Top Michigan Towns to Settle Down In

In the upper Midwest of the U.S, along the Canadian border, you’ll find Michigan. Located in the heart of the Great Lakes region, touching four of the five Great Lakes, the most of any state, it is a region known for its incredible forests, sparkling lakes, and 3,228-mile freshwater coastline.

Michigan is also known for the great towns and cities within it. From Charlevoix and Ludington to Marshall and Gaylord, this state has many unique and pleasant towns and cities.

Let’s explore the state of Michigan, looking at many of the diverse and welcoming small towns and mid-sized cities within this great state.

First, let’s start with South Haven, Traverse City, and Grand Rapids. South Haven is a small city home to just under 4,500. It is located on Lake Michigan and has a longstanding history as an important port city. It has a quaint waterfront appeal, with a prominent lighthouse, vineyards, and a maritime museum.

Traverse City is a Northern Michigan city of 15,000, connected to two different bays that flow into Lake Michigan. It is a quiet town known for great wineries, shopping, fishing, and golf. It also has a charming downtown. Grand Rapids is a bigger Michigan city, home to almost 200,000. It is known for its great arts scene, with a strong local culture. Here, you can find museums, breweries, delicious restaurants, and much more.

Marquette, Harbor Springs, and St. Joseph are three other Michigan towns that are charming places to make a home. Marquette is located along the shores of Lake Superior, with a population of just over 20,000 and a busy university within it. It is a young town with many appealing hiking options, as well as great boating and fishing.

Harbor Springs is a quiet city and resort community located on Traverse Bay along Lake Michigan. With a permanent population under 2,000, it is a quiet and tight-knit town. Here, you’ll find tons of galleries, town festivals, great boating and golf, as well as gorgeous lake views. St. Joseph is another town along Lake Michigan’s waters, home to under 10,000 people. It is a family-friendly town, with attractions like the Silver Beach merry-go-round, Curious Kids’ Museum, and beautiful and walkable trails overlooking the water.

Douglas, Petoskey, and Holland are three more pleasant areas that provide comfortable Michigan lifestyles. Douglas is a quiet and cozy town on the Eastern shore of Lake Michigan. It is a peaceful town surrounded by beautiful landscapes, a popular spot for artists to set up shop and create striking paintings. It has tons of waterfront activities and great shops and eats.

Petoskey is a small city and a resort community that is a popular tourism hotspot. It has charming Victorian architecture, a historic shopping district, and a pleasantly walkable community with a picturesque downtown. Holland is a similarly charming city, home to over 30,000. Nestled on the Lake Michigan shoreline, it is known for its great natural scenery. It has Holland State Park, Windmill Island Gardens, and the famed Big Red Lighthouse.

Lansing, Cheboygan, and Midland are all cities and towns in Michigan that are attractive for those seeking to relocate. Lansing is the state capital, home to over 115,000, making it one of the most significant cities in the state. It has several colleges and universities within and nearby, giving it a young and energetic feel. It has several great attractions like the Potter Park House Zoo, Impression 5 Science Center, and R.E Olds Transportation Museum.

Cheboygan is a small city of under 5,000 situated along Lake Huron. It is a nature-lovers dream, with nearby Cheboygan State Park and several Nature Preserves along the water. In the summer, it is a great site for golfing and hiking. Midland is a city of roughly 40,000, with a bustling downtown filled with delicious food and drink, top-notch shopping, and thriving local businesses. It has great green spaces with gardens and nature centers.

Lastly, we have Okemos and Beaver Island. Okemos is a community of nearly 25,000 located along East Lansing, near Michigan State University.  It is known for the many parks, nature centers, and green areas that make it an eminently walkable area. Beaver Island is an island in Lake Michigan, the third-largest island in the state. It is a stunningly beautiful island every season, known as an emerald island for its water’s colors. It is a stargazing hotspot, where you can see the Northern Lights, and it is a quiet community with great outdoor activity options.