2 Michigan Cities Named the Best Places to Live in the U.S.

As a native Michigander, I might be a bit biased when it comes to thinking that this is a great state to live in. That said, Michigan towns have been topping several lists of the best places to live in America, so I think that confirms my point.

Now, the staff at U.S. News has put out a brand new list of the top 150 best cities to live in the U.S. They "analyzed the 150 most populous metro areas to find the best places to live. To make the top of the list, a place had to have good value, be a desirable place to live, have a strong job market and a high quality of life," according to the study.

As for the publication's methodology and purpose for the report, U.S. News states, "U.S. News & World Report's Best Places to Live rankings are intended to help readers make the most informed decision when choosing where to settle down." They added that cities are rated utilizing data from sources, including the U.S. Census Bureau, the FBI, the U.S. Department of Labor and U.S. News' own internal resources. That information was categorized into the five indexes: Job Market Index, Value Index, Quality of Life Index, Desirability Index and Net Migration.

So, which Michigan cities are on top? A whopping two Michigan towns landed inside the top 20: Ann Arbor and Grand Rapids. Ann Arbor is No. 11 on the list, with the outlet stating, "Ann Arbor is a city of contrasts. It is at once rural and urban, sporty and smart, outdoorsy and high-tech, counterculture and high society." Grand Rapids is No. 16 on the list, with the publication stating, "Grand Rapids has an affinity for public art, and its craft brewery scene is one of the best in the nation. A scenic spot perched on the Grand River – Michigan's longest waterway – Grand Rapids has evolved from its 19th-century roots as a hub of furniture production to the modern-day metro area that is attracting college students and young families with its healthy job market, affordable housing and outdoor recreational activities." Find the full report here.

Read on for the Top 10 best areas in Michigan to buy a house!

It's a wild time to buy a house. The prices seem to just keep going up and up, with no end to this housing bubble in sight. I would love to buy my first hour, but like many, I'm being forced to wait until the housing market drops a bit, and it's anybody's guess when that will happen.

If you are buying a house right now, you should make sure it's in a good place to live, since you're likely paying a pretty penny for it. Thankfully, the folks at Niche.com have done the homework to determine the best places to buy a house in Michigan. They recently released a list of the best places to live in the state, factoring in both cities, suburbs, towns and city neighborhoods.

"The Best Places to Buy a House ranking provides a comprehensive assessment of the housing and community of an area," they explain the in the study. "This grade takes into account key factors of a location’s housing market, including home values, taxes, crime rates, and quality of local schools, in an attempt to measure the quality and stability of an area’s real estate market." They also look at aspects such as home value to income ratio, public schools grades, monthly housing costs, the cost of living, the higher education rate, the median home value and much more. Statistics are mainly obtained from the U.S. Census and represent the most recent data available, they state.

So, what places are the best to reside in Michigan? Read on for the top 50 list via Niche.com, and best of luck with your home buying experience.

This list is via Niche.com.

https://www.niche.com/places-to-live/oneida-eaton-mi/

http://new.williamston-mi.us/

https://www.blendontownship-mi.gov/

http://www.tecumsehtownship.org/

https://www.niche.com/places-to-live/sheridan-charter-township-newaygo-mi/

http://twp.jamestown.mi.us/

http://www.ferrysburg.org/

https://www.twp-lima.org/

https://www.frankenmuth.org/

https://www.courtlandtwpmi.gov/

https://www.bloomfieldtwp.org/Home.aspx

https://www.niche.com/places-to-live/ingersoll-township-midland-mi/

https://www.baldwintownship.org/

https://www.niche.com/places-to-live/haslett-ingham-mi/

https://www.niche.com/places-to-live/jenison-ottawa-mi/

https://www.niche.com/places-to-live/dewitt-clinton-mi/

https://www.niche.com/places-to-live/quinnesec-dickinson-mi/

https://www.michigan.org/city/freeland

https://www.resorttownship.org/township-resources/news/

https://www.cityofmidlandmi.gov/

https://www.gpwmi.us/

https://www.niche.com/places-to-live/oakland-charter-township-oakland-mi/

https://www.niche.com/places-to-live/webster-township-washtenaw-mi/

https://troymi.gov/

http://fultonheights.org/

https://www.brightontwp.com/

https://www.texastownship.org/

https://www.portagetownship.info/

https://crockery-township.org/

https://norwaytwpmi.com/

https://www.zeelandtwp.org/

https://www.ci.northville.mi.us/

https://www.niche.com/places-to-live/cannon-township-kent-mi/

https://www.zillow.com/beverly-hills-mi/

https://www.niche.com/places-to-live/forest-hills-kent-mi/

https://www.niche.com/places-to-live/west-ishpeming-marquette-mi/

https://www.niche.com/places-to-live/tilden-township-marquette-mi/

https://www.ci.huntington-woods.mi.us/

https://www.hudsonville.org/

https://www.ottawahillsgr.org/

https://www.grossepointefarms.org/

https://www.michigan.org/city/okemos

https://loditownshipmi.org/

https://royaltontownship.org/

https://www.eastgr.org/

https://www.michigan.org/city/berkley

https://www.niche.com/places-to-live/n/eastgate-grand-rapids-mi/

http://www.larkintownship.org/