The 25 Hippest Small Towns in Michigan

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

1. 25Negaunee, Michigan

   Hipper than 97% of Michigan towns

   Negaunee is a city of 4,627 people in Marquette County, Michigan. It also ranks more walkable than 89% of Michigan towns and better for young professionals than 84% of Michigan towns.

   4,627 people · Marquette County · median home $170,100 · income $70,568 · Jan low 7°F · 197 in snow

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

2. 24Petoskey, Michigan

   Hipper than 97% of Michigan towns

   Petoskey is a city of 5,877 people in Emmet County, Michigan. It also ranks better for retirees than 99% of Michigan towns and better for young professionals than 99% of Michigan towns.

   5,877 people · Emmet County · median home $364,100 · income $74,196 · Jan low 15°F · 124 in snow

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

3. 23Big Rapids, Michigan

   Hipper than 97% of Michigan towns

   

   Big Rapids is a city of 7,727 people in Mecosta County, Michigan. It also ranks more of a college town than 100% of Michigan towns and better for young professionals than 99% 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 →

4. 22Saline, Michigan

   Hipper than 97% of Michigan towns

   Saline is a city of 8,948 people in Washtenaw County, Michigan. It also ranks better for young professionals than 98% of Michigan towns and more upscale than 97% of Michigan towns.

   8,948 people · Washtenaw County · median home $341,300 · income $88,346 · Jan low 15°F · 59 in snow

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

5. 21Oronoko, Michigan

   Hipper than 97% of Michigan towns

   Oronoko is a charter township of 9,226 people in Berrien County, Michigan. It also ranks better for young professionals than 99% of Michigan towns and better for cycling than 97% of Michigan towns.

   9,226 people · Berrien County · median home $228,100 · income $60,175 · Jan low 20°F · 75 in snow

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

6. 20Muskegon Heights, Michigan

   Hipper than 97% of Michigan towns

   Muskegon Heights is a city of 9,917 people in Muskegon County, Michigan. It also ranks more walkable than 99% of Michigan towns and more vibrant than 91% of Michigan towns.

   9,917 people · Muskegon County · median home $68,000 · income $35,239 · Jan low 21°F · 87 in snow

   Full Muskegon Heights, Michigan profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

7. 19Oxford, Michigan

   Hipper than 98% of Michigan towns

   Oxford is a village of 3,492 people in Oakland County, Michigan. It also ranks better for young professionals than 99% of Michigan towns and more walkable than 97% of Michigan towns.

   3,492 people · Oakland County · median home $347,800 · income $83,611 · Jan low 17°F · 45 in snow

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

8. 18South Haven, Michigan

   Hipper than 98% of Michigan towns

   South Haven is a city of 3,964 people in Van Buren County, Michigan. It also ranks better transit than 97% of Michigan towns and more walkable than 93% of Michigan towns.

   3,964 people · Van Buren County · median home $454,100 · income $68,239 · Jan low 22°F · 98 in snow

   Full South Haven, Michigan profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

9. 17River Rouge, Michigan

   Hipper than 98% 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 more of a college town than 99% 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 →

10. 16Ludington, Michigan

    Hipper than 98% of Michigan towns

    Ludington is a city of 7,655 people in Mason County, Michigan. It also ranks more walkable than 96% of Michigan towns and more vibrant than 91% of Michigan towns.

    7,655 people · Mason County · median home $201,100 · income $46,411 · Jan low 19°F · 79 in snow

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

11. 15Hillsdale, Michigan

    Hipper than 98% of Michigan towns

    Hillsdale is a city of 8,036 people in Hillsdale County, Michigan. It also ranks better for cycling than 98% of Michigan towns and better transit than 94% of Michigan towns.

    8,036 people · Hillsdale County · median home $130,900 · income $51,038 · Jan low 15°F · 44 in snow

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

12. 14Center Line, Michigan

    Hipper than 98% of Michigan towns

    Center Line is a city of 8,552 people in Macomb County, Michigan. It also ranks more walkable than 99% of Michigan towns and more vibrant than 99% of Michigan towns.

    8,552 people · Macomb County · median home $156,600 · income $54,703 · Jan low 20°F · 28 in snow

    Full Center Line, Michigan profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

13. 13Highland Park, Michigan

    Hipper than 98% of Michigan towns

    Highland Park is a city of 8,977 people in Wayne County, Michigan. It also ranks better transit than 100% of Michigan towns and more walkable than 98% of Michigan towns.

    8,977 people · Wayne County · median home $79,200 · income $29,309 · Jan low 20°F · 31 in snow

    Full Highland Park, Michigan profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

14. 12Lake Orion, Michigan

    Hipper than 99% of Michigan towns

    Lake Orion is a village of 2,876 people in Oakland County, Michigan. It also ranks more vibrant than 100% of Michigan towns and more walkable than 99% of Michigan towns.

    2,876 people · Oakland County · median home $376,600 · income $101,318 · Jan low 17°F · 43 in snow

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

15. 11Romeo, Michigan

    Hipper than 99% of Michigan towns

    Romeo is a village of 3,767 people in Macomb County, Michigan. It also ranks better for retirees than 97% of Michigan towns and more walkable than 95% of Michigan towns.

    3,767 people · Macomb County · median home $266,200 · income $74,323 · Jan low 16°F · 40 in snow

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

16. 10Belleville, Michigan

    Hipper than 99% of Michigan towns

    Belleville is a city of 4,008 people in Wayne County, Michigan. It also ranks better for young professionals than 99% of Michigan towns and more vibrant than 98% of Michigan towns.

    4,008 people · Wayne County · median home $148,300 · income $62,991 · Jan low 20°F · 45 in snow

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

17. 9Ironwood, Michigan

    Hipper than 99% of Michigan towns

    Ironwood is a city of 5,045 people in Gogebic County, Michigan. It also ranks more walkable than 94% of Michigan towns and more vibrant than 87% of Michigan towns.

    5,045 people · Gogebic County · median home $83,100 · income $41,250 · Jan low 4°F · 186 in snow

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

18. 8Grosse Pointe, Michigan

    Hipper than 99% of Michigan towns

    Grosse Pointe is a city of 5,678 people in Wayne County, Michigan. It also ranks more walkable than 100% of Michigan towns and more upscale than 99% of Michigan towns.

    5,678 people · Wayne County · median home $436,800 · income $158,853 · Jan low 17°F · 28 in snow

    Full Grosse Pointe, Michigan profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

19. 7St. Joseph, Michigan

    Hipper than 99% of Michigan towns

    

    St. Joseph is a city of 7,856 people in Berrien County, Michigan. It also ranks better for young professionals than 98% of Michigan towns and better for cycling than 98% of Michigan towns.

    7,856 people · Berrien County · median home $299,000 · income $84,057 · Jan low 20°F · 78 in snow

    Full St. Joseph, Michigan profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

20. 6Plymouth, Michigan

    Hipper than 99% of Michigan towns

    Plymouth is a city of 9,370 people in Wayne County, Michigan. It also ranks more vibrant than 100% of Michigan towns and more walkable than 99% of Michigan towns.

    9,370 people · Wayne County · median home $448,600 · income $112,145 · Jan low 16°F · 36 in snow

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

21. 5Pleasant Ridge, Michigan

    Hipper than 100% of Michigan towns

    Pleasant Ridge is a city of 2,627 people in Oakland County, Michigan. It also ranks more walkable than 100% of Michigan towns and more upscale than 100% of Michigan towns.

    2,627 people · Oakland County · median home $448,700 · income $171,125 · Jan low 20°F · 33 in snow

    Full Pleasant Ridge, Michigan profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

22. 4Hancock, Michigan

    Hipper than 100% of Michigan towns

    Hancock is a city of 4,501 people in Houghton County, Michigan. It also ranks more of a college town 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. 3Chelsea, Michigan

    Hipper than 100% of Michigan towns

    Chelsea is a city of 5,467 people in Washtenaw County, Michigan. It also ranks better for retirees than 97% of Michigan towns and more walkable than 94% of Michigan towns.

    5,467 people · Washtenaw County · median home $312,700 · income $72,098 · Jan low 16°F · 33 in snow

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

24. 2Houghton, Michigan

    Hipper than 100% 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 better for cycling 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 →

25. 1Westwood, Michigan

    Hipper than 100% of Michigan towns

    Westwood is a community of 9,621 people in Kalamazoo County, Michigan. It also ranks better for first-time buyers than 100% of Michigan towns and better for young professionals than 100% of Michigan towns.

    9,621 people · Kalamazoo County · median home $193,400 · income $58,205 · Jan low 18°F · 88 in snow

    Full Westwood, 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 Hippest Small Towns in America
• The 25 Hippest Small Towns in Pennsylvania
• The 25 Hippest Small Towns in New York
• The 25 Hippest Small Towns in Texas
• The 25 Hippest Small Towns in California
• The 25 Hippest Small Towns in New Jersey