County Freedom Index

State freedom map

Michigan Freedom Map

Compare all 83 Michigan counties for tiny homes, RV living, off-grid living, homesteading, land affordability, solar, broadband, climate, public land, and county-rule research.

County profiles83
Regions8
Verified profiles0
Top score79

Interactive map

Explore Michigan Counties

Map filters83 countiesUpdates the map below
Alcona County: Freedom Score 77Alger County: Freedom Score 72Allegan County: Freedom Score 51Alpena County: Freedom Score 50Antrim County: Freedom Score 56Arenac County: Freedom Score 51Baraga County: Freedom Score 72Barry County: Freedom Score 51Bay County: Freedom Score 49Benzie County: Freedom Score 62Berrien County: Freedom Score 51Branch County: Freedom Score 51Calhoun County: Freedom Score 49Cass County: Freedom Score 52Charlevoix County: Freedom Score 52Cheboygan County: Freedom Score 52Chippewa County: Freedom Score 53Clare County: Freedom Score 67Clinton County: Freedom Score 50Crawford County: Freedom Score 68Delta County: Freedom Score 50Dickinson County: Freedom Score 49Eaton County: Freedom Score 50Emmet County: Freedom Score 53Genesee County: Freedom Score 36Gladwin County: Freedom Score 51Gogebic County: Freedom Score 66Grand Traverse County: Freedom Score 49Gratiot County: Freedom Score 50Hillsdale County: Freedom Score 52Houghton County: Freedom Score 50Huron County: Freedom Score 50Ingham County: Freedom Score 37Ionia County: Freedom Score 51Iosco County: Freedom Score 56Iron County: Freedom Score 66Isabella County: Freedom Score 49Jackson County: Freedom Score 50Kalamazoo County: Freedom Score 50Kalkaska County: Freedom Score 61Kent County: Freedom Score 34Keweenaw County: Freedom Score 67Lake County: Freedom Score 75Lapeer County: Freedom Score 53Leelanau County: Freedom Score 37Lenawee County: Freedom Score 50Livingston County: Freedom Score 52Luce County: Freedom Score 79Mackinac County: Freedom Score 55Macomb County: Freedom Score 29Manistee County: Freedom Score 60Marquette County: Freedom Score 61Mason County: Freedom Score 51Mecosta County: Freedom Score 51Menominee County: Freedom Score 64Midland County: Freedom Score 49Missaukee County: Freedom Score 56Monroe County: Freedom Score 51Montcalm County: Freedom Score 50Montmorency County: Freedom Score 68Muskegon County: Freedom Score 50Newaygo County: Freedom Score 53Oakland County: Freedom Score 29Oceana County: Freedom Score 57Ogemaw County: Freedom Score 69Ontonagon County: Freedom Score 78Osceola County: Freedom Score 73Oscoda County: Freedom Score 79Otsego County: Freedom Score 53Ottawa County: Freedom Score 34Presque Isle County: Freedom Score 61Roscommon County: Freedom Score 69Saginaw County: Freedom Score 54Sanilac County: Freedom Score 52Schoolcraft County: Freedom Score 77Shiawassee County: Freedom Score 50St. Clair County: Freedom Score 57St. Joseph County: Freedom Score 51Tuscola County: Freedom Score 50Van Buren County: Freedom Score 57Washtenaw County: Freedom Score 33Wayne County: Freedom Score 23Wexford County: Freedom Score 55
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Expansion state

Michigan Is Part Of The Shared Freedom Map Platform

A sourced discovery dataset for Michigan counties, Upper Peninsula and rural Lower Peninsula land research, homesteading, off-grid screening, township-level zoning, septic, private wells, EGLE wetlands and floodplain context, and shoreline due diligence, with local-office confirmation still pending. These pages use the same county template, scoring model, and source-first workflow as Colorado.

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Rank Michigan

Michigan County Rankings

Highest Freedom ScoresBest for Tiny HomesBest for RV LivingBest for Off-Grid LivingCheapest LandBest Solar PotentialBest Public Land Access

Best fit

Michigan Counties By Lifestyle Goal

Start with a use case, compare the top county-level candidates, then move into parcel-level zoning, water, septic, access, and covenant research.

Tiny

Best For Tiny Home Research

4/5

County-level candidates where tiny-home research starts with stronger alternative-housing scores, rural land context, and source coverage.

Top starts: Luce, Oscoda, Ontonagon

RV

Best For RV Living Research

4/5

Counties worth comparing for RV occupancy, temporary use, sanitation, access, construction, and covenant questions.

Top starts: Luce, Oscoda, Ontonagon

Off grid

Best For Off-Grid Living

5/5

Stronger off-grid discovery candidates based on rural density, land affordability, solar, public land, water, septic, and county-rule research.

Top starts: Luce, Oscoda, Ontonagon

Land

Cheapest Rural Land

98/100

Lower price-per-acre counties that still need practical screening for water, septic, roads, covenants, access, and total development cost.

Top starts: Ontonagon, Marquette, Oscoda

Public

Best Public Land Access

0.7M

Counties with major public-land acreage and recreation signals, balanced against private parcel access and buildability constraints.

Top starts: Schoolcraft, Ontonagon, Gogebic

Overall

Highest Freedom Scores

79

The broadest starting point for comparing counties across lifestyle scores, land affordability, taxes, solar, broadband, and public land.

Top starts: Luce, Oscoda, Ontonagon

Research guides

Michigan Lifestyle Research Paths

Use these guides to translate county rankings into practical due-diligence checklists for your intended housing and land-use plan.

Best for Tiny HomesBest for RV LivingBest for Off-Grid LivingCheapest LandBest Public Land Access

Browse Michigan

County Profiles

#1

Luce County

Upper Peninsula

79
Tiny
4/5
RV
4/5
Off grid
5/5
Land
80
Partially sourced#2

Oscoda County

Northern Lower Michigan

79
Tiny
4/5
RV
4/5
Off grid
5/5
Land
82
Partially sourced#3

Ontonagon County

Upper Peninsula

78
Tiny
4/5
RV
4/5
Off grid
5/5
Land
98
Partially sourced#4

Alcona County

Northern Lower Michigan

77
Tiny
4/5
RV
4/5
Off grid
5/5
Land
75
Partially sourced#5

Schoolcraft County

Upper Peninsula

77
Tiny
4/5
RV
4/5
Off grid
5/5
Land
74
Partially sourced#6

Lake County

West Michigan

75
Tiny
4/5
RV
4/5
Off grid
5/5
Land
56
Partially sourced#7

Osceola County

Central Michigan

73
Tiny
4/5
RV
4/5
Off grid
5/5
Land
51
Partially sourced#8

Alger County

Upper Peninsula

72
Tiny
3/5
RV
4/5
Off grid
5/5
Land
77
Partially sourced#9

Baraga County

Upper Peninsula

72
Tiny
4/5
RV
4/5
Off grid
5/5
Land
48
Partially sourced#10

Ogemaw County

Northern Lower Michigan

69
Tiny
4/5
RV
4/5
Off grid
5/5
Land
24
Partially sourced#11

Roscommon County

Northern Lower Michigan

69
Tiny
4/5
RV
4/5
Off grid
5/5
Land
20
Partially sourced#12

Crawford County

Northern Lower Michigan

68
Tiny
4/5
RV
4/5
Off grid
5/5
Land
20
Partially sourced#13

Montmorency County

Northern Lower Michigan

68
Tiny
4/5
RV
4/5
Off grid
5/5
Land
20
Partially sourced#14

Clare County

Central Michigan

67
Tiny
4/5
RV
4/5
Off grid
5/5
Land
20
Partially sourced#15

Keweenaw County

Upper Peninsula

67
Tiny
4/5
RV
4/5
Off grid
5/5
Land
20
Partially sourced#16

Gogebic County

Upper Peninsula

66
Tiny
4/5
RV
4/5
Off grid
5/5
Land
20
Partially sourced#17

Iron County

Upper Peninsula

66
Tiny
4/5
RV
4/5
Off grid
5/5
Land
20
Partially sourced#18

Menominee County

Upper Peninsula

64
Tiny
3/5
RV
3/5
Off grid
4/5
Land
78
Partially sourced#19

Benzie County

Northern Lower Michigan

62
Tiny
4/5
RV
3/5
Off grid
4/5
Land
20
Partially sourced#20

Kalkaska County

Northern Lower Michigan

61
Tiny
3/5
RV
3/5
Off grid
3/5
Land
79
Partially sourced#21

Marquette County

Upper Peninsula

61
Tiny
3/5
RV
3/5
Off grid
3/5
Land
93
Partially sourced#22

Presque Isle County

Northern Lower Michigan

61
Tiny
3/5
RV
3/5
Off grid
4/5
Land
56
Partially sourced#23

Manistee County

Northern Lower Michigan

60
Tiny
4/5
RV
3/5
Off grid
4/5
Land
20
Partially sourced#24

Oceana County

West Michigan

57
Tiny
3/5
RV
3/5
Off grid
3/5
Land
53
Partially sourced#25

St. Clair County

Thumb and Saginaw Bay

57
Tiny
3/5
RV
3/5
Off grid
3/5
Land
62
Partially sourced#26

Van Buren County

Southwest Michigan

57
Tiny
3/5
RV
3/5
Off grid
3/5
Land
65
Partially sourced#27

Antrim County

Northern Lower Michigan

56
Tiny
3/5
RV
3/5
Off grid
3/5
Land
45
Partially sourced#28

Iosco County

Northern Lower Michigan

56
Tiny
3/5
RV
3/5
Off grid
3/5
Land
49
Partially sourced#29

Missaukee County

Northern Lower Michigan

56
Tiny
3/5
RV
3/5
Off grid
4/5
Land
20
Partially sourced#30

Mackinac County

Upper Peninsula

55
Tiny
3/5
RV
3/5
Off grid
4/5
Land
20
Partially sourced#31

Wexford County

Northern Lower Michigan

55
Tiny
3/5
RV
3/5
Off grid
3/5
Land
50
Partially sourced#32

Saginaw County

Thumb and Saginaw Bay

54
Tiny
3/5
RV
3/5
Off grid
3/5
Land
56
Partially sourced#33

Chippewa County

Upper Peninsula

53
Tiny
3/5
RV
3/5
Off grid
4/5
Land
20
Partially sourced#34

Emmet County

Northern Lower Michigan

53
Tiny
3/5
RV
3/5
Off grid
3/5
Land
20
Partially sourced#35

Lapeer County

Thumb and Saginaw Bay

53
Tiny
3/5
RV
3/5
Off grid
3/5
Land
20
Partially sourced#36

Newaygo County

Central Michigan

53
Tiny
3/5
RV
3/5
Off grid
3/5
Land
36
Partially sourced#37

Otsego County

Northern Lower Michigan

53
Tiny
3/5
RV
3/5
Off grid
3/5
Land
20
Partially sourced#38

Cass County

Southwest Michigan

52
Tiny
3/5
RV
3/5
Off grid
3/5
Land
20
Partially sourced#39

Charlevoix County

Northern Lower Michigan

52
Tiny
3/5
RV
3/5
Off grid
3/5
Land
20
Partially sourced#40

Cheboygan County

Northern Lower Michigan

52
Tiny
3/5
RV
3/5
Off grid
3/5
Land
20
Partially sourced#41

Hillsdale County

South Central Michigan

52
Tiny
3/5
RV
3/5
Off grid
3/5
Land
20
Partially sourced#42

Livingston County

South Central Michigan

52
Tiny
3/5
RV
3/5
Off grid
3/5
Land
20
Partially sourced#43

Sanilac County

Thumb and Saginaw Bay

52
Tiny
3/5
RV
3/5
Off grid
3/5
Land
20
Partially sourced#44

Allegan County

West Michigan

51
Tiny
3/5
RV
3/5
Off grid
3/5
Land
20
Partially sourced#45

Arenac County

Thumb and Saginaw Bay

51
Tiny
3/5
RV
3/5
Off grid
3/5
Land
20
Partially sourced#46

Barry County

West Michigan

51
Tiny
3/5
RV
3/5
Off grid
3/5
Land
20
Partially sourced#47

Berrien County

Southwest Michigan

51
Tiny
3/5
RV
3/5
Off grid
3/5
Land
20
Partially sourced#48

Branch County

Southwest Michigan

51
Tiny
3/5
RV
3/5
Off grid
3/5
Land
20
Partially sourced#49

Gladwin County

Central Michigan

51
Tiny
3/5
RV
3/5
Off grid
3/5
Land
20
Partially sourced#50

Ionia County

West Michigan

51
Tiny
3/5
RV
3/5
Off grid
3/5
Land
20
Partially sourced#51

Mason County

West Michigan

51
Tiny
3/5
RV
3/5
Off grid
3/5
Land
20
Partially sourced#52

Mecosta County

Central Michigan

51
Tiny
3/5
RV
3/5
Off grid
3/5
Land
20
Partially sourced#53

Monroe County

South Central Michigan

51
Tiny
3/5
RV
3/5
Off grid
3/5
Land
20
Partially sourced#54

St. Joseph County

Southwest Michigan

51
Tiny
3/5
RV
3/5
Off grid
3/5
Land
20
Partially sourced#55

Alpena County

Northern Lower Michigan

50
Tiny
3/5
RV
3/5
Off grid
3/5
Land
20
Partially sourced#56

Clinton County

South Central Michigan

50
Tiny
3/5
RV
3/5
Off grid
3/5
Land
20
Partially sourced#57

Delta County

Upper Peninsula

50
Tiny
3/5
RV
3/5
Off grid
3/5
Land
20
Partially sourced#58

Eaton County

South Central Michigan

50
Tiny
3/5
RV
3/5
Off grid
3/5
Land
20
Partially sourced#59

Gratiot County

Central Michigan

50
Tiny
3/5
RV
3/5
Off grid
3/5
Land
20
Partially sourced#60

Houghton County

Upper Peninsula

50
Tiny
3/5
RV
3/5
Off grid
3/5
Land
27
Partially sourced#61

Huron County

Thumb and Saginaw Bay

50
Tiny
3/5
RV
3/5
Off grid
3/5
Land
20
Partially sourced#62

Jackson County

South Central Michigan

50
Tiny
3/5
RV
3/5
Off grid
3/5
Land
20
Partially sourced#63

Kalamazoo County

Southwest Michigan

50
Tiny
3/5
RV
3/5
Off grid
3/5
Land
20
Partially sourced#64

Lenawee County

South Central Michigan

50
Tiny
3/5
RV
3/5
Off grid
3/5
Land
20
Partially sourced#65

Montcalm County

Central Michigan

50
Tiny
3/5
RV
3/5
Off grid
3/5
Land
20
Partially sourced#66

Muskegon County

West Michigan

50
Tiny
3/5
RV
3/5
Off grid
3/5
Land
20
Partially sourced#67

Shiawassee County

South Central Michigan

50
Tiny
3/5
RV
3/5
Off grid
3/5
Land
20
Partially sourced#68

Tuscola County

Thumb and Saginaw Bay

50
Tiny
3/5
RV
3/5
Off grid
3/5
Land
20
Partially sourced#69

Bay County

Thumb and Saginaw Bay

49
Tiny
3/5
RV
3/5
Off grid
3/5
Land
20
Partially sourced#70

Calhoun County

Southwest Michigan

49
Tiny
3/5
RV
3/5
Off grid
3/5
Land
20
Partially sourced#71

Dickinson County

Upper Peninsula

49
Tiny
3/5
RV
3/5
Off grid
3/5
Land
20
Partially sourced#72

Grand Traverse County

Northern Lower Michigan

49
Tiny
3/5
RV
2/5
Off grid
3/5
Land
20
Partially sourced#73

Isabella County

Central Michigan

49
Tiny
3/5
RV
3/5
Off grid
3/5
Land
20
Partially sourced#74

Midland County

Central Michigan

49
Tiny
3/5
RV
3/5
Off grid
3/5
Land
20
Partially sourced#75

Ingham County

South Central Michigan

37
Tiny
2/5
RV
2/5
Off grid
2/5
Land
20
Partially sourced#76

Leelanau County

Northern Lower Michigan

37
Tiny
2/5
RV
1/5
Off grid
2/5
Land
20
Partially sourced#77

Genesee County

Detroit Metro and Flint

36
Tiny
2/5
RV
2/5
Off grid
2/5
Land
20
Partially sourced#78

Kent County

West Michigan

34
Tiny
2/5
RV
1/5
Off grid
2/5
Land
20
Partially sourced#79

Ottawa County

West Michigan

34
Tiny
2/5
RV
1/5
Off grid
2/5
Land
20
Partially sourced#80

Washtenaw County

South Central Michigan

33
Tiny
2/5
RV
1/5
Off grid
2/5
Land
20
Partially sourced#81

Macomb County

Detroit Metro and Flint

29
Tiny
2/5
RV
1/5
Off grid
1/5
Land
20
Partially sourced#82

Oakland County

Detroit Metro and Flint

29
Tiny
2/5
RV
1/5
Off grid
1/5
Land
20
Partially sourced#83

Wayne County

Detroit Metro and Flint

23
Tiny
1/5
RV
1/5
Off grid
1/5
Land
20
Partially sourced

Expansion queue

Future State Datasets

The remaining planned datasets are being evaluated.

View guides