The 25 Best Vacation-Home Small Towns in Michigan
Ranked on The Town Files lifestyle rankings among 541 towns of 2,500–10,000 people in Michigan. #1 is Elk Rapids, MI.
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25Yankee Springs, Michigan
Better for a vacation home than 90% of Michigan towns
5,322 people · Barry County · median home $373,900 · income $84,786 · Jan low 16°F · 70 in snow
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24Peninsula, Michigan
Better for a vacation home than 90% of Michigan towns
6,068 people · Grand Traverse County · median home $706,900 · income $137,787 · Jan low 17°F · 115 in snow
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23Whitewater, Michigan
Better for a vacation home than 91% of Michigan towns
2,688 people · Grand Traverse County · median home $373,000 · income $93,958 · Jan low 17°F · 119 in snow
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22Hayes, Michigan
Better for a vacation home than 91% of Michigan towns
2,725 people · Otsego County · median home $222,300 · income $77,629 · Jan low 12°F · 149 in snow
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21Casco, Michigan
Better for a vacation home than 92% of Michigan towns
2,796 people · Allegan County · median home $310,200 · income $84,637 · Jan low 22°F · 109 in snow
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20Negaunee, Michigan
Better for a vacation home than 92% of Michigan towns
3,232 people · Marquette County · median home $302,400 · income $97,955 · Jan low 7°F · 197 in snow
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19Pickford, Michigan
Better for a vacation home than 93% of Michigan towns
2,791 people · Chippewa County · median home $167,400 · income $99,688 · Jan low 7°F · 101 in snow
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18Otsego Lake, Michigan
Better for a vacation home than 93% of Michigan towns
2,857 people · Otsego County · median home $218,400 · income $73,073 · Jan low 12°F · 149 in snow
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17Rollin, Michigan
Better for a vacation home than 93% of Michigan towns
3,035 people · Lenawee County · median home $224,500 · income $79,736 · Jan low 13°F · 33 in snow
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16Hamlin, Michigan
Better for a vacation home than 93% of Michigan towns
3,711 people · Mason County · median home $281,400 · income $80,919 · Jan low 19°F · 79 in snow
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15Grattan, Michigan
Better for a vacation home than 93% of Michigan towns
3,809 people · Kent County · median home $355,800 · income $111,354 · Jan low 13°F · 71 in snow
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14Benzonia, Michigan
Better for a vacation home than 94% of Michigan towns
2,734 people · Benzie County · median home $327,000 · income $72,500 · Jan low 19°F · 93 in snow
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13Littlefield, Michigan
Better for a vacation home than 95% of Michigan towns
3,200 people · Emmet County · median home $256,500 · income $85,262 · Jan low 9°F · 116 in snow
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12Prairieville, Michigan
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
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11Almira, Michigan
Better for a vacation home than 96% of Michigan towns
3,873 people · Benzie County · median home $284,600 · income $90,278 · Jan low 16°F · 143 in snow
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10Chikaming, Michigan
Better for a vacation home than 97% of Michigan towns
2,778 people · Berrien County · median home $366,900 · income $83,908 · Jan low 17°F · 63 in snow
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9Suttons Bay, Michigan
Better for a vacation home than 97% of Michigan towns
2,883 people · Leelanau County · median home $440,500 · income $115,769 · Jan low 17°F · 115 in snow
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8Lyndon, Michigan
Better for a vacation home than 98% of Michigan towns
2,656 people · Washtenaw County · median home $350,200 · income $122,568 · Jan low 16°F · 33 in snow
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7Little Traverse, Michigan
Better for a vacation home than 98% of Michigan towns
2,657 people · Emmet County · median home $345,400 · income $88,368 · Jan low 15°F · 124 in snow
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6Ferrysburg, Michigan
Better for a vacation home than 98% 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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5Resort, Michigan
Better for a vacation home than 99% of Michigan towns
2,835 people · Emmet County · median home $394,500 · income $103,929 · Jan low 15°F · 124 in snow
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4Saugatuck, Michigan
Better for a vacation home than 99% of Michigan towns
3,443 people · Allegan County · median home $422,600 · income $93,618 · Jan low 20°F · 109 in snow
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3Petoskey, Michigan
Better for a vacation home than 99% of Michigan towns
5,877 people · Emmet County · median home $364,100 · income $74,196 · Jan low 15°F · 124 in snow
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2Bear Creek, Michigan
Better for a vacation home than 99% of Michigan towns
6,542 people · Emmet County · median home $364,500 · income $71,090 · Jan low 12°F · 120 in snow
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1Elk Rapids, Michigan
Better for a vacation home than 100% of Michigan towns
2,521 people · Antrim County · median home $401,100 · income $82,933 · Jan low 17°F · 112 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 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Michigan
Same ranking, other places
- The 50 Best Vacation-Home Small Towns in America
- The 25 Best Vacation-Home Small Towns in Pennsylvania
- The 25 Best Vacation-Home Small Towns in New York
- The 25 Best Vacation-Home Small Towns in Texas
- The 25 Best Vacation-Home Small Towns in California
- The 25 Best Vacation-Home Small Towns in New Jersey
- 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)