The Results Are In: Why People Love Living in Michigan

Whatever you want to accomplish, you can in Michigan. And while you’re at it, you’ll love living in this beautiful state. From past Livability research, it’s clear that people highly value quality of life when it comes to where they live, often prioritizing this over their work. They especially want a climate that fits their preference and facilitates outdoor activities, plus space to spread out while also enjoying access to local amenities. Affordable cost of living is key, too.

Michigan has all of that in spades, but Livability took a deeper dive into what makes the state stand apart. We worked with leading research firm Ipsos to conduct an August 2025 survey of 700 working-age adults. This sample included 400 Michigan residents, plus a nationally representative sample of 300, both weighted to reflect the U.S. population for age, gender, region, ethnicity and education. We asked both groups about their perceptions of living in Michigan, aiming to understand the factors that contribute to residents’ satisfaction and what people enjoy most about spending time in the state.

Read on for their insights on everything there is to love about the Great Lakes State – a snapshot of what makes Michigan a meaningful place to live.

People Here Tend to Stick Around

A clear takeaway from the Michigan residents surveyed: They stay. A notable majority of current residents surveyed, 79%, or 314 respondents, are lifelong residents. Many of the survey’s 52 transplants have been in the state for quite a while, too, often more than 10 years.

Open-ended survey responses point to the state’s long-term appeal at various ages and stages of life. One Michigan resident said: “I was born and raised in Michigan, specifically Grand Rapids, and I overall love it. I went to school in the heart of downtown and never got bored of my city. (For) anyone with kids, there’s always something to do on the weekends … ArtPrize (festival) every year and the expansion of downtown … is coming together … I would never move away!”

This longevity tracks with other statistics that Michigan is one of the “stickiest” states in the nation for those born there, alongside others including Iowa, Wisconsin and Ohio. (According to The Hill, based on U.S. Census Bureau data.)

Michigan’s solid universities and job opportunities, reasonable living costs and, for many respondents, proximity to loved ones, all contribute to its staying power for residents, and these factors were a common sentiment for respondents. For example, one resident said: “I have lived here my whole life, went to school here and found a good job right after school. My friends are all here, and the cost of living is pretty good.” 

Respondents also indicated numerous quality of life aspects they appreciate about living in Michigan – including the seasons, outdoor recreation, the food, walkable downtowns and more. For some transplants and boomerangs surveyed, these factors played a role in their decisions to move to Michigan – or to move back.

For example, some transplants surveyed indicated that part of their decision to move to Michigan was that they “just liked the area and quality of life it offers.” Boomerangs (someone who grew up in a place, left and came back) made up nearly 10% of the Michigan residents surveyed. They cited being closer to family as well as liking the area and quality of life.  

The pride residents have for their state is evident in their comments. As one Michigan resident shared: “I have visited dozens of other states, and I think Michigan is better than most. The state has lots of outdoor and indoor activities, easy access to beaches and lakes, plus you get all four seasons.”

Other resident comments echoed this sentiment, highlighting the state’s unique combination of features: “Michigan is a state that has a lot going for it. The four seasons, beaches, lakes, snow, sports and no natural disasters.”

A nonresident who has spent time in the state said: “I like the nature. It has lots of greenery, flowers, large trees, hills, etc. It also has a strong sense of community within the state, and I like that it offers high-quality education and arts. I like that the cost of living there is cheaper in comparison to other states.”

In Michigan, You Can Have Fun in All Four Seasons

From colorful falls and pleasant springs to snowy, cold winters and wonderfully warm summers, Michigan offers the best of every season. For both groups surveyed – Michigan residents and U.S. general population respondents – “fully experiencing all four seasons” was the most commonly selected benefit of living in Michigan.

In fact, a full 74% of resident respondents said this is a perk of making a move to Michigan. Some of their observations about the seasons in Michigan included: “I initially thought I wouldn’t like it and it was too cold. But, coming from Nevada, it felt good to get a break from all the heat out there,” and “Love this beautiful state. It’s the best place to live because you never get bored due to the seasons and activities wrapped around them.”

Other most-noted benefits of living in Michigan included “parks/public and green space” as well as “outdoor recreation” for both Michigan residents and U.S. general population respondents. That’s no surprise considering the diverse outdoor activities available in Michigan throughout the year, from skiing, snowboarding and ice fishing in winter to hiking and kayaking in summer.

As one resident put it: “Love the four seasons of Michigan. Enjoy going ‘up north’ in the winter to ski, and back ‘up north’ in the summer to the family cottage for boating and water skiing.”

In our survey, we also saw that people love the water in this Great Lakes State. Over and over, respondents mentioned the Great Lakes, beautiful beaches and general access to lakes and water in their comments. 

One resident said: “I did not know a lot about Michigan when I moved here, but associated it mostly with Detroit. When I moved here, I was surprised by the beauty of the beaches.

”Appreciation for the state’s scenery was a recurring theme, with many references to natural beauty and how “green” everything is. Survey respondents also love the beautiful Upper Peninsula, and it came up repeatedly in comments like this one from a resident: “There is no place like the Upper Peninsula. I love the slow pace of life, the wilderness and the climate. I have never considered leaving.”

Enjoy The Best of Urban and Quieter Living

Another benefit of living in Michigan that stood out to all respondents? Walkable downtowns.

We also saw suburban, rural and urban living represented for respondents residing in the state. While about half of Michigan residents surveyed said they live in the suburbs, 26% live in a rural area and 21% said they reside in an urban environment. Respondents mentioned being able to enjoy the benefits of all three. One resident commented: “It’s easy to find a less crowded/non-city location to live, but still within reasonable driving distance to a mid-size city.” 

Another current resident noted: “Michigan is a versatile state. I like it here because there are urban parts and country parts.”

Finally, this resident sums up why Michigan is a great place to live: “Michigan is a great place to live and raise a family. It keeps you grounded … You can do all kinds of things … within your means.

We have a beautiful state in all the seasons, but especially fall! And there is so much to do and see, from our college sports teams, to our winning professional teams like the Detroit Tigers, Red Wings and Lions, to our art events like ArtPrize in Grand Rapids every year, walking the Mackinac Bridge each Labor Day and visiting Mackinac Island, our car-free island! Not to mention the U.P.!

The Upper Peninsula, which boasts beautiful waterfalls, Sault Ste. Marie with the Soo Locks where the giant ships come through, the Porcupine Mountains and Kitch-iti-kipi, one of the most amazing hidden gems here in Michigan. Why would I move somewhere else when I have so many things to do here?”

– This article and research are sponsored by You Can in Michigan.