Ranked from ACS 2023 5-Year
Counties Where Renting Costs Far Less Than Owning in Michigan
The widest gaps between median rent and the full monthly cost of owning the median home. A large gap does not automatically mean renting is the better decision, because rent buys no equity and is not fixed for thirty years, but it does show where the market prices ownership at a steep premium.
Michigan ranked
| # | County | Monthly saved by renting | Median rent | Monthly to own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leelanau County | $1,889 | $1,223 | $3,112 |
| 2 | Washtenaw County | $1,580 | $1,400 | $2,980 |
| 3 | Livingston County | $1,414 | $1,236 | $2,650 |
| 4 | Oakland County | $1,342 | $1,319 | $2,661 |
| 5 | Ottawa County | $1,225 | $1,148 | $2,373 |
| 6 | Emmet County | $1,187 | $1,033 | $2,220 |
| 7 | Grand Traverse County | $1,176 | $1,215 | $2,391 |
| 8 | Benzie County | $1,078 | $974 | $2,052 |
| 9 | Barry County | $1,076 | $955 | $2,031 |
| 10 | Charlevoix County | $1,071 | $929 | $2,000 |
| 11 | Kent County | $1,026 | $1,176 | $2,202 |
| 12 | Clinton County | $1,021 | $1,039 | $2,060 |
| 13 | Allegan County | $995 | $1,065 | $2,060 |
| 14 | Lapeer County | $933 | $959 | $1,892 |
| 15 | Kalamazoo County | $932 | $1,049 | $1,981 |
| 16 | Antrim County | $916 | $920 | $1,836 |
| 17 | Berrien County | $868 | $923 | $1,791 |
| 18 | Keweenaw County | $861 | $679 | $1,540 |
| 19 | Mason County | $858 | $840 | $1,698 |
| 20 | Cass County | $848 | $870 | $1,718 |
| 21 | Macomb County | $824 | $1,175 | $1,999 |
| 22 | St. Clair County | $819 | $999 | $1,818 |
| 23 | Monroe County | $813 | $1,017 | $1,830 |
| 24 | Van Buren County | $812 | $845 | $1,657 |
| 25 | Ionia County | $794 | $840 | $1,634 |
| 26 | Marquette County | $778 | $923 | $1,701 |
| 27 | Eaton County | $765 | $1,042 | $1,807 |
| 28 | Otsego County | $762 | $880 | $1,642 |
| 29 | Alger County | $721 | $712 | $1,433 |
| 30 | Kalkaska County | $713 | $767 | $1,480 |
| 31 | Oceana County | $699 | $768 | $1,467 |
| 32 | Mackinac County | $677 | $761 | $1,438 |
| 33 | Gladwin County | $675 | $689 | $1,364 |
| 34 | Midland County | $674 | $974 | $1,648 |
| 35 | Cheboygan County | $671 | $822 | $1,493 |
| 36 | Ingham County | $670 | $1,058 | $1,728 |
| 37 | Newaygo County | $666 | $882 | $1,548 |
| 38 | Hillsdale County | $662 | $801 | $1,463 |
| 39 | Jackson County | $646 | $958 | $1,604 |
| 40 | St. Joseph County | $638 | $825 | $1,463 |
| 41 | Manistee County | $632 | $820 | $1,452 |
| 42 | Lenawee County | $632 | $965 | $1,597 |
| 43 | Muskegon County | $624 | $960 | $1,584 |
| 44 | Montcalm County | $624 | $867 | $1,491 |
| 45 | Delta County | $611 | $698 | $1,309 |
| 46 | Isabella County | $610 | $863 | $1,473 |
| 47 | Genesee County | $608 | $936 | $1,544 |
| 48 | Baraga County | $606 | $557 | $1,163 |
| 49 | Mecosta County | $596 | $867 | $1,463 |
| 50 | Shiawassee County | $596 | $876 | $1,472 |
| 51 | Menominee County | $592 | $675 | $1,267 |
| 52 | Presque Isle County | $586 | $625 | $1,211 |
| 53 | Chippewa County | $584 | $793 | $1,377 |
| 54 | Sanilac County | $582 | $814 | $1,396 |
| 55 | Alpena County | $582 | $660 | $1,242 |
| 56 | Missaukee County | $577 | $838 | $1,415 |
| 57 | Alcona County | $561 | $790 | $1,351 |
| 58 | Huron County | $538 | $743 | $1,281 |
| 59 | Wexford County | $538 | $877 | $1,415 |
| 60 | Roscommon County | $520 | $789 | $1,309 |
| 61 | Houghton County | $510 | $767 | $1,277 |
| 62 | Crawford County | $503 | $825 | $1,328 |
| 63 | Iron County | $486 | $510 | $996 |
| 64 | Osceola County | $483 | $764 | $1,247 |
| 65 | Dickinson County | $479 | $744 | $1,223 |
| 66 | Schoolcraft County | $477 | $654 | $1,131 |
| 67 | Wayne County | $470 | $1,087 | $1,557 |
| 68 | Bay County | $469 | $809 | $1,278 |
| 69 | Iosco County | $465 | $659 | $1,124 |
| 70 | Oscoda County | $459 | $675 | $1,134 |
| 71 | Tuscola County | $457 | $796 | $1,253 |
| 72 | Calhoun County | $454 | $937 | $1,391 |
| 73 | Arenac County | $453 | $741 | $1,194 |
| 74 | Gratiot County | $443 | $808 | $1,251 |
| 75 | Montmorency County | $438 | $811 | $1,249 |
| 76 | Branch County | $427 | $900 | $1,327 |
| 77 | Gogebic County | $410 | $577 | $987 |
| 78 | Ogemaw County | $408 | $828 | $1,236 |
| 79 | Ontonagon County | $404 | $571 | $975 |
| 80 | Saginaw County | $384 | $921 | $1,305 |
| 81 | Clare County | $351 | $743 | $1,094 |
| 82 | Lake County | $270 | $863 | $1,133 |
| 83 | Luce County | $227 | $799 | $1,026 |
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 Renting Costs Far Less Than Owning across all 3,133 US counties · Every county in Michigan