Best Cities for Remote Workers in Michigan
Michigan ranks #43 of 50 for remote workers, with a remote workers score of 41.5. Troy is its best city for remote workers at 67.7.
- Michigan, all states
- #43 of 50
- Population
- 87,898
What Remote Workers Should Know About Michigan
Michigan ranks #43 out of 50 for remote workers — a state where remote workers may face some headwinds. Remote work fundamentally changes the relocation calculus: when your salary comes from elsewhere, what matters is how far it stretches locally and how good daily life feels. Michigan's cost of living (index: 96.2) is near the national average, so a remote salary doesn't gain or lose much purchasing power here.
The moderate work-from-home rate of 11.2% suggests growing but not yet dominant remote work adoption. 92.8% of households have a broadband subscription, at or above the 50-state average, so home internet is widely adopted.
Taxes are moderate at 8.25% of income — not a major draw but not a dealbreaker. Housing affordability (score: 73/100) is a clear advantage — the typical home is worth $266,292, putting homeownership well within reach.
All 24 Cities Ranked for Remote Workers
| # City | Grade | Remote Workers score | Overall | Affordability | Economy | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Troy | A+ | 67.7 | 69.5 | 60 | 76 | 87,898 |
| 2Rochester Hills | A+ | 67.4 | 68.7 | 60 | 77 | 77,089 |
| 3Royal Oak | A+ | 66.7 | 68.6 | 67 | 72 | 57,950 |
| 4Novi | A+ | 66.1 | 68.5 | 59 | 73 | 66,717 |
| 5Farmington Hills | A | 63.7 | 65.8 | 64 | 65 | 83,515 |
| 6Livonia | A | 63.4 | 64.4 | 70 | 68 | 93,851 |
| 7Ann Arbor | A | 60.3 | 64.7 | 58 | 59 | 122,036 |
| 8St. Clair Shores | B | 59.8 | 57.9 | 74 | 53 | 58,140 |
| 9Wyoming | B | 59.3 | 55.9 | 76 | 50 | 77,353 |
| 10Sterling Heights | B | 57.6 | 56.9 | 70 | 47 | 133,573 |
| 11Kentwood | C+ | 56.7 | 53.8 | 74 | 46 | 54,296 |
| 12Westland | C+ | 55.2 | 54.1 | 76 | 49 | 83,633 |
| 13Southfield | C | 54.9 | 51.2 | 71 | 39 | 76,236 |
| 14Grand Rapids | C | 54.8 | 50.9 | 75 | 43 | 198,535 |
| 15Dearborn | C+ | 54.1 | 54.8 | 72 | 44 | 107,423 |
| 16Lansing | D | 52.8 | 45.0 | 83 | 30 | 113,023 |
| 17Warren | C | 52.6 | 49.4 | 75 | 34 | 137,928 |
| 18Dearborn Heights | C | 51.7 | 50.8 | 74 | 39 | 61,771 |
| 19Battle Creek | F | 51.4 | 42.3 | 86 | 31 | 52,374 |
| 20Taylor | D | 50.6 | 45.3 | 78 | 42 | 62,081 |
| 21Kalamazoo | F | 47.3 | 40.7 | 80 | 33 | 73,076 |
| 22Pontiac | F | 44.3 | 38.1 | 80 | 11 | 62,104 |
| 23Flint | F | 43.8 | 32.6 | 87 | 1 | 80,175 |
| 24Detroit | F | 40.7 | 32.4 | 81 | 2 | 638,530 |
City remote workers scores use each city's own data, with the category weights rescaled over the categories the city has; outdoor access has no city-level measure and is left out.
Compare: States with Similar Remote Workers Rankings
Also See: Michigan for Other Lifestyles
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Michigan a good state for remote workers?
Michigan ranks #43 out of 50 for remote workers with a persona-weighted score of 41.5/100. Its strongest relevant category is Affordability (73/100) and its weakest is Outdoor Access (18/100).
What is the best city for remote workers in Michigan?
Troy ranks #1 in Michigan for remote workers with a score of 67.7/100, followed by Rochester Hills and Royal Oak.
What factors are most important for remote workers in Michigan?
Rankings weighted toward affordable cost of living, strong economy, outdoor access, livability, low taxes, and safe communities — what remote workers prioritize when choosing where to live.