000 |
| 70 | Newaygo County | 37.5" | Relatively Low | $178,300 |
| 71 | Ottawa County | 37.6" | Relatively Moderate | $291,200 |
| 72 | Mecosta County | 37.9" | Relatively Low | $169,900 |
| 73 | Baraga County | 38.3" | Very Low | $124,400 |
| 74 | Houghton County | 38.3" | Very Low | $140,300 |
| 75 | Oceana County | 38.9" | Very Low | $167,600 |
| 76 | Branch County | 39.1" | Relatively Low | $147,500 |
| 77 | Berrien County | 39.2" | Relatively Moderate | $211,400 |
| 78 | Kent County | 39.4" | Relatively Moderate | $265,700 |
| 79 | Hillsdale County | 39.5" | Relatively Low | $170,500 |
| 80 | Barry County | 39.6" | Relatively Low | $243,700 |
| 81 | St. Joseph County | 39.7" | Relatively Low | $167,600 |
| 82 | Cass County | 41.7" | Relatively Low | $205,200 |
| 83 | Gogebic County | 42.6" | Very Low | $99,700 |
Every figure is modelled on the county's own median home with 20% down at 7.03%. Property tax and electricity are county and state specific; homeowners insurance uses the NAIC average premium for that state, which ranges from 0.16% of home value in Hawaii to 1.16% in Oklahoma. Maintenance and water are national estimates. Full methodology.
Nationwide
Driest Counties across all 3,133 US counties · Every county in Michigan