Ranked from ACS 2023 5-Year
Counties Where Owning Costs Less Than Renting in Michigan
Counties where the full monthly cost of owning the median home comes in below median rent, even after tax, insurance, utilities and maintenance. These are the places where buying is cheapest relative to the local rental market.
Where does yours land?
Every county in America is somewhere on this scale, including the one you live in.
Michigan ranked
| # | County | Monthly saved by owning | Median rent | Monthly to own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Luce County | $-227 | $799 | $1,026 |
| 2 | Lake County | $-270 | $863 | $1,133 |
| 3 | Clare County | $-351 | $743 | $1,094 |
| 4 | Saginaw County | $-384 | $921 | $1,305 |
| 5 | Ontonagon County | $-404 | $571 | $975 |
| 6 | Ogemaw County | $-408 | $828 | $1,236 |
| 7 | Gogebic County | $-410 | $577 | $987 |
| 8 | Branch County | $-427 | $900 | $1,327 |
| 9 | Montmorency County | $-438 | $811 | $1,249 |
| 10 | Gratiot County | $-443 | $808 | $1,251 |
| 11 | Arenac County | $-453 | $741 | $1,194 |
| 12 | Calhoun County | $-454 | $937 | $1,391 |
| 13 | Tuscola County | $-457 | $796 | $1,253 |
| 14 | Oscoda County | $-459 | $675 | $1,134 |
| 15 | Iosco County | $-465 | $659 | $1,124 |
| 16 | Bay County | $-469 | $809 | $1,278 |
| 17 | Wayne County | $-470 | $1,087 | $1,557 |
| 18 | Schoolcraft County | $-477 | $654 | $1,131 |
| 19 | Dickinson County | $-479 | $744 | $1,223 |
| 20 | Osceola County | $-483 | $764 | $1,247 |
| 21 | Iron County | $-486 | $510 | $996 |
| 22 | Crawford County | $-503 | $825 | $1,328 |
| 23 | Houghton County | $-510 | $767 | $1,277 |
| 24 | Roscommon County | $-520 | $789 | $1,309 |
| 25 | Wexford County | $-538 | $877 | $1,415 |
| 26 | Huron County | $-538 | $743 | $1,281 |
| 27 | Alcona County | $-561 | $790 | $1,351 |
| 28 | Missaukee County | $-577 | $838 | $1,415 |
| 29 | Alpena County | $-582 | $660 | $1,242 |
| 30 | Sanilac County | $-582 | $814 | $1,396 |
| 31 | Chippewa County | $-584 | $793 | $1,377 |
| 32 | Presque Isle County | $-586 | $625 | $1,211 |
| 33 | Menominee County | $-592 | $675 | $1,267 |
| 34 | Shiawassee County | $-596 | $876 | $1,472 |
| 35 | Mecosta County | $-596 | $867 | $1,463 |
| 36 | Baraga County | $-606 | $557 | $1,163 |
| 37 | Genesee County | $-608 | $936 | $1,544 |
| 38 | Isabella County | $-610 | $863 | $1,473 |
| 39 | Delta County | $-611 | $698 | $1,309 |
| 40 | Montcalm County | $-624 | $867 | $1,491 |
| 41 | Muskegon County | $-624 | $960 | $1,584 |
| 42 | Lenawee County | $-632 | $965 | $1,597 |
| 43 | Manistee County | $-632 | $820 | $1,452 |
| 44 | St. Joseph County | $-638 | $825 | $1,463 |
| 45 | Jackson County | $-646 | $958 | $1,604 |
| 46 | Hillsdale County | $-662 | $801 | $1,463 |
| 47 | Newaygo County | $-666 | $882 | $1,548 |
| 48 | Ingham County | $-670 | $1,058 | $1,728 |
| 49 | Cheboygan County | $-671 | $822 | $1,493 |
| 50 | Midland County | $-674 | $974 | $1,648 |
| 51 | Gladwin County | $-675 | $689 | $1,364 |
| 52 | Mackinac County | $-677 | $761 | $1,438 |
| 53 | Oceana County | $-699 | $768 | $1,467 |
| 54 | Kalkaska County | $-713 | $767 | $1,480 |
| 55 | Alger County | $-721 | $712 | $1,433 |
| 56 | Otsego County | $-762 | $880 | $1,642 |
| 57 | Eaton County | $-765 | $1,042 | $1,807 |
| 58 | Marquette County | $-778 | $923 | $1,701 |
| 59 | Ionia County | $-794 | $840 | $1,634 |
| 60 | Van Buren County | $-812 | $845 | $1,657 |
| 61 | Monroe County | $-813 | $1,017 | $1,830 |
| 62 | St. Clair County | $-819 | $999 | $1,818 |
| 63 | Macomb County | $-824 | $1,175 | $1,999 |
| 64 | Cass County | $-848 | $870 | $1,718 |
| 65 | Mason County | $-858 | $840 | $1,698 |
| 66 | Keweenaw County | $-861 | $679 | $1,540 |
| 67 | Berrien County | $-868 | $923 | $1,791 |
| 68 | Antrim County | $-916 | $920 | $1,836 |
| 69 | Kalamazoo County | $-932 | $1,049 | $1,981 |
| 70 | Lapeer County | $-933 | $959 | $1,892 |
| 71 | Allegan County | $-995 | $1,065 | $2,060 |
| 72 | Clinton County | $-1,021 | $1,039 | $2,060 |
| 73 | Kent County | $-1,026 | $1,176 | $2,202 |
| 74 | Charlevoix County | $-1,071 | $929 | $2,000 |
| 75 | Barry County | $-1,076 | $955 | $2,031 |
| 76 | Benzie County | $-1,078 | $974 | $2,052 |
| 77 | Grand Traverse County | $-1,176 | $1,215 | $2,391 |
| 78 | Emmet County | $-1,187 | $1,033 | $2,220 |
| 79 | Ottawa County | $-1,225 | $1,148 | $2,373 |
| 80 | Oakland County | $-1,342 | $1,319 | $2,661 |
| 81 | Livingston County | $-1,414 | $1,236 | $2,650 |
| 82 | Washtenaw County | $-1,580 | $1,400 | $2,980 |
| 83 | Leelanau County | $-1,889 | $1,223 | $3,112 |
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
Counties Where Owning Costs Less Than Renting across all 3,133 US counties · Every county in Michigan