The 10 Worst Small Towns In Michigan For 2024


The worst small towns in Michigan are Skidway Lake and Benton Heights for 2024 based on Friday Night Science.

Most Americans have never been to small town Michigan. However, as the Michigander who live there know, small town Michigan is an awesome place to call home.

But is it all roses? Definitely not. Just like any other state, Michigan has its trouble spots. This article aims to determine, using Saturday Night Science, the absolute worst small towns to live in the Wolverine State. Don’t freak out, we will use data to show which places have high crime, poverty, and unemployment.

After analyzing more than 248 of Michigan’s smallest cities, we came up with this list as the 10 worst small towns in Michigan where you’d never want to live:


Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table


These are the worst small towns in Michigan for 2024:

  1. Skidway Lake
  2. Benton Heights
  3. St. Helen
  4. Lakeview
  5. Standish
  6. Mio
  7. Evart
  8. Farwell
  9. Weidman
  10. Grayling

Worst Small Towns To Live In Michigan Map

So what is the worst small town to call home in Michigan for 2024? According to the most recent census data, Skidway Lake is the worst small town to live in Michigan.

While many of these small towns have seen better days, they have wonderful communities and people. This report in no way means to knock the folks that call towns like Skidway Lake home. Everyone

Read on below to see how we crunched the numbers, or scroll to the bottom to see how your town ranked.

And if you already know about the small towns, check out the best places to live in Michigan or the worst places to live in Michigan.

If you’re looking for something more national, check out the worst cities in America or the worst states in America.

The 10 Worst Small Towns In Michigan For 2024

1. Skidway Lake

Overall SnackAbility

2
/10

Population: 2,880
Median Home Value: $55,818
Median Income: $33,503
Unemployment Rate: 15.1%

2. Benton Heights

Benton Heights, MI

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 3,763
Median Home Value: $105,009
Median Income: $32,821
Unemployment Rate: 11.5%

3. St. Helen

Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 2,822
Median Home Value: $111,844
Median Income: $38,445
Unemployment Rate: 10.3%

4. Lakeview

Overall SnackAbility

/10

Population: 1,027
Median Home Value: $192,763
Median Income: $29,956
Unemployment Rate: 14.4%

5. Standish

Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 1,552
Median Home Value: $129,868
Median Income: $31,471
Unemployment Rate: 9.7%

6. Mio

Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 1,358
Median Home Value: $102,547
Median Income: $43,750
Unemployment Rate: 15.5%

7. Evart

Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 1,739
Median Home Value: $162,465
Median Income: $37,344
Unemployment Rate: 11.8%

8. Farwell

Overall SnackAbility

/10

Population: 1,033
Median Home Value: $162,056
Median Income: $38,542
Unemployment Rate: 6.6%

9. Weidman

Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 1,293
Median Home Value: $146,560
Median Income: $52,826
Unemployment Rate: 3.1%

10. Grayling

Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 1,758
Median Home Value: $168,954
Median Income: $30,417
Unemployment Rate: 7.0%

Methodology: How do you decide if a small place in Michigan is lousy or not?

To rank the worst small towns to live in Michigan, we had to determine what criteria people like or dislike about a place. Assuming that people like low crime, solid education, things to do, and a stable economy isn’t a stretch.

We then analyzed the criteria using Saturday Night Science, the thinking you’d use at a bar. It seems like even your crazy Uncle would agree that a town with high crime is worse than a town with low crime; all else the same.

Using FBI crime data and the Census’s 2018-2022 American Community Survey, this is the criteria we used:

  • Population Density (The lower, the worse)
  • Highest Unemployment Rates
  • Low housing costs (meaning there’s no demand)
  • Adjusted Median Income (Median income adjusted for the cost of living)
  • Education (Number of high school dropouts)
  • High Crime

We looked at cities with populations between 1,000 and 5,000 people, of which there were many – 248 to be exact.

We get the crime numbers from the FBI, which gets them from the cities. Dropout numbers are based on the adult population, not just the current graduation rates of teenagers.

We base all our research on facts, which is meant as infotainment. We updated this article for 2024, which is our tenth time ranking the worst small places to live in Michigan.

There You Have It – The Worst Small Towns In Michigan

If you’re analyzing teeny places in the Wolverine State with the worst economic situations, where there’s high crime and there’s not a lot to do, this is an accurate list.

The worst small towns in Michigan are Skidway Lake, Benton Heights, St. Helen, Lakeview, Standish, Mio, Evart, Farwell, Weidman, and Grayling.

If you’re curious enough, here are the best small towns to live in Michigan, according to science:

  1. Sylvan Lake (Pop. 1,729)
  2. Franklin (Pop. 2,653)
  3. Village of Grosse Pointe Shores (Pop. 2,610)

For more Michigan reading, check out:

Worst Small Towns In Michigan

Rank Town Population Unemployment Rate Home Value Median Income
1 Skidway Lake 2,880 15.1% $55,818 $33,503
2 Benton Heights 3,763 11.5% $105,009 $32,821
3 St. Helen 2,822 10.3% $111,844 $38,445
4 Lakeview 1,027 14.4% $192,763 $29,956
5 Standish 1,552 9.7% $129,868 $31,471
6 Mio 1,358 15.5% $102,547 $43,750
7 Evart 1,739 11.8% $162,465 $37,344
8 Farwell 1,033 6.6% $162,056 $38,542
9 Weidman 1,293 3.1% $146,560 $52,826
10 Grayling 1,758 7.0% $168,954 $30,417
11 Hartford 2,565 10.7% $141,102 $35,705
12 Bangor 2,068 6.7% $148,490 $46,855
13 Caro 4,294 10.3% $159,005 $44,342
14 Deckerville 1,059 12.4% $186,314 $47,298
15 Reading 1,207 4.3% $163,058 $46,681
16 Lawrence 1,007 8.4% $221,608 $41,250
17 Cheboygan 4,782 9.5% $200,521 $39,919
18 Mount Morris 3,147 18.5% $99,785 $40,714
19 Kalkaska 2,563 4.5% $181,879 $43,514
20 Harrison 2,311 6.9% $103,196 $35,938
21 Manistique 2,838 8.6% $150,246 $36,588
22 Stanton 1,293 6.5% $185,405 $42,083
23 Cassopolis 1,750 15.4% $248,007 $39,107
24 Marlette 1,797 10.3% $170,673 $35,000
25 Reed City 2,481 8.9% $165,274 $47,250
26 Baldwin 1,030 6.4% $122,262 $25,587
27 Baraga 2,020 4.4% $143,030 $32,569
28 Au Sable 1,667 6.0% $143,697 $40,395
29 Colon 1,391 7.0% $180,461 $53,869
30 Morenci 1,998 5.4% $134,080 $49,358
31 Grant 1,347 11.8% $225,951 $44,837
32 Sebewaing 1,951 8.6% $122,248 $44,441
33 West Monroe 2,888 13.3% $101,171 $48,109
34 Brownlee Park 1,931 2.2% $80,356 $38,698
35 Edmore 1,474 5.0% $154,351 $51,029
36 Scottville 1,512 3.6% $187,708 $47,643
37 Gladwin 3,066 8.8% $168,449 $47,946
38 Elsie 1,000 25.1% $174,591 $57,588
39 Crystal Falls 1,773 2.9% $116,115 $59,236
40 Iron River 2,995 4.2% $68,494 $48,333
41 Beaverton 1,194 7.4% $144,692 $31,985
42 Clare 3,367 6.7% $174,727 $41,384
43 Decatur 1,886 6.9% $182,128 $55,521
44 Webberville 1,338 7.6% $244,401 $52,461
45 Manton 1,322 5.3% $183,572 $43,362
46 White Cloud 1,197 1.9% $163,931 $45,682
47 Capac 1,920 8.0% $233,438 $48,485
48 Newaygo 2,458 5.9% $239,461 $45,733
49 Coleman 1,012 5.1% $159,597 $37,292
50 Harbor Beach 1,744 5.2% $171,104 $42,583
51 White Pigeon 1,544 6.4% $211,447 $46,750
52 Wakefield 1,554 2.1% $92,052 $41,837
53 Chesaning 2,450 8.2% $179,674 $50,785
54 Ontonagon 1,290 4.1% $108,743 $41,734
55 Tawas City 1,749 9.6% $178,071 $51,143
56 Mancelona 1,622 11.6% $172,867 $50,329
57 East Tawas 2,677 10.2% $172,583 $40,833
58 Homer 1,663 6.9% $172,933 $45,257
59 Mayville 1,167 8.3% $164,987 $44,861
60 St. Ignace 2,233 3.8% $192,577 $56,761
61 Croswell 2,617 10.8% $192,352 $55,732
62 Bad Axe 3,025 6.8% $157,627 $45,833
63 Clio 2,275 7.2% $150,555 $44,328
64 Montrose 1,958 2.4% $188,073 $41,750
65 Newberry 1,138 4.6% $90,352 $45,213
66 Hudson 2,480 6.9% $165,830 $50,125
67 Imlay City 3,698 3.7% $261,112 $52,721
68 Shelby 2,520 4.2% $212,180 $51,316
69 Luna Pier 1,225 6.8% $162,419 $48,073
70 Indian River 2,076 4.1% $272,247 $57,148
71 Wolf Lake 4,128 10.8% $197,423 $48,836
72 Galesburg 2,069 5.9% $161,676 $45,385
73 Breckenridge 1,413 8.2% $152,069 $53,413
74 Zilwaukee 1,673 5.7% $94,543 $54,769
75 Prudenville 1,412 7.9% $180,765 $51,055
76 Olivet 1,596 13.5% $211,546 $43,563
77 Litchfield 1,195 2.9% $178,622 $50,991
78 Constantine 2,214 4.0% $178,182 $66,618
79 Fennville 1,876 4.7% $302,793 $55,625
80 St. Charles 2,020 4.7% $167,962 $51,875
81 L’anse 1,942 6.9% $103,962 $52,869
82 Norway 2,832 2.3% $129,426 $49,261
83 Yale 2,050 15.4% $226,479 $50,451
84 Cedar Springs 3,646 7.1% $291,436 $47,300
85 Memphis 1,150 5.5% $288,853 $58,423
86 West Branch 2,198 6.7% $179,347 $41,741
87 Lake Linden 1,183 10.0% $146,455 $43,021
88 Vassar 2,718 12.1% $171,983 $55,833
89 Howard City 1,836 1.5% $236,217 $52,009
90 Vandercook Lake 4,635 1.9% $141,524 $51,332
91 Laurium 1,669 2.6% $109,147 $42,292
92 Gaylord 4,261 2.8% $238,071 $38,697
93 Frankfort 1,104 8.6% $462,736 $49,219
94 Sandusky 2,711 4.2% $158,130 $47,468
95 Sand Lake 1,178 3.0% $259,044 $46,250
96 Brown City 1,131 13.3% $213,257 $49,345
97 Durand 3,495 4.5% $143,975 $54,112
98 Corunna 3,057 4.7% $175,326 $43,911
99 Ithaca 2,840 0.8% $166,939 $60,389
100 Fremont 4,510 3.2% $219,383 $53,125
About Nick Johnson

Nick Johnson earned his masters in Business Administration from the Drucker School At Claremont Graduate University. He has written for 39 publications across the country and ran the media relations department at Movoto, a real estate portal based in San Francisco. He has been featured in over 500 publications as an expert in real estate and as an authority on real estate trends.

Nick's the creator of the HomeSnacks YouTube channel that now has over 260,000 subscribers and is an excellent source to learn about different parts of the country.

27 thoughts on “The 10 Worst Small Towns In Michigan For 2024

  1. I am in Onaway and Pellston 3-4 times per week, you are off base., Great places,,Great people and business climates. Scott D. Way

  2. Wow, I am guessing you have never ventured into any of these towns. I adore Wolverine – the people, the Community, our schools, Library, parks, river – I could go on. I have lived there for 35 + years and have seen very little crime – and if it happens it’s an outsider 🙁

  3. I happen to live in Onaway it’s not as bad as your making it out to be there are great neighbors where I live , yes I agree some places are rough looking and need to be cleaned up and yes there is A lot of druggies here but isn’t that the. Case everywhere just more noticeable in a small town! Get off your high horse look beyond your thinking

  4. You’re an idiot. I love my “crummy” home town. I loved growing up out in wildwood and living across from the Sturgeon….I loved that we aren’t part of the “fast paced” stores aren’t open 24/7 and people don’t go a mile a min. I would trade Starke, FL for Wolverine MI any day of the week. Crime in wolverine is theft and robberies not being shot, stabbed or raped. Unlike most places, everyone knows you and you know them. Grow up Nick James and understand that you are insulting people and pthey love. Ignorance isn’t Bliss, that’s between Paradise & Hell. And if you don’t know what I mean by that, you need to not be writing about places in Michigan.

  5. This list is way off. Even the town name, Robin Glen-Indiantown, is incorrect. Robin Glen is a mobile home park. Indiantown is the name of an old town that really no longer exists.

  6. Funny that even though you have Onaway listed here, the boy’s basketball team just won regionals. Not bad for such a terrible little town. OH by the way, some very good people live there.

  7. What a shame that these small communities have been given such a bum-rap. My husband and I worked and raised our family in Onaway, MI… Our city hall, from the city Manager, Mayor and Commissioner’s are college educated, business minded, and always put the people in the community first… There is absolutely nothing stupid about the business owners or the people of the community. Just because a town is small, doesn’t make the people village idiots! The Onaway schools are constantly planning, and working to prepare the young people for higher education… There are some great resources in Onaway. The ‘Michigan Works!’ office offers a variety of help for those seeking work or education. There are many other great attributes about Onaway, Michigan… To the person writing the negative, false information regarding small towns, you better do your research and know what you’re talking about. Use some wisdom before you speak out!!

    1. Dont forget to include Moran and how he started an industrial arts school just so he could train the people of his community and make it a better place.

  8. I bet those crime rates he claims are per capita. So with a lower population. One person could commit a crime and it would send the crime rate numbers thru the roof.

  9. I grew up in Weidman and moved back several years ago. I love both the town and the people. People here do work. I believe I read something about unemployment? Perhaps there are not many employment opportunities in our small town, but we live near larger cities where there are. Most of my neighbors are working, in fact. And, something was mentioned about not being educated? If that was even the case, who cares? I have a post graduate degree and can tell you it makes no difference between me and any other person living in Weidman
    What snobbish bores you are.

  10. Nick James: Whittemore is one of the nicest places you would ever want to live.We have a beautiful School located in Ogemaw and Iosco Counties. We have more educated people here than you think. Did you even stop and talk to people or did you go to the Bar and received comments. There are lots of retired people in Whittemore who worked 40-50 years and deserve to be lazy. I noticed that you had Sand Lake on there, actually there is no town in Iosco County by the name of Sand Lake, it is National City. at least not in Iosco County.

  11. I grew up in Whittemore, mi. People here do work. I believe I read something about unemployment? Perhaps there are not many employment opportunities in our small town, cuz it’s small. If there was more opportunites to work. We wouldn’t be that small town. but we live near cities where there are. Most of my neighbors are working, in fact. And, something was mentioned about not being educated? Just some people don’t want be educated.. but don’t hold against are small town and crime. Ya i believe that one.

  12. My grandparents owned a bar in turner when it had a lot of people and stores a car dealer post office etc it was best time walking around there and now I can go back and it’s a total ghost town

  13. Your population numbers do not reflect Census 2000, 2010, or the recent population estimates. If you are going to make money by crapping on places you have never been, at least use the right numbers. You are a bottom feeder.

  14. Seems as though a lot of this is about crime, education, population, and lack of activities(being bored). Aside from crime that has nothing to do with whether it’s a nice place to live or not.

    I’d take living in a small town any day over a city like New York, Chicago, or even smaller cities like Grand Rapids. I’d rather make my own activities and teach my kids than carting them around from soccer practice to band camp to dance lessons or whatever. And if you can make a living without a high school diploma, more power to you. That says nothing about whether you are a nice person and a good neighbor.

  15. I know most of the 100 towns. Many were lumbering towns that survived the lumber bust to become small agricultural towns, then became cabin / cottage destinations. Many are great summer locations.

    the bust of the middleclass in Michigan with the loss of over 1,000,000 jobs since NAFTA was signed, has driven many small places over the brink.

    Getting jobs in these towns is horribly hard for long term employment. People won’t leave unless times got so bad they have no choice.

  16. I grew up in Whittemore as well.. Our High School was booming back then. We even had a band. My parents were employed as teachers there. Whittemore was a more booming town back then than it is now but it’s still not a bad town.. everyone knows just about everyone… Yes this is basically based on Crime and Education I think….you should take the time to go visit every one of these little towns 🙂 Love my hometown

  17. I live in Onaway and you are way off! There are a lot of hard working men and women that live here. We have to drive 30 to 45 min to get to a decent sized town. Im educated and hold a professional license. My mother, a nurse, lives here. Onaway has crime just like every other place does but i generally feel safe taking a walk. Everybody knows everybody!

  18. I don’t understand this ” author’s ” logic , since when dose a low population density and low cost housing make a town undesirable?

  19. Onaway is ranked as being 6 away from the worst town to live in out of 148 small town comparisons? Have you even been to Onaway, Atlanta, Vanderbilt, Wolverine, Mio, or Rose City? In Onaway, we know who our neighbors are, and there’s a very strong sense of pride and community spirit unmatched Up North. I’m very happy to live in the same location that I can also take a vacation! Some of the finest people I know live in the area. Hey, Nick James; according to the latest facts, statistics, and data I could find sitting on my ass staring at my computer screen, you’re ranked 3rd worst columnist out of 300 comparisons. Your writing is the pits! These facts are for infotainment only; don’t freak out.

  20. I feel the guy who wrote this article is snooty. He makes it sound like every person in these small towns are low-life scum. Just because a person didn’t finish high school does not mean they’re idiots. Do you really have to down those who are “uneducated” I’ve met people who have dropped out of high school and people who have attended college and received a bachelor degree, and I would have to say many of the people who have a higher educated are as dumb as a box of rocks. Higher education doesn’t mean you are smart or better. I have a masters degree making six figures, but never once looked down on a person without any higher education or high school education.

  21. I live in Lakeview. and I agree it should be on the list. The town sucks, at least for me. And I’ll be happy to see it in my rear view mirror some day. At least the fiber optic internet by Casair is good, because there’s nothing else to do in this town. The major fashion statement around here is camo print on everything. And the ladies wear pink camo. And middle aged women either wear the “I want to talk to your manager” haircut, or the dreaded permed mullet. At least these local rednecks are friendly and know how to fix nearly everything. LOL

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