The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Michigan
Ranked on The Town Files lifestyle rankings among 541 towns of 2,500–10,000 people in Michigan. #1 is Westwood, MI.
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25Bainbridge, Michigan
Better for first-time buyers than 91% of Michigan towns
2,682 people · Berrien County · median home $220,600 · income $74,574 · Jan low 20°F · 87 in snow
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24Portland, Michigan
Better for first-time buyers than 91% of Michigan towns
3,796 people · Ionia County · median home $166,200 · income $65,845 · Jan low 16°F · 45 in snow
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23East Tawas, Michigan
Better for first-time buyers than 92% of Michigan towns
2,663 people · Iosco County · median home $130,200 · income $42,450 · Jan low 13°F · 49 in snow
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22Tyrone, Michigan
Better for first-time buyers than 92% of Michigan towns
5,021 people · Kent County · median home $238,400 · income $69,773 · Jan low 14°F · 48 in snow
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21Holton, Michigan
Better for first-time buyers than 93% of Michigan towns
2,586 people · Muskegon County · median home $186,300 · income $72,910 · Jan low 16°F · 72 in snow
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20Gaylord, Michigan
Better for first-time buyers than 93% of Michigan towns
4,286 people · Otsego County · median home $192,800 · income $44,701 · Jan low 11°F · 140 in snow
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19Hancock, Michigan
Better for first-time buyers than 93% of Michigan towns
4,501 people · Houghton County · median home $165,600 · income $59,519 · Jan low 9°F
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18Sheridan, Michigan
Better for first-time buyers than 94% of Michigan towns
2,518 people · Newaygo County · median home $183,300 · income $76,042 · Jan low 16°F · 70 in snow
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17West Branch, Michigan
Better for first-time buyers than 94% of Michigan towns
2,567 people · Ogemaw County · median home $171,600 · income $62,955 · Jan low 10°F · 53 in snow
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16Green, Michigan
Better for first-time buyers than 94% of Michigan towns
3,219 people · Mecosta County · median home $156,200 · income $82,955 · Jan low 13°F · 61 in snow
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15Alma, Michigan
Better for first-time buyers than 94% of Michigan towns
9,488 people · Gratiot County · median home $115,900 · income $53,307 · Jan low 15°F · 39 in snow
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14Buchanan, Michigan
Better for first-time buyers than 95% of Michigan towns
3,436 people · Berrien County · median home $194,000 · income $66,783 · Jan low 19°F · 63 in snow
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13Mancelona, Michigan
Better for first-time buyers than 95% of Michigan towns
4,311 people · Antrim County · median home $159,900 · income $65,412 · Jan low 12°F · 137 in snow
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12Crystal, Michigan
Better for first-time buyers than 96% of Michigan towns
2,619 people · Montcalm County · median home $194,000 · income $56,087 · Jan low 15°F · 54 in snow
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11Richland, Michigan
Better for first-time buyers than 96% of Michigan towns
2,646 people · Montcalm County · median home $142,100 · income $50,862 · Jan low 15°F · 47 in snow
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10Fremont, Michigan
Better for first-time buyers than 96% of Michigan towns
3,167 people · Tuscola County · median home $144,400 · income $63,155 · Jan low 15°F · 49 in snow
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9Center Line, Michigan
Better for first-time buyers than 96% of Michigan towns
8,552 people · Macomb County · median home $156,600 · income $54,703 · Jan low 20°F · 28 in snow
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8Portland, Michigan
Better for first-time buyers than 97% of Michigan towns
3,881 people · Ionia County · median home $258,400 · income $101,890 · Jan low 16°F · 50 in snow
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7Wolf Lake, Michigan
Better for first-time buyers than 97% of Michigan towns
5,034 people · Muskegon County · median home $131,400 · income $51,637 · Jan low 21°F · 87 in snow
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6Wheeler, Michigan
Better for first-time buyers than 98% of Michigan towns
2,612 people · Gratiot County · median home $115,400 · income $61,149 · Jan low 15°F · 42 in snow
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5Solon, Michigan
Better for first-time buyers than 98% of Michigan towns
6,496 people · Kent County · median home $256,900 · income $86,958 · Jan low 14°F · 48 in snow
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4Rogers City, Michigan
Better for first-time buyers than 99% of Michigan towns
2,850 people · Presque Isle County · median home $110,200 · income $49,266 · Jan low 14°F · 85 in snow
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3Ferrysburg, Michigan
Better for first-time buyers than 100% of Michigan towns
2,952 people · Ottawa County · median home $239,900 · income $70,400 · Jan low 19°F · 87 in snow
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2Roosevelt Park, Michigan
Better for first-time buyers than 100% of Michigan towns
4,172 people · Muskegon County · median home $193,300 · income $62,857 · Jan low 21°F · 87 in snow
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1Westwood, Michigan
Better for first-time buyers than 100% of Michigan towns
9,621 people · Kalamazoo County · median home $193,400 · income $58,205 · Jan low 18°F · 88 in snow
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 24 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Michigan With Mild Winters
Same ranking, other places
- The 50 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in America
- The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Pennsylvania
- The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in New York
- The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Texas
- The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in California
- The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in New Jersey
- The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Florida
- The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Wisconsin
- The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Ohio
- The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Illinois
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)