Michigan Excluded From List of Best Towns to Raise Your Kids

Michigan has been wronged and we need to talk about it.

Michigan, the land of the Great Lakes, with stunning landscapes, and a strong sense of community, is home to countless charming small towns. Yet, it has come to my attention that none of them seem to have made it to a new list celebrating the "Best Small Towns to Raise a Family".

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The list was compiled by Stacker, who used data from Niche to come up with the Top 50 small towns across the country that would be the ideal place to put down roots and raise some kids. They looked at various factors, including public schools, jobs, and the cost of living in towns across the U.S. with a population under 5,000.

"How does a town outside Chicago, known for a Frank Lloyd Wright home, sound to you? If you'd prefer to be closer to the Big Apple than the Windy City, northern New Jersey has several top options. For families looking to relocate to the Midwest, there are plenty of posh locations with famous golf courses, nature trails, and museums to entice young families", Stacker writes.

Well Stacker, since you asked, what I'd like to see is some love for Michigan on the list.

First of all, how in the world could they not find ONE small town through the entire Mitten State that measured up? Michigan is filled with incredible small towns with tons of history and unique characteristics that would surely be a great place to raise a family.

Let's just set aside the average small town, what about all the incredible small towns that become a vacation haven during the summer months? Or what about those charming towns sprinkled outside the major cities? And let me be the first to say, there are some pretty amazing small towns right here in Mid-Michigan.

All I'm saying is Stacker & Niche, maybe take some time over the next year and do a little road trip to Michigan. Make a stop and check out Saugatuck, which happened to be named one of the "Top Beach Towns in America'. Or Munising, the gateway to the Upper Peninsula's breathtaking spots like Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Or even New Buffalo, which is ranked one of the top school districts in the state.

So, while Michigan's small towns might not always make it to those "Best Places to Raise a Family" lists, they hold a special place in the hearts of those who call them home.

You can check out the full list of towns that DID make the list below.

LOOK: The 50 best small towns to raise a family in the U.S.

Looking for the best small towns to raise a family? Stacker compiled this list of the top 50 small towns in the United States using 2023 data from Niche.

LOOK: Here is the richest town in each state

Just saying the names of these towns immediately conjures up images of grand mansions, luxury cars, and ritzy restaurants. Read on to see which town in your home state took the title of the richest location and which place had the highest median income in the country. Who knows—your hometown might even be on this list.