The 25 Best College Small Towns in Michigan

Ranked on The Town Files lifestyle rankings among 541 towns of 500–10,000 people in Michigan. #1 is Flushing, MI.

1. 25Wolverine Lake, Michigan

   More of a college town than 98% of Michigan towns

   Wolverine Lake is a village of 4,544 people in Oakland County, Michigan. It also ranks more upscale than 92% of Michigan towns and more walkable than 91% of Michigan towns.

   4,544 people · Oakland County · median home $288,000 · income $92,247 · Jan low 17°F · 36 in snow

   Full Wolverine Lake, Michigan profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

2. 24Ida, Michigan

   More of a college town than 98% of Michigan towns

   

   Ida is a township of 4,783 people in Monroe County, Michigan. It also ranks easier by car than 99% of Michigan towns and better for families than 98% of Michigan towns.

   4,783 people · Monroe County · median home $317,100 · income $108,293 · Jan low 17°F · 39 in snow

   Full Ida, Michigan profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

3. 23Carrollton, Michigan

   More of a college town than 98% of Michigan towns

   Carrollton is a township of 5,750 people in Saginaw County, Michigan. It also ranks better for young professionals than 96% of Michigan towns and more walkable than 92% of Michigan towns.

   5,750 people · Saginaw County · median home $82,300 · income $50,399 · Jan low 16°F · 41 in snow

   Full Carrollton, Michigan profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

4. 22Grass Lake, Michigan

   More of a college town than 98% of Michigan towns

   Grass Lake is a charter township of 6,069 people in Jackson County, Michigan. It also ranks better for families than 93% of Michigan towns and more upscale than 89% of Michigan towns.

   6,069 people · Jackson County · median home $297,300 · income $95,692 · Jan low 16°F · 33 in snow

   Full Grass Lake, Michigan profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

5. 21Huntington Woods, Michigan

   More of a college town than 98% of Michigan towns

   Huntington Woods is a city of 6,388 people in Oakland County, Michigan. It also ranks better for families than 100% of Michigan towns and more upscale than 100% of Michigan towns.

   6,388 people · Oakland County · median home $473,900 · income $190,150 · Jan low 19°F · 34 in snow

   Full Huntington Woods, Michigan profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

6. 20Spring Arbor, Michigan

   More of a college town than 98% of Michigan towns

   Spring Arbor is a township of 8,530 people in Jackson County, Michigan. It also ranks better for young professionals than 93% of Michigan towns and better for cycling than 88% of Michigan towns.

   8,530 people · Jackson County · median home $217,700 · income $87,316 · Jan low 18°F · 42 in snow

   Full Spring Arbor, Michigan profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

7. 19Spring Arbor, Michigan

   More of a college town than 99% of Michigan towns

   Spring Arbor is a community of 2,916 people in Jackson County, Michigan. It also ranks better for young professionals than 95% of Michigan towns and better for cycling than 89% of Michigan towns.

   2,916 people · Jackson County · median home $225,000 · income $63,631 · Jan low 18°F · 41 in snow

   Full Spring Arbor, Michigan profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

8. 18Franklin, Michigan

   More of a college town than 99% of Michigan towns

   Franklin is a township of 3,063 people in Lenawee County, Michigan. It also ranks easier by car than 97% of Michigan towns and better for families than 82% of Michigan towns.

   3,063 people · Lenawee County · median home $293,900 · income $90,221 · Jan low 13°F · 26 in snow

   Full Franklin, Michigan profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

9. 17Riley, Michigan

   More of a college town than 99% of Michigan towns

   Riley is a township of 3,199 people in St. Clair County, Michigan. It also ranks easier by car than 99% of Michigan towns and better for families than 96% of Michigan towns.

   3,199 people · St. Clair County · median home $348,500 · income $97,262 · Jan low 16°F · 47 in snow

   Full Riley, Michigan profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

10. 16Prairieville, Michigan

    More of a college town than 99% of Michigan towns

    Prairieville is a township of 3,334 people in Barry County, Michigan. It also ranks better for retirees than 96% of Michigan towns and better for a vacation home than 95% of Michigan towns.

    3,334 people · Barry County · median home $406,900 · income $67,332 · Jan low 19°F · 66 in snow

    Full Prairieville, Michigan profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

11. 15Conway, Michigan

    More of a college town than 99% of Michigan towns

    Conway is a township of 3,608 people in Livingston County, Michigan. It also ranks better for families than 98% of Michigan towns and easier by car than 91% of Michigan towns.

    3,608 people · Livingston County · median home $285,500 · income $100,625 · Jan low 14°F · 46 in snow

    Full Conway, Michigan profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

12. 14Deerfield, Michigan

    More of a college town than 99% of Michigan towns

    Deerfield is a township of 4,166 people in Livingston County, Michigan. It also ranks better for families than 95% of Michigan towns and more upscale than 88% of Michigan towns.

    4,166 people · Livingston County · median home $326,500 · income $105,257 · Jan low 15°F · 44 in snow

    Full Deerfield, Michigan profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

13. 13Aurelius, Michigan

    More of a college town than 99% of Michigan towns

    Aurelius is a township of 4,354 people in Ingham County, Michigan. It also ranks better for families than 98% of Michigan towns and more upscale than 88% of Michigan towns.

    4,354 people · Ingham County · median home $261,800 · income $95,455 · Jan low 16°F · 36 in snow

    Full Aurelius, Michigan profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

14. 12Gibraltar, Michigan

    More of a college town than 99% of Michigan towns

    Gibraltar is a city of 4,997 people in Wayne County, Michigan. It also ranks more walkable than 88% of Michigan towns and more vibrant than 73% of Michigan towns.

    4,997 people · Wayne County · median home $223,200 · income $91,651 · Jan low 19°F · 54 in snow

    Full Gibraltar, Michigan profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

15. 11Holly, Michigan

    More of a college town than 99% of Michigan towns

    Holly is a village of 5,997 people in Oakland County, Michigan. It also ranks more walkable than 95% of Michigan towns and hipper than 94% of Michigan towns.

    5,997 people · Oakland County · median home $192,300 · income $64,305 · Jan low 15°F · 53 in snow

    Full Holly, Michigan profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

16. 10Webster, Michigan

    More of a college town than 99% of Michigan towns

    Webster is a township of 6,575 people in Washtenaw County, Michigan. It also ranks better for families than 100% of Michigan towns and more upscale than 99% of Michigan towns.

    6,575 people · Washtenaw County · median home $564,000 · income $155,104 · Jan low 15°F · 47 in snow

    Full Webster, Michigan profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

17. 9River Rouge, Michigan

    More of a college town than 99% of Michigan towns

    

    River Rouge is a city of 7,224 people in Wayne County, Michigan. It also ranks more walkable than 100% of Michigan towns and hipper than 98% of Michigan towns.

    7,224 people · Wayne County · median home $65,100 · income $41,053 · Jan low 19°F · 54 in snow

    Full River Rouge, Michigan profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

18. 8Houghton, Michigan

    More of a college town than 99% of Michigan towns

    Houghton is a city of 8,386 people in Houghton County, Michigan. It also ranks better for young professionals than 100% of Michigan towns and hipper than 100% of Michigan towns.

    8,386 people · Houghton County · median home $254,500 · income $43,456 · Jan low 9°F

    Full Houghton, Michigan profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

19. 7West Ishpeming, Michigan

    More of a college town than 100% of Michigan towns

    West Ishpeming is a community of 2,552 people in Marquette County, Michigan. It also ranks more upscale than 85% of Michigan towns and more walkable than 82% of Michigan towns.

    2,552 people · Marquette County · median home $193,900 · income $95,129 · Jan low 6°F · 118 in snow

    Full West Ishpeming, Michigan profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

20. 6Lathrup Village, Michigan

    More of a college town than 100% of Michigan towns

    Lathrup Village is a city of 4,088 people in Oakland County, Michigan. It also ranks more vibrant than 99% of Michigan towns and better transit than 98% of Michigan towns.

    4,088 people · Oakland County · median home $310,600 · income $109,893 · Jan low 16°F · 36 in snow

    Full Lathrup Village, Michigan profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

21. 5Linden, Michigan

    More of a college town than 100% of Michigan towns

    Linden is a city of 4,142 people in Genesee County, Michigan. It also ranks better for families than 96% of Michigan towns and hipper than 94% of Michigan towns.

    4,142 people · Genesee County · median home $239,700 · income $79,464 · Jan low 15°F · 48 in snow

    Full Linden, Michigan profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

22. 4Hancock, Michigan

    More of a college town than 100% of Michigan towns

    Hancock is a city of 4,501 people in Houghton County, Michigan. It also ranks hipper than 100% of Michigan towns and more vibrant than 98% of Michigan towns.

    4,501 people · Houghton County · median home $165,600 · income $59,519 · Jan low 9°F

    Full Hancock, Michigan profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

23. 3Milan, Michigan

    More of a college town than 100% of Michigan towns

    Milan is a city of 6,079 people in Washtenaw County, Michigan. It also ranks more walkable than 92% of Michigan towns and more vibrant than 89% of Michigan towns.

    6,079 people · Washtenaw County · median home $247,100 · income $96,949 · Jan low 17°F · 39 in snow

    Full Milan, Michigan profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

24. 2Big Rapids, Michigan

    More of a college town than 100% of Michigan towns

    

    Big Rapids is a city of 7,727 people in Mecosta County, Michigan. It also ranks better for young professionals than 99% of Michigan towns and hipper than 97% of Michigan towns.

    7,727 people · Mecosta County · median home $156,400 · income $43,858 · Jan low 13°F · 61 in snow

    Full Big Rapids, Michigan profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

25. 1Flushing, Michigan

    More of a college town than 100% of Michigan towns

    Flushing is a city of 8,411 people in Genesee County, Michigan. It also ranks more walkable than 94% of Michigan towns and more vibrant than 94% of Michigan towns.

    8,411 people · Genesee County · median home $204,500 · income $80,025 · Jan low 16°F · 40 in snow

    Full Flushing, Michigan profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

Price vs ranking

More Michigan rankings

• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Michigan
• The 25 Quietest Small Towns in Michigan
• The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Michigan
• The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Michigan
• The 24 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Michigan
• 25 Small Towns in Michigan With the Cheapest Homes
• 25 Small Towns in Michigan With the Mildest Winters
• The 25 Most Walkable Small Towns in Michigan
• 25 Small Towns in Michigan With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
• The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Michigan

Same ranking, other places

• The 50 Best College Small Towns in America
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• The 25 Best College Small Towns in New York
• The 25 Best College Small Towns in Texas
• The 25 Best College Small Towns in California
• The 25 Best College Small Towns in New Jersey