Cost to Own
United States › Rankings › Michigan Counties ranked 83 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year

Ranked from ACS 2023 5-Year

Lowest Price-to-Rent Ratios in Michigan

Price-to-rent is the median home value divided by a year of median gross rent, so a ratio of 12 means the house costs about twelve years of rent. Low ratios are where buying is cheapest against the local alternative. It is the one comparison on this site that assumes nothing about mortgage rates, down payment or how long you stay, which is why it travels well between counties. Both figures are Census five-year estimates for the same period, and rent here includes the utilities a tenant pays.

Where does yours land? Every county in America is somewhere on this scale, including the one you live in.

Michigan ranked

#County Price-to-rentMedian homeMedian rent
1 Luce County 11.5 yrs$110,400$799
2 Lake County 11.9 yrs$122,900$863
3 Saginaw County 12.6 yrs$139,400$921
4 Wayne County 13.0 yrs$170,200$1,087
5 Clare County 13.2 yrs$117,400$743
6 Calhoun County 13.5 yrs$151,500$937
7 Branch County 13.7 yrs$147,500$900
8 Bay County 13.9 yrs$135,100$809
9 Ogemaw County 13.9 yrs$138,600$828
10 Gratiot County 14.1 yrs$136,800$808
11 Tuscola County 14.3 yrs$136,900$796
12 Gogebic County 14.4 yrs$99,700$577
13 Arenac County 14.5 yrs$129,000$741
14 Montmorency County 14.6 yrs$142,000$811
15 Dickinson County 14.6 yrs$130,300$744
16 Ontonagon County 14.7 yrs$101,000$571
17 Ingham County 14.8 yrs$187,500$1,058
18 Crawford County 15.1 yrs$149,900$825
19 Osceola County 15.2 yrs$139,600$764
20 Wexford County 15.2 yrs$160,300$877
21 Houghton County 15.2 yrs$140,300$767
22 Genesee County 15.4 yrs$172,900$936
23 Iosco County 15.5 yrs$122,900$659
24 Oscoda County 15.6 yrs$126,000$675
25 Roscommon County 15.6 yrs$148,000$789
26 Lenawee County 15.6 yrs$181,100$965
27 Shiawassee County 15.7 yrs$164,600$876
28 Muskegon County 15.7 yrs$180,900$960
29 Schoolcraft County 15.7 yrs$123,500$654
30 Midland County 15.8 yrs$184,300$974
31 Huron County 15.8 yrs$141,300$743
32 Jackson County 15.9 yrs$182,900$958
33 Isabella County 15.9 yrs$165,100$863
34 Chippewa County 16.1 yrs$153,100$793
35 Missaukee County 16.3 yrs$163,700$838
36 Mecosta County 16.3 yrs$169,900$867
37 Macomb County 16.4 yrs$231,400$1,175
38 Eaton County 16.5 yrs$206,700$1,042
39 Montcalm County 16.5 yrs$172,100$867
40 Iron County 16.6 yrs$101,500$510
41 Sanilac County 16.6 yrs$162,200$814
42 Alcona County 16.6 yrs$157,500$790
43 Newaygo County 16.8 yrs$178,300$882
44 St. Joseph County 16.9 yrs$167,600$825
45 Manistee County 16.9 yrs$166,600$820
46 Alpena County 17.4 yrs$137,800$660
47 Delta County 17.5 yrs$146,800$698
48 Menominee County 17.6 yrs$142,700$675
49 Monroe County 17.7 yrs$215,700$1,017
50 Hillsdale County 17.7 yrs$170,500$801
51 Cheboygan County 17.8 yrs$175,200$822
52 St. Clair County 17.8 yrs$213,900$999
53 Presque Isle County 18.0 yrs$135,200$625
54 Kalamazoo County 18.1 yrs$227,500$1,049
55 Mackinac County 18.1 yrs$165,600$761
56 Oceana County 18.2 yrs$167,600$768
57 Marquette County 18.2 yrs$202,000$923
58 Gladwin County 18.5 yrs$153,200$689
59 Otsego County 18.6 yrs$196,500$880
60 Baraga County 18.6 yrs$124,400$557
61 Van Buren County 18.7 yrs$189,900$845
62 Ionia County 18.8 yrs$189,400$840
63 Kent County 18.8 yrs$265,700$1,176
64 Kalkaska County 18.9 yrs$174,300$767
65 Berrien County 19.1 yrs$211,400$923
66 Allegan County 19.3 yrs$247,000$1,065
67 Alger County 19.4 yrs$165,700$712
68 Clinton County 19.5 yrs$243,700$1,039
69 Cass County 19.7 yrs$205,200$870
70 Mason County 19.8 yrs$199,300$840
71 Lapeer County 19.9 yrs$229,100$959
72 Antrim County 20.2 yrs$222,500$920
73 Oakland County 20.2 yrs$320,400$1,319
74 Grand Traverse County 20.3 yrs$296,200$1,215
75 Washtenaw County 21.0 yrs$353,000$1,400
76 Ottawa County 21.1 yrs$291,200$1,148
77 Barry County 21.3 yrs$243,700$955
78 Benzie County 21.8 yrs$254,400$974
79 Charlevoix County 21.8 yrs$242,800$929
80 Emmet County 22.2 yrs$275,300$1,033
81 Keweenaw County 22.3 yrs$181,400$679
82 Livingston County 22.3 yrs$331,100$1,236
83 Leelanau County 27.7 yrs$406,900$1,223

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

Lowest Price-to-Rent Ratios across all 3,133 US counties · Every county in Michigan

Other rankings

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