Find a Career in One of the Best Places to Live in Michigan

Looking to find a job in the Great Lakes State? We list Michigan’s top cities to help make your decision easier.

By Venus Gentile, Monster Contributor

Michigan is known for being at the heart of America's automobile industry and famous for the birth of Motown music. However, if you're searching for some of the best places to live in Michigan, the “Great Lake State” has so much more to offer. For starters, Michigan is home to some of the country's most abundant natural beauty and provides a high quality of life. From millions of acres of forests and more than 10,000 inland lakes to thousands of miles of trails and stunning shorelines, Michigan is an ideal place to live and work.

In addition to the state's natural charm, there's no shortage of well-paying jobs here in the manufacturing, technology, education, retail, healthcare, and hospitality sectors. Furthermore, the best companies to work for in Michigan include Fortune 500 enterprises, such as Walmart, Amazon, Apple, CVS Health, and Ford Motors.

Top Reasons to Live in Michigan:

  • The state has an overall low cost of living compared to the U.S. average. Housing prices are also significantly cheaper here.
  • Michigan's economy is ranked number one among 37 other states with a population greater than 2 million.
  • It ranks as the eighth-best state to start a career after New York, California, and Texas.
  • The University of Michigan positions itself as the number one school in the U.S.
  • Michigan and the Great Lakes region could be one of the best places on the planet to live by 2050 in terms of climate change impact.
  • You have a good chance of witnessing one of the world's greatest natural wonders here, the northern lights, from Lake Superior.
  • It's home to some of the country's most magnificent natural attractions – the Grand Island Ice Caves, Lake of Clouds, Arch Rock, and Isle Royale National Park.
  • Michigan is surrounded by four of the five Great Lakes and claims the nation's longest freshwater coastline.

Below we list some of the best places to live in Michigan for a healthy work-life balance. From bustling metropolitan cities to more rural and scenic towns, we'll help you find the perfect place to settle down and search for Michigan work.

Ann Arbor

It's no surprise that Ann Arbor is rated number one in the best cities to live in Michigan. Aside from being home to the esteemed University of Michigan, the area is known for its international community, progressive culture, diverse job market, and high median household income. If you're looking for the best places to live in Michigan for families, Ann Harbor offers a high quality of life and should be first on your list. You'll find excellent public schools, low crime rates, beautiful neighborhoods, and outstanding public parks. If you're searching for a new job here, you can find plenty of opportunities in education, healthcare, life sciences, and technology sectors.

Find Ann Arbor, MI jobs on Monster.

Grand Rapids

Located on the Grand River, east of Lake Michigan, Grand Rapids is the second-largest metro area in the state. Ranked second in the best places to live in Michigan, the "River City" exudes a small-town warmth and friendliness. From its craft brewery scene, one of the best in the nation, to the strong LGBTQ community, artsy neighborhoods, and affordable housing, Grand Rapids is an ideal place to settle down. If you're searching for some of the best places to work in Michigan, the city is among the top in the nation for job growth. It's an excellent destination for those looking for education, healthcare, manufacturing, and hospitality jobs.

Find Grand Rapids, MI jobs on Monster.

Kalamazoo

Kalamazoo is a fun and quirky city in Southern Michigan. You'll enjoy a rich music and cultural scene, abundant green spaces, and vibrant nightlife here. It’s also one of the best places to live in Michigan for families, mainly because of the Kalamazoo Promise Scholarship, which grants public school graduates up to 100% of their tuition at any in-state community college or university. And the overall cost of living is considerably lower than the rest of the state. If you're searching for Michigan work, healthcare, education, food service, and retail are some of the biggest industries in the area.

Find Kalamazoo, MI jobs on Monster.

Lansing

Lansing is the capital city of Michigan and has served as the state's center of government since the late 19th century. It ranks as one of the top best cities to live in Michigan, largely due to its high quality of life, excellent schools, and low housing prices. Lansing is a diverse place to live and work, known for its historically charming city and beautiful surrounding countryside. Michigan State University employs much of the workforce in the life sciences and education sectors. You can also find opportunities in the city and state government here.

Find Lansing, MI jobs on Monster.

Detroit

If you'd like to live and work in a city with a robust business atmosphere, low cost of living, and housing prices far below the state's average, Detroit is the ideal choice. Known as the "Motor City," Detroit is famous for American automobile production and Motown music. If you move here for work, you'll discover an innovative, community-focused city with neighborhoods that are rich in cultural heritage. Its largest employment sectors are production, manufacturing, government, retail, and education.

Find Detroit, MI jobs on Monster.

Speed Up Your Job Search in Michigan with Monsters Help

If you've got your heart set on finding a job in one of the best places to live in Michigan, we're here to help. Just create your free profile and upload your resume so top job recruiters can find you. Plus, when you sign up for our personalized job notifications, you'll never miss out on a great opportunity to work in the Great Lakes state.