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Best Overall Cities in Michigan

5 cities ranked · Highest MoveScore composite — safest overall balance of all six livability dimensions.

Top Cities in Michigan

  1. #1
    B

    Grand Rapids

    Best Overall Cities score 74 · MoveScore 74

  2. #2
    B

    Ann Arbor

    Best Overall Cities score 70 · MoveScore 70

  3. #3
    B

    Detroit

    Best Overall Cities score 70 · MoveScore 70

  4. #4
    D

    Lansing

    Best Overall Cities score 59 · MoveScore 59

  5. #5
    D

    Kalamazoo

    Best Overall Cities score 55 · MoveScore 55

Other Michigan Rankings

Best for Safety in Michigan

Lowest crime rates per FBI UCR — best for families sensitive to violent and property crime.

Best for Water Quality in Michigan

Cleanest drinking water per EPA SDWIS — fewest violations, highest safety scores.

Best for Air Quality in Michigan

Cleanest air per EPA AQS — lowest median AQI and fewest unhealthy days.

Best for Public Schools in Michigan

Strongest public school performance per NCES/EDFacts — highest average proficiency.

Best Fiscal Health in Michigan

Strongest municipal fiscal health per Census ASPEP — sustainable per-capita spending.

Best for Hospital Care in Michigan

Highest-rated hospitals per CMS HCAHPS — best patient experience scores.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city in Michigan ranks highest for best overall cities?

Grand Rapids, MI ranks #1 in Michigan for best overall cities with a sub-score of 74/100 (MoveScore 74, grade B).

How many cities in Michigan are compared?

5 Michigan cities have enough federal data for this ranking. Cities need at least three of six sub-scores for inclusion.

How is this ranking calculated?

Highest MoveScore composite — safest overall balance of all six livability dimensions. Sub-scores are normalized to 0-100 and the highest scores rank first.

Sources: FBI UCR, EPA, NCES, Census ASPEP, CMS HCAHPS
Last updated:

Michigan-specific ranking using the composite MoveScore, normalized to 0-100. Cities need at least three federal sub-scores to be included.