11 Michigan Towns People Are Fleeing As Soon As Possible

Michigan was once a steadily growing state with a booming economy. In fact, cities like Detroit experienced high growth rates for several years. However, many factors have impacted the state in recent years, causing people to leave these towns.

Reasons People Are Leaving

Naturally, there are different reasons for people leaving various towns and cities. For instance, when the city of Detroit filed for bankruptcy, it caused a mini-exodus from the area. Urban decay, yet another issue, prompted many others to flee the city. While these are circumstances specific to one city, there are other reasons for Michiganders, in general, to flee the state.

Insurance and Tax Rates

People who live in Michigan pay higher auto insurance than most other states in the country. The No-Fault car insurance system is a substantial contributing factor to the high premiums paid in the state. Not only do Michiganders pay more than their fellow Americans for auto insurance, but their income and property taxes are also higher than in other states.

Poor Infrastructure

Michigan roads are in significantly worse shape than in many other states. The poor road conditions are partly due to budgeting issues. However, the extreme temperature changes from summer to winter are also to blame. Asphalt can crack when temperatures vary from those in the high 90s to those that get colder than 20 below 0° within a year. Potholes are another common issue for many drivers.

Education Costs

Michigan college students pay higher in-state tuition rates than most students throughout the United States. In fact, Michigan’s tuition costs are ranked in the country’s top 10% of high-priced education institutions. With an average tuition of $15,636 per in-state student in the 2021-22 school year, Michigan students pay at least $500 per year more than the average U.S. college student.

Weather, Weather, Weather

One of the biggest reasons people flee Michigan towns and cities is the weather. Not only do many parts of Michigan get massive amounts of snow accumulation each winter, but the weather can be unpredictable as well. The Great Lakes surround the whole state, so lake-effect snowstorms are a recurrent issue.

Snow removal becomes a harsh physical labor for towns that get between 100 and 200 inches of snow per year. Many people flee the freezing weather and copious amounts of snow in order to seek refuge in warmer climates like Florida and Arizona. Even summer can bring freezing temperatures and sudden hail storms in the most northern areas of the state.

Who Is Fleeing?

We’ve dug into the research to find the 11 Michigan towns facing the biggest outflux of residents. Read on to discover which towns are losing more residents in the state.

1. Kinross Charter Township

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Kinross Charter Township had a population of 7,379 in the 2020 census. Two years later, the population decreased by 650 people. With a -9% population growth rate, this Michigan town has the largest number of residents leaving.

The median household income in Kinross Charter Township is $49,952. The town has an unemployment rate of 29.8% and a poverty rate of 29.9%. The town is a rural-suburban community, with the Kinross Correctional Facility being one of its sources of employment.

2. Bloomer Township

In the 2020 U.S. census, Bloomer Township had a population of 6,384. In 2022, it was 5,885. That’s a -8% population growth rate.

Bloomer Township’s median household income is $67,708. The poverty rate is 7.3%, and the unemployment rate is 5.8%. The town has an abundance of parks and green spaces, but it doesn’t seem like these amenities are deterring residents from fleeing.

3. Houghton

The 2020 population of Houghton, MI, was 8,387. In 2022, the city experienced a -4.80% growth rate as the population dipped to 7,983. While some residents consider the city a winter wonderland, others have left for warmer climates.

Houghton has a median household income of $ 24,660. The city’s poverty rate is 36%, and its unemployment rate is 3.8%. One of the city’s greatest assets is having Michigan Technological University located withing its city limits. Unfortunately, of the more than 7,000 MTU students, few stay in the area after graduating.

4. Ypsilanti

Ypsilanti, MI, had a population of 20, 654 according to the 2020 U.S. census. By 2022, however, the population decreased by -4.5% to a population of 19,732. Some residents have cited the local crime statistics as contributing to their migration from the city.

The median household is $40,256 in the city of Ypsilanti. It has a 28.9% poverty rate and an unemployment rate of 5.20%.

5. Coldwater

Coldwater, MI, had a 2020 population of 13,829, according to the U.S. census. However, by the year 2022, the population had decreased to 13,296. That’s a -3.9% growth rate.

The average household income in Coldwater, MI, is $58,394. Surprisingly, the poverty rate is a whopping 15.03%. It has a long-term average unemployment rate of 6.55%. Even with the city’s museums, golf courses, and state park, the residents are still fleeing as soon as possible.

6. Madison Charter Township

Located in Lenawee County, MI, Madison Charter Township had a -3.7% population growthrate from 2020 to 2022. In 2020, 8,447 residents made their homes in this city. By 2022, the population had decreased to 8,131.

In Madison Charter Township, the median household income is $59,641. The unemployment rate is 7.7%, while the poverty rate is a significantly high 15.5%.

7. Highland Park

Highland Park, MI, is part of Wayne County. Its population in 2020 was 8,980. However, in 2022, the population had a -3.6% population growth rate, lowering the population to 8,657.

The median household income of this city is $20,666. It has a 9.3% unemployment rate in addition to its inconceivable 46.1% poverty rate. For that reason, people may be forced to leave the city in pursuit of better-paying jobs.

8. Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor is a unique city. Its median age of 28 is one of the youngest among major U.S. cities. It boasts over 50,000 trees lining its streets, with just as many in its parks. In addition, the prestigious University of Michigan is within this city’s border. Yet, the population has experienced a -3.2 % growth rate from its 2020 population of 123,872 to its 2022 population of 119,875.

The median household income of this city is $107,368, much more than many of its neighboring cities. Nevertheless, Ann Arbor has a poverty rate of 22.55% and an unemployment rate of 4.02%.

9. Detroit

Despite being Michigan’s largest city by population, Detroit is losing residents to an appreciable outflux. In 2020, the population was 639,115. In 2022, it fell to 620,376. The loss of over 18,000 people subsequently resulted in a -2.9% growth rate.

Detroit faces a multitude of issues — from urban decay to auto industry conflicts and poverty. The poverty rate for the city is 31.85%, and its unemployment rate is 13.48%. The average household income is $49,515.

10. River Rouge

Named after the River Rouge, which runs through the city’s northern border into the Detroit River, River Rouge had a 2020 population of 7,228. In 2022, the population had fallen to 7,040 — a -2.6% growth rate.

The median household income in River Rouge is $22,664. The city has a 5.8% unemployment rate. River Rouge’s 39.9% poverty level is 164% higher than the national average.

11. Hamtramck

Previously a German and then later a Polish cultural area, Hamtramck is now home to a large number of Yemeni, Bangladeshi, and Southeastern European immigrants. The city’s 2020 population was 28,433. However, in 2022, its -2.1% growth rate brought the population down to 27,834.

The median household income in Hamtramck is $33,570. It has a 43.1% poverty rate, and the city has a 13.3% unemployment rate.

Summary of Michigan Towns People Are Fleeing