Most affordable counties to rent in Michigan

Ranked by how much of the typical renter household's income the typical rent takes. Leelanau County is the most affordable at 23.9%; Alpena County the least affordable at 36.3%.

CountyRent-to-incomeMedian gross rentMedian renter incomeRenters paying 30%+2 BR FMR FY2027
1. Leelanau County23.9%$1,228$61,58340%$1,500
2. Antrim County24.0%$902$45,11432%$1,159
3. St. Joseph County24.9%$849$40,99039%$1,046
4. Oceana County25.0%$759$36,36837%$1,014
5. Baraga County25.6%$616$28,87532%$1,014
6. Eaton County26.5%$1,092$49,45241%$1,323
7. Tuscola County26.6%$819$36,92044%$1,014
8. Sanilac County26.7%$807$36,27745%$1,014
9. Huron County26.8%$788$35,24642%$1,014
10. Branch County27.1%$959$42,52043%$1,093
11. Chippewa County27.5%$797$34,76947%$1,042
12. Charlevoix County27.6%$949$41,29249%$1,119
13. Gratiot County27.6%$834$36,25047%$1,018
14. Newaygo County27.6%$904$39,28945%$1,028
15. Gladwin County27.7%$690$29,86746%$1,014
16. Iosco County27.8%$719$31,00041%$1,014
17. Clinton County27.9%$1,092$46,93544%$1,323
18. Oakland County28.0%$1,376$59,04745%$1,459
19. Iron County28.0%$716$30,71448%$1,132
20. Hillsdale County28.0%$832$35,64341%$1,022
21. Ottawa County28.4%$1,211$51,25649%$1,546
22. Emmet County28.7%$1,112$46,54844%$1,336
23. Shiawassee County28.8%$899$37,48847%$1,085
24. Lenawee County28.8%$987$41,08447%$1,195
25. Bay County28.9%$860$35,71543%$1,055
26. Montcalm County29.0%$869$35,96644%$1,181
27. Cheboygan County29.1%$773$31,91041%$1,104
28. Livingston County29.3%$1,287$52,65049%$1,477
29. Roscommon County29.6%$816$33,06948%$1,014
30. Barry County29.6%$972$39,35945%$1,362
31. Kent County29.8%$1,243$50,12349%$1,630
32. Missaukee County29.8%$891$35,90950%$1,014
33. Wexford County29.9%$897$35,97152%$1,149
34. Osceola County29.9%$807$32,34943%$1,048
35. Otsego County30.2%$1,008$40,07153%$1,192
36. Van Buren County30.2%$870$34,52348%$1,040
37. Delta County30.3%$692$27,43341%$1,014
38. Gogebic County30.3%$623$24,68841%$1,014
39. Dickinson County30.3%$797$31,57749%$1,014
40. Macomb County30.4%$1,211$47,83451%$1,459
41. Grand Traverse County30.6%$1,288$50,43550%$1,436
42. Ionia County30.7%$884$34,50249%$1,238
43. Arenac County30.8%$761$29,60242%$1,014
44. Jackson County30.9%$985$38,31345%$1,201
45. Cass County30.9%$916$35,62946%$1,095
46. Calhoun County30.9%$968$37,53749%$1,233
47. Kalamazoo County31.0%$1,093$42,26352%$1,158
48. Mason County31.1%$896$34,58049%$1,085
49. Manistee County31.2%$842$32,40751%$1,067
50. Monroe County31.2%$1,059$40,70051%$1,304
51. Allegan County31.3%$1,100$42,22146%$1,296
52. Houghton County31.4%$840$32,10357%$1,033
53. Clare County31.6%$765$29,06649%$1,042
54. Midland County31.6%$1,016$38,52751%$1,205
55. Berrien County31.7%$942$35,62750%$1,152
56. Genesee County31.9%$989$37,14853%$1,133
57. Isabella County32.4%$913$33,83952%$1,059
58. Mecosta County33.2%$934$33,79452%$1,063
59. Marquette County33.4%$949$34,06854%$1,199
60. Ingham County33.6%$1,084$38,67353%$1,323
61. St. Clair County33.7%$1,029$36,66255%$1,459
62. Crawford County33.8%$862$30,63245%$1,097
63. Lapeer County34.4%$988$34,44651%$1,459
64. Muskegon County35.5%$1,028$34,72653%$1,285
65. Saginaw County35.5%$947$31,97755%$1,141
66. Washtenaw County36.1%$1,463$48,68056%$1,804
67. Wayne County36.2%$1,132$37,56554%$1,459
68. Alpena County36.3%$673$22,25251%$1,014

Rent-to-income = median gross rent × 12 ÷ median household income of renters. Both are medians of different households, so this is an area comparison, not the burden of any one household. 15 of 83 counties are left out because they have fewer than 500 renter households, a Census margin of error is too large (coefficient of variation above 15%) or a figure is not published.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates 2020–2024 and 2015–2019 (tables B25064, B25119, B25070). ± = margin of error at 90% confidence. Dollar figures are not adjusted for inflation. FMR: HUD FY2027.

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