2 MI Towns Ranked Among Best Places to Live In America

MICHIGAN — Two Michigan communities are among the Best Places to Live in America in 2025, according to a new ranking from Niche released Monday.

Now in its 11th year, the ranking from the data-driven platform Niche helps everyone from young people just starting their careers or families to retirees decide where they want to live. The report analyzes places of various sizes, including cities with populations of 100,000 or more, suburbs and neighborhoods.

In Michigan, the following towns were among the top 100 on the list:

No. 19: Okemos

Okemos, located just outside Lansing with a population of 25,503, earned an overall A+ Niche grade. The review praised the suburb's public school system, as well as its housing options and diversity. The review also noted that many young professionals live in the suburb and residents tend to have moderate political views.

No. 92: Troy

Troy, located in the metro Detroit area with a population of 87,307, earned an overall A+ Niche grade. The review also praised the suburb's public school system, and its overall environment, which includes lots of restaurants, coffee shops and parks.

The rankings are based on a wide range of public data sources, including the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, combined with millions of resident reviews.

Niche said it analyzed thousands of communities to compile this year’s ranking. Community attributes considered in developing the list included the health of the local housing market, neighborhood diversity, area public schools and walkability, among others. (More on methodology.)

According to the ranking, the five best places to live in the United States are: Colonial Village, VA; Atlantic Station, GA; Chesterbrook, PA; Harbour Island, FL; City Center, CA.