The 48210 zip code in Detroit tops our ranking of the most affordable places to live in Michigan.
Whether you're searching for affordable cities and towns to buy a home or the places with the lowest cost of living to rent, consider the following zip codes.
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Top 10 most affordable places to live in Michigan
| Rank | City | Affordability Score | Median home value | Rental costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Detroit 🥇 | 100.0 | $68,789 | $1,492 |
| 2 | Jackson 🥈 | 98.8 | $248,644 | $1,014 |
| 3 | Monroe 🥉 | 97.9 | $198,141 | $1,137 |
| 4 | Wyandotte | 96.0 | $186,216 | $1,190 |
| 5 | Alma | 95.5 | $162,415 | $1,492 |
| 6 | Lansing | 95.5 | $164,303 | $1,176 |
| 7 | Flint | 94.0 | $84,447 | $950 |
| 8 | Allen Park | 93.8 | $206,297 | $1,300 |
| 9 | Niles | 92.7 | $204,990 | $1,076 |
| 10 | Newport | 92.3 | $197,060 | $1,492 |
What these affordable cities and towns have in common
The 10 zip codes we ranked share a common trait: a low cost of living relative to the Michigan median.
Median home values, rental costs, and property taxes generally sit below the state averages, while household incomes remain strong enough to keep home affordability ratios manageable. Below, we look at each market in detail.
1. Detroit
Here's why the 48210 zip code in Detroit is Michigan's most affordable place to live.
🔎 Key data about Detroit
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 315 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 100.0 | No. 1 | N/A |
| Median home value | $68,789[1] | No. 12 | -$215,334 |
| Home affordability ratio | 1.8 | No. 14 | -1.8 |
| Home value five-year change | 5.5%[2] | No. 2 | -26.3% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 0.2%[3] | No. 41 | -0.3% |
| Rental costs | $1,492[4] | No. 106 | $0 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 1.89% | No. 69 | 0.0% |
| Median household income | $37,838[5] | No. 304 | -$40,955 |
| Property taxes | $1,194[6] | No. 6 | -$2,141 |
| Energy costs | $0.15 kWh[7] | No. 156 | $0.01 |
Detroit's 48210 zip code is the cheapest place to live in Michigan, leading the 315 markets we evaluated.
The median home value is $68,789, making it the 12th-cheapest housing market in the state. Forecasts project a 0.2% change in home values in the next year. Rent in the zip code averages $1,492 per month, which is the 69th cheapest amount in Michigan.
The median property tax for homeowners in Detroit is $1,194 per household, the No. 6 ranked market in Michigan.
Residents pay $0.15 per kWh of electricity, which ranks No. 156 among Michigan markets.
📈 Thinking about buying in Michigan? See our complete housing market outlook for the data, trends, and timing insights Michigan buyers need to know.
2. Jackson
The 49201 zip code is the 2nd-cheapest place to live in Michigan.
🔎 Key data about Jackson
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 315 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 98.8 | No. 2 | N/A |
| Median home value | $248,644[1] | No. 134 | -$35,480 |
| Home affordability ratio | 3.3 | No. 140 | -0.3 |
| Home value five-year change | 16.3%[2] | No. 10 | -15.6% |
| Home value one-year forecast | -0.2%[3] | No. 18 | -0.7% |
| Rental costs | $1,014[4] | No. 12 | -$478 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 1.36% | No. 7 | -0.5% |
| Median household income | $74,484[5] | No. 155 | -$4,309 |
| Property taxes | $2,656[6] | No. 115 | -$679 |
| Energy costs | $0.12 kWh[7] | No. 82 | -$0.01 |
Jackson's 49201 zip code has a median home value of $248,644, which is the 134th-cheapest housing market in Michigan. You can rent for an average of $1,014 per month. That's the 12th-cheapest price in the state.
The average household income in the zip code is $74,484, which ranks 155th-highest in the state.
Homeowners in Jackson pay a median property tax of $2,656 per year, making it the 115th-most affordable market in Michigan.
Jackson ranks No. 82 among Michigan energy markets. You'll pay $0.12 per kWh of electricity.
3. Monroe
The 3rd-least-expensive place to live in Michigan is Monroe's 48161 zip code.
🔎 Key data about Monroe
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 315 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 97.9 | No. 3 | N/A |
| Median home value | $198,141[1] | No. 84 | -$85,982 |
| Home affordability ratio | 2.9 | No. 71 | -0.7 |
| Home value five-year change | 22.6%[2] | No. 22 | -9.3% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 0.4%[3] | No. 196 | -0.1% |
| Rental costs | $1,137[4] | No. 27 | -$354 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 1.69% | No. 43 | -0.2% |
| Median household income | $67,414[5] | No. 196 | -$11,379 |
| Property taxes | $2,290[6] | No. 78 | -$1,045 |
| Energy costs | $0.12 kWh[7] | No. 67 | -$0.01 |
The No. 84 cheapest housing market in Michigan is Monroe's 48161 zip code, with a median home value of $198,141. Rents in the market average $1,137 per month, making it the 27th-most affordable rental market in the state.
The median property tax for households in Monroe is $2,290, which makes it the 78th-cheapest place in Michigan. Monroe ranks No. 67 among Michigan markets by energy costs. Residents pay $0.12 per kWh of electricity.
4. Wyandotte
The 48192 zip code in Wyandotte comes in at No. 4 on our list of the cheapest places to live in Michigan.
🔎 Key data about Wyandotte
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 315 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 96.0 | No. 4 | N/A |
| Median home value | $186,216[1] | No. 74 | -$97,907 |
| Home affordability ratio | 2.6 | No. 38 | -1.0 |
| Home value five-year change | 28.0%[2] | No. 65 | -3.9% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 0.2%[3] | No. 41 | -0.3% |
| Rental costs | $1,190[4] | No. 37 | -$302 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 1.65% | No. 31 | -0.2% |
| Median household income | $71,987[5] | No. 169 | -$6,806 |
| Property taxes | $2,923[6] | No. 150 | -$412 |
| Energy costs | $0.15 kWh[7] | No. 308 | $0.02 |
The No. 74 cheapest housing market in Michigan is Wyandotte's 48192 zip code, where the median home value is $186,216. Renters here pay an average of $1,190 per month.
When it comes to energy costs, Wyandotte ranks 308th among Michigan markets. Residents pay $0.15 per kWh of electricity.
The median property tax for households in the zip code is $2,923, which makes it the 150th-cheapest market in Michigan.
5. Alma
The 48801 zip code in Alma ranks No. 5 among Michigan's most affordable places to live.
🔎 Key data about Alma
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 315 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 95.5 | No. 5 | N/A |
| Median home value | $162,415[1] | No. 50 | -$121,709 |
| Home affordability ratio | 2.8 | No. 50 | -0.8 |
| Home value five-year change | 27.0%[2] | No. 54 | -4.8% |
| Home value one-year forecast | -0.9%[3] | No. 2 | -1.4% |
| Rental costs | $1,492[4] | No. 106 | $0 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 1.89% | No. 69 | 0.0% |
| Median household income | $58,750[5] | No. 251 | -$20,043 |
| Property taxes | $1,982[6] | No. 55 | -$1,353 |
| Energy costs | $0.12 kWh[7] | No. 82 | -$0.01 |
Alma's 48801 zip code has a median home value of $162,415, the 50th-cheapest housing market in the state. Forecasts project a -0.9% change in home values in the next year.
The median property tax per household in Alma is $1,982. It's the 55th-cheapest market by tax rate in Michigan.
6. Lansing
The No. 6 most affordable city in Michigan is the 48906 zip code.
🔎 Key data about Lansing
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 315 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 95.5 | No. 6 | N/A |
| Median home value | $164,303[1] | No. 53 | -$119,820 |
| Home affordability ratio | 2.6 | No. 34 | -1.1 |
| Home value five-year change | 26.7%[2] | No. 50 | -5.1% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 0.1%[3] | No. 22 | -0.4% |
| Rental costs | $1,176[4] | No. 33 | -$316 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 1.83% | No. 60 | -0.1% |
| Median household income | $64,315[5] | No. 221 | -$14,478 |
| Property taxes | $2,736[6] | No. 121 | -$599 |
| Energy costs | $0.14 kWh[7] | No. 147 | $0.01 |
The back half of our top 10 kicks off with Lansing's 48906 zip code, which has the 53rd-cheapest home values in Michigan. The median home value is $164,303. Rents average $1,176 per month, making it the 33rd-most affordable rental market in the state.
Residents pay $0.14 per kWh of electricity. It's the 147th-cheapest energy market.
7. Flint
Flint's 48506 zip code is the 7th-cheapest place to live in Michigan.
🔎 Key data about Flint
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 315 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 94.0 | No. 7 | N/A |
| Median home value | $84,447[1] | No. 17 | -$199,677 |
| Home affordability ratio | 1.8 | No. 12 | -1.8 |
| Home value five-year change | 28.9%[2] | No. 81 | -3.0% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 1.1%[3] | No. 238 | 0.6% |
| Rental costs | $950[4] | No. 4 | -$542 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 1.98% | No. 214 | 0.1% |
| Median household income | $47,929[5] | No. 277 | -$30,864 |
| Property taxes | $1,499[6] | No. 23 | -$1,836 |
| Energy costs | $0.10 kWh[7] | No. 4 | -$0.04 |
You'll find the 17th-cheapest home values in Michigan in Flint's 48506 zip code. The median value: $84,447. Renters in Flint pay an average of $950 per month.
Homeowners in Flint pay a median property tax of $1,499 per year, which is Michigan's 23rd-most affordable market.
The average household income is $47,929, which ranks 277th-highest in the state.
8. Allen Park
The 8th-least-expensive place to live in Michigan is Allen Park's 48101 zip code.
🔎 Key data about Allen Park
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 315 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 93.8 | No. 8 | N/A |
| Median home value | $206,297[1] | No. 90 | -$77,826 |
| Home affordability ratio | 2.5 | No. 32 | -1.1 |
| Home value five-year change | 32.4%[2] | No. 171 | 0.5% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 0.2%[3] | No. 41 | -0.3% |
| Rental costs | $1,300[4] | No. 67 | -$192 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 1.59% | No. 21 | -0.3% |
| Median household income | $81,655[5] | No. 124 | $2,862 |
| Property taxes | $3,476[6] | No. 196 | $141 |
| Energy costs | $0.15 kWh[7] | No. 156 | $0.01 |
The 90th-cheapest housing market in Michigan is Allen Park's 48101 zip code, with a median home value of $206,297. Renters pay an average of $1,300 per month, the No. 67 rental market in the state.
The median property tax for households in Allen Park is $3,476, which makes it the 196th-cheapest place in Michigan. The average household income of $81,655 ranks 124th.
9. Niles
Niles's 49120 zip code is one of Michigan's most affordable towns, sneaking into the top ten of our rankings.
🔎 Key data about Niles
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 315 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 92.7 | No. 9 | N/A |
| Median home value | $204,990[1] | No. 88 | -$79,133 |
| Home affordability ratio | 3.1 | No. 104 | -0.5 |
| Home value five-year change | 26.6%[2] | No. 49 | -5.2% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 1.1%[3] | No. 238 | 0.6% |
| Rental costs | $1,076[4] | No. 15 | -$416 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 1.65% | No. 30 | -0.2% |
| Median household income | $65,148[5] | No. 216 | -$13,645 |
| Property taxes | $1,854[6] | No. 46 | -$1,481 |
| Energy costs | $0.12 kWh[7] | No. 80 | -$0.01 |
The 88th-cheapest housing market in Michigan is Niles's 49120 zip code, where the median home value is $204,990. Renters pay an average of $1,076 per month. It's the state's 15th-cheapest rental market.
The median property tax for households within the zip code is $1,854, which makes it the 46th-cheapest property tax rate in Michigan.
10. Newport
The final spot on our list of the most affordable places to live in Michigan goes to the 48166 zip code in Newport.
🔎 Key data about Newport
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 315 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 92.3 | No. 10 | N/A |
| Median home value | $197,060[1] | No. 81 | -$87,064 |
| Home affordability ratio | 2.8 | No. 54 | -0.8 |
| Home value five-year change | 8.9%[2] | No. 7 | -23.0% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 0.4%[3] | No. 196 | -0.1% |
| Rental costs | $1,492[4] | No. 106 | $0 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 1.89% | No. 69 | 0.0% |
| Median household income | $69,592[5] | No. 182 | -$9,201 |
| Property taxes | $2,786[6] | No. 129 | -$549 |
| Energy costs | $0.15 kWh[7] | No. 156 | $0.01 |
Rounding out our top 10 is Newport's 48166 zip code, with the 81st-cheapest home values in Michigan.
The median home value is $197,060. Rent in the market costs $1,492 per month on average.
The median property tax for households in Newport is $2,786, which is the 129th-cheapest property tax rate in the state.
Newport ranks No. 156 among Michigan markets by energy costs, with households paying $0.15 per kWh of electricity.
What questions about these cities should I ask local agents?
Once you've found a town you're interested in, you'll want to ask a local agent for details our rankings can't capture. Start with these four questions:
- What neighborhoods inside this zip code have the best resale value?
- What's the rental market like right now?
- Are there local property tax exemptions or homestead programs you'd qualify for?
- What are the most common surprises buyers run into here?
🏡 Need a local agent? We can connect you with an expert who knows the market.
Frequently asked questions about the least expensive places to live in Michigan
Based on Clever's Affordability Score, the 48210 zip code in Detroit is the cheapest place to live in Michigan.
The median home value is $68,789, and the median household income is $37,838, giving Detroit a home affordability ratio of 1.8, meaning a typical home costs about that many times the median annual income.
See our Affordability Score methodology and the full ranking of the 10 cheapest places to live in Michigan.
The median home value in Michigan is $284,124.
See the rankings above for how individual cities compare to these state-wide figures.
Michigan is currently a neutral market, according to Clever's Market Heat Index.
The index reflects the balance between buyer demand and seller supply, which affects how much negotiating power buyers and sellers have in any given market.
Markets also vary by city, county, and neighborhood. It's always good to check with a local real estate agent to understand the dynamics of a given local market.
The median amount homeowners pay in property taxes in Michigan is $3,335 per year.
Property taxes are a key part of the overall cost of living, and they vary significantly by location. The per-city tax figures in the rankings above show how each of the 10 cheapest places stacks up against the Michigan median.
📍 The 10 cheapest places to live in your region
How we ranked the most affordable cities and towns in Michigan
We evaluated 315 zip codes in Michigan with a population over 10,000 on home values, rental costs, energy rates, property taxes, and five other affordability indicators. We then assigned each market an Affordability Score based on its weighted and combined rankings.
Our proprietary Affordability Score is a score on a scale of 0 (worst in state) to 100 (best in state) that estimates the affordability of a particular zip code. It takes into account these key data points for each zip code.
- Median home value: The median home value for each zip code comes from the Zillow Home Value Index. The lower the median home value relative to the median value in Michigan, the higher our score on this component. We assign a weight of 13.0% to median home value.
- Home affordability ratio. The home affordability ratio is the typical median home value divided by the median household income in the zip code, which reveals the number of years of household income needed to afford a home in that zip code. A lower ratio is better because it means more households can afford a home. The data comes from the Zillow Observed Rent Index and the U.S. Census American Community Survey. We assign a weight of 28.0% to the home affordability ratio.
- Home value five-year change: The home value five-year change is the amount that the median home value in the zip code has risen or fallen during the last five years. Our data comes from the Zillow Home Value Index. We assign a weight of 10.0% to the home value five-year change.
- Home value one-year forecast: The home value one-year forecast comes from Zillow Forecast data. It projects how much home values in the zip code are forecasted to change in the next year. We assign a weight of 8.0% to the home value one-year forecast.
- Rental costs. The rental costs are the observed rents in the zip code, sourced from the Zillow Observed Rent Index. The index includes "listed rents that fall into the 40th to 60th percentile range for all homes and apartments in a given region." We assign a weight of 7.0% to rental costs.
- Median household income: The inflation-adjusted median household income figures for the zip code comes from the U.S. Census American Community Survey. We assign a weight of 5.0% to median household income.
- Rent affordability ratio. The rent affordability ratio is the ratio of rental costs divided by median household income, which provides the percentage of household income needed to pay a typical month’s rent in the zip code. The data comes from the Zillow Observed Rent Index and the U.S. Census American Community Survey. We assign a weight of 17.0% to the rent affordability ratio.
- Property taxes: The property tax figures are the median real estate taxes paid in the zip code, sourced from the U.S. Census American Community Survey. The lower the property tax rate relative to the Michigan average, the higher our score on this component. We assign a weight of 8.0% to property taxes.
- Energy costs: The energy costs are the costs of a kilowatt hour (kWh) of residential electricity in the zip code, sourced from the U.S. Department of Energy. The lower the cost of electricity relative to the Michigan average, the higher our score on this component. We assign a weight of 4.0% to energy costs.
✍️ Editor’s note: Our Affordability Score identifies the most affordable places in a state by zip code. Often the zip code we identify will represent an entire city or portion of a city.
Occasionally the zip code we identify will encompass an area that includes one or more small towns. In these cases, the data we’ve gathered applies to the entire zip code, not just the single town we’re using to help identify the zip code's location.
If you’re looking to move to one of these affordable places, we recommend doing additional research to make sure the costs in the area — and the quality of life it offers — meet your specific needs.
Why you should trust us
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Our team is committed to making home purchasing more transparent by educating buyers and sellers through guides like this one. Our writers, editors, and industry-leading researchers strive to provide readers with the most up-to-date, accurate, and useful information.
Our research has been featured in The New York Times, Business Insider, Inman, Housing Wire, and many more publications.
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