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Cost & Benefits

Most affordable towns in Michigan, 2026

Shields is the most affordable ranked town in Michigan. Rent, the regional price level, taxes, and electricity are 22.5% each. Gasoline is 10%. A lower score is more affordable.

Summary

179
Towns ranked in Michigan.
Shields
Number 1 in Michigan. Rent is 13.7% of income. National rank 1166.
18.9%
Median rent share among ranked towns in Michigan.
0
Ranked Michigan towns in the national top 100.
Ypsilanti
Least affordable ranked town in Michigan. Rent is 27.8% of income. National rank 5337.

Gasoline

$4.237

per gallon. EIA does not publish a Michigan price. This is the Midwest (PADD 2) price for the week of October 12, 2026. At 12,000 miles a year and 25 mpg, that is $2,033.76 a year for every ranked town in Michigan.

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Cost & Benefits. "2026 Most Affordable Towns Index: Michigan." October 16, 2026. https://costandbenefits.com/reports/most-affordable-towns-2026/michigan

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Benefits and taxes in Michigan

Top 25

  1. #1 in Michigan · National #1166

    Shields

    Rent share 13.7% · Price level 90.9 · Score 0.315

    Median rent is $941 a month and median income is $82,125, so rent is 13.7% of income, under the 18.9% median for ranked towns in Michigan. The Saginaw, MI metro price level is 90.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 23.05 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  2. #2 in Michigan · National #1253

    Freeland

    Rent share 13.5% · Price level 90.9 · Score 0.320

    Median rent is $1,245 a month and median income is $110,547, so rent is 13.5% of income, under the 18.9% median for ranked towns in Michigan. The Saginaw, MI metro price level is 90.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 23.05 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  3. #3 in Michigan · National #1501

    Frankenmuth

    Rent share 12.0% · Price level 90.9 · Score 0.337

    Median rent is $851 a month and median income is $85,433, so rent is 12.0% of income, under the 18.9% median for ranked towns in Michigan. The Saginaw, MI metro price level is 90.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 23.05 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  4. #4 in Michigan · National #1529

    Bridgeport

    Rent share 16.7% · Price level 90.9 · Score 0.339

    Median rent is $710 a month and median income is $51,071, so rent is 16.7% of income, under the 18.9% median for ranked towns in Michigan. The Saginaw, MI metro price level is 90.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 23.05 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  5. #5 in Michigan · National #1652

    Flushing

    Rent share 14.2% · Price level 93.0 · Score 0.346

    Median rent is $944 a month and median income is $80,025, so rent is 14.2% of income, under the 18.9% median for ranked towns in Michigan. The Flint, MI metro price level is 93.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 23.05 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  6. #6 in Michigan · National #1752

    Milan

    Rent share 14.4% · Price level 93.5 · Score 0.354

    Median rent is $1,162 a month and median income is $96,949, so rent is 14.4% of income, under the 18.9% median for ranked towns in Michigan. The Monroe, MI metro price level is 93.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 23.05 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  7. #7 in Michigan · National #1769

    Lambertville

    Rent share 14.6% · Price level 93.5 · Score 0.355

    Median rent is $1,248 a month and median income is $102,521, so rent is 14.6% of income, under the 18.9% median for ranked towns in Michigan. The Monroe, MI metro price level is 93.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 23.05 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  8. #8 in Michigan · National #1778

    Marshall

    Rent share 17.2% · Price level 90.5 · Score 0.356

    Median rent is $1,088 a month and median income is $76,050, so rent is 17.2% of income, under the 18.9% median for ranked towns in Michigan. The Battle Creek, MI metro price level is 90.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 23.05 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  9. #9 in Michigan · National #1971

    Belding

    Rent share 13.3% · Price level 95.5 · Score 0.368

    Median rent is $668 a month and median income is $60,373, so rent is 13.3% of income, under the 18.9% median for ranked towns in Michigan. The Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI metro price level is 95.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 23.05 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  10. #10 in Michigan · National #2011

    St. Joseph

    Rent share 15.4% · Price level 92.4 · Score 0.372

    Median rent is $1,081 a month and median income is $84,057, so rent is 15.4% of income, under the 18.9% median for ranked towns in Michigan. The Niles, MI metro price level is 92.4 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 23.05 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  11. #11 in Michigan · National #2027

    Grosse Pointe Farms

    Rent share 10.5% · Price level 96.2 · Score 0.373

    Median rent is $1,408 a month and median income is $161,208, so rent is 10.5% of income, under the 18.9% median for ranked towns in Michigan. The Michigan state price level is 96.2 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 23.05 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  12. #12 in Michigan · National #2080

    Midland

    Rent share 17.2% · Price level 91.9 · Score 0.376

    Median rent is $1,048 a month and median income is $73,325, so rent is 17.2% of income, under the 18.9% median for ranked towns in Michigan. The Midland, MI metro price level is 91.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 23.05 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  13. #13 in Michigan · National #2098

    Rockford

    Rent share 12.4% · Price level 95.5 · Score 0.378

    Median rent is $1,111 a month and median income is $107,121, so rent is 12.4% of income, under the 18.9% median for ranked towns in Michigan. The Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI metro price level is 95.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 23.05 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  14. #14 in Michigan · National #2107

    Iron Mountain

    Rent share 15.0% · Price level 96.2 · Score 0.379

    Median rent is $744 a month and median income is $59,405, so rent is 15.0% of income, under the 18.9% median for ranked towns in Michigan. The Michigan state price level is 96.2 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 23.05 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  15. #15 in Michigan · National #2130

    Grosse Pointe

    Rent share 13.0% · Price level 96.2 · Score 0.381

    Median rent is $1,725 a month and median income is $158,853, so rent is 13.0% of income, under the 18.9% median for ranked towns in Michigan. The Michigan state price level is 96.2 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 23.05 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  16. #16 in Michigan · National #2140

    St. Johns

    Rent share 15.5% · Price level 95.0 · Score 0.381

    Median rent is $887 a month and median income is $68,728, so rent is 15.5% of income, under the 18.9% median for ranked towns in Michigan. The Lansing-East Lansing, MI metro price level is 95.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 23.05 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  17. #17 in Michigan · National #2147

    Bay City

    Rent share 18.6% · Price level 91.9 · Score 0.381

    Median rent is $766 a month and median income is $49,420, so rent is 18.6% of income, under the 18.9% median for ranked towns in Michigan. The Bay City, MI metro price level is 91.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 23.05 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  18. #18 in Michigan · National #2212

    Lake Fenton

    Rent share 16.0% · Price level 93.0 · Score 0.386

    Median rent is $1,547 a month and median income is $116,352, so rent is 16.0% of income, under the 18.9% median for ranked towns in Michigan. The Flint, MI metro price level is 93.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 23.05 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  19. #19 in Michigan · National #2229

    East Grand Rapids

    Rent share 13.4% · Price level 95.5 · Score 0.387

    Median rent is $1,862 a month and median income is $166,610, so rent is 13.4% of income, under the 18.9% median for ranked towns in Michigan. The Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI metro price level is 95.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 23.05 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  20. #20 in Michigan · National #2230

    Alpena

    Rent share 15.8% · Price level 96.2 · Score 0.387

    Median rent is $625 a month and median income is $47,545, so rent is 15.8% of income, under the 18.9% median for ranked towns in Michigan. The Michigan state price level is 96.2 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 23.05 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  21. #21 in Michigan · National #2240

    Grand Blanc

    Rent share 16.2% · Price level 93.0 · Score 0.387

    Median rent is $919 a month and median income is $68,052, so rent is 16.2% of income, under the 18.9% median for ranked towns in Michigan. The Flint, MI metro price level is 93.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 23.05 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  22. #22 in Michigan · National #2257

    Manistee

    Rent share 15.2% · Price level 96.2 · Score 0.388

    Median rent is $768 a month and median income is $60,541, so rent is 15.2% of income, under the 18.9% median for ranked towns in Michigan. The Michigan state price level is 96.2 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 23.05 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  23. #23 in Michigan · National #2276

    Sturgis

    Rent share 15.8% · Price level 96.2 · Score 0.389

    Median rent is $826 a month and median income is $62,710, so rent is 15.8% of income, under the 18.9% median for ranked towns in Michigan. The Michigan state price level is 96.2 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 23.05 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  24. #24 in Michigan · National #2293

    Ionia

    Rent share 16.0% · Price level 95.5 · Score 0.390

    Median rent is $852 a month and median income is $63,978, so rent is 16.0% of income, under the 18.9% median for ranked towns in Michigan. The Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI metro price level is 95.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 23.05 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  25. #25 in Michigan · National #2312

    Hastings

    Rent share 15.3% · Price level 95.5 · Score 0.391

    Median rent is $745 a month and median income is $58,286, so rent is 15.3% of income, under the 18.9% median for ranked towns in Michigan. The Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI metro price level is 95.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 23.05 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

Least affordable 10

  1. #179 in Michigan · National #5337

    Ypsilanti

    Rent share 27.8% · Price level 100.9 · Score 0.643

    Median rent is $1,080 a month and median income is $46,588, so rent is 27.8% of income, over the 18.9% median for ranked towns in Michigan. The Ann Arbor, MI metro price level is 100.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 23.05 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  2. #178 in Michigan · National #5297

    Chelsea

    Rent share 26.9% · Price level 100.9 · Score 0.637

    Median rent is $1,619 a month and median income is $72,098, so rent is 26.9% of income, over the 18.9% median for ranked towns in Michigan. The Ann Arbor, MI metro price level is 100.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 23.05 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  3. #177 in Michigan · National #5180

    Hamtramck

    Rent share 30.2% · Price level 100.3 · Score 0.622

    Median rent is $989 a month and median income is $39,293, so rent is 30.2% of income, over the 18.9% median for ranked towns in Michigan. The Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro price level is 100.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 23.05 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  4. #176 in Michigan · National #5155

    Melvindale

    Rent share 31.6% · Price level 100.3 · Score 0.620

    Median rent is $1,110 a month and median income is $42,185, so rent is 31.6% of income, over the 18.9% median for ranked towns in Michigan. The Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro price level is 100.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 23.05 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  5. #175 in Michigan · National #5137

    Ann Arbor

    Rent share 24.1% · Price level 100.9 · Score 0.618

    Median rent is $1,649 a month and median income is $82,212, so rent is 24.1% of income, over the 18.9% median for ranked towns in Michigan. The Ann Arbor, MI metro price level is 100.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 23.05 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  6. #174 in Michigan · National #5048

    Pontiac

    Rent share 28.8% · Price level 100.3 · Score 0.607

    Median rent is $1,063 a month and median income is $44,329, so rent is 28.8% of income, over the 18.9% median for ranked towns in Michigan. The Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro price level is 100.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 23.05 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  7. #173 in Michigan · National #5024

    Dearborn Heights

    Rent share 26.4% · Price level 100.3 · Score 0.605

    Median rent is $1,331 a month and median income is $60,391, so rent is 26.4% of income, over the 18.9% median for ranked towns in Michigan. The Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro price level is 100.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 23.05 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  8. #172 in Michigan · National #5006

    Inkster

    Rent share 35.8% · Price level 100.3 · Score 0.602

    Median rent is $1,170 a month and median income is $39,252, so rent is 35.8% of income, over the 18.9% median for ranked towns in Michigan. The Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro price level is 100.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 23.05 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is tax burden and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  9. #171 in Michigan · National #4993

    East Lansing

    Rent share 30.8% · Price level 95.0 · Score 0.601

    Median rent is $1,171 a month and median income is $45,687, so rent is 30.8% of income, over the 18.9% median for ranked towns in Michigan. The Lansing-East Lansing, MI metro price level is 95.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 23.05 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  10. #170 in Michigan · National #4979

    Detroit

    Rent share 32.3% · Price level 100.3 · Score 0.599

    Median rent is $1,074 a month and median income is $39,938, so rent is 32.3% of income, over the 18.9% median for ranked towns in Michigan. The Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro price level is 100.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 23.05 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is tax burden and its heaviest mark is rent share.

The formula

A lower score is more affordable. Rent share, the regional price level, taxes, and electricity each count 22.5%. Gasoline counts 10%. Those weights are our choice. Gasoline stays at 10% because the miles figure is one national standard, not a measured town commute. This is not a government standard.

A percentile is the share of ranked towns with a strictly lower number, divided by the number of ranked towns minus one. The lowest number scores 0. Tied numbers share a percentile.

  1. Rent share = (median monthly rent × 12) / median household income. Both figures are the Census 2020–2024 medians for that place.
  2. RPP-adjusted cost is the BEA 2024 all-items regional price parity. A basket priced at 100 for the U.S. average costs this many dollars in the town's area. We use the metro index when the county is in a metro BEA publishes. Otherwise we use the state index and say so. This index includes housing, so housing also shows up in the rent share.
  3. Tax burden is the average of three percentiles. Income-tax share is state income tax plus the stored 2023 local AGI add-on, divided by the town's median household income, on a joint return. Property share is the state's median effective property-tax rate times the town's median home value, divided by income. Sales rate is the combined state and average local sales-tax rate. We do not turn the sales rate into dollars, because that would require a shopping basket we do not have.
  4. Electricity is the state residential price in cents per kilowatt-hour. Every town in a state shares it. We do not guess how many kilowatt-hours a home uses.
  5. Gasoline is the EIA retail price for all grades and all formulations, in dollars per gallon. Where EIA publishes a state series, we use that state. Every other state uses the PADD region EIA assigns to it. Census does not publish commuting miles for these towns, so annual gas spend is 12,000 miles a year divided by 25 miles per gallon, times the price. That is 480 gallons, the same for every town. Those miles are our standard, not an ACS figure and not a government mileage rule. Because the gallons do not change, the gas percentile is the percentile of the price.

    Weekly prices are for the week of October 12, 2026, from the EIA workbook released October 14, 2026. File: https://www.eia.gov/petroleum/gasdiesel/xls/pswrgvwall.xls. Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, and Oregon use West Coast (PADD 5) Except California. That series is not in the weekly workbook, so those five use the monthly price dated September 15, 2026. File: https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_pri_gnd_a_epm0_pte_dpgal_m.htm.

    • State series, week of October 12, 2026: California, Colorado, Florida, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Texas, Washington.
    • Central Atlantic (PADD 1B), week of October 12, 2026: Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania.
    • Gulf Coast (PADD 3), week of October 12, 2026: Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico.
    • Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C), week of October 12, 2026: Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia.
    • Midwest (PADD 2), week of October 12, 2026: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Wisconsin.
    • New England (PADD 1A), week of October 12, 2026: Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont.
    • Rocky Mountain (PADD 4), week of October 12, 2026: Idaho, Montana, Utah, Wyoming.
    • West Coast (PADD 5) Except California, September 15, 2026: Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon.

Score = 0.225 × rent percentile + 0.225 × price-level percentile + 0.225 × tax score + 0.225 × electricity percentile + 0.10 × gasoline percentile. Rank 1 is the lowest score. If scores tie, the lower rent share wins, then the lower price level, then the place slug in A-to-Z order.

Questions

What is the most affordable town in Michigan in this index?

Shields is number 1 of 179 ranked towns in Michigan. Median rent is 13.7% of median income. Its national rank is 1166.

How many towns in Michigan were ranked?

179 towns in Michigan have at least 5,000 people and published Census rent, income, and home value. Places missing one of those figures are left out.

Does this ranking approve benefits in Michigan?

No. Cost & Benefits does not approve or deny benefits. The score is a cost comparison only.