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Best Cities for Rental Property in Michigan

22 Michigan cities ranked by estimated cap rate. The average cap rate across Michigan markets is 3.9%, with median home prices averaging $254K and rents averaging $1,355/mo. Bay City leads with a 6.0% cap rate at a $175K median price. Property taxes average 1.46% across Michigan markets.

3.9%
Avg Cap Rate
$254K
Avg Price
$1,355/mo
Avg Rent
22
Cities Tracked

Michigan Rental Market Analysis

Michigan offers 22 investable rental markets tracked by CapRateCity. The state average cap rate of 3.9% is above the 3.81% national average, making Michigan an attractive state for cash flow investors. No cities pass the 1% rule at median prices, so value-add strategies are essential.

Prices and rents: Michigan home prices average $254K, which is 24% below the national average of $333K. Rents average $1,355/mo. The most affordable entry point is Saginaw at $160K, while Bay City offers the highest cap rate at 6.0%.

Taxes and costs: Property taxes average 1.46% across Michigan, above the 1.08% national average — investors should model tax expense carefully. Grand Rapids has the lowest rate at 1.38%.Vacancy averages 6.2%, in line with national norms.

Growth outlook: Population growth across Michigan averages 0.29% per year, led by Grand Rapids at 1.1%. Home values are appreciating at 2.4% annually on average. Moderate growth provides a stable demand foundation.

Bottom line: Michigan is primarily an appreciation market. Cash flow investing requires below-median purchases or value-add strategies. Consider whether the growth and appreciation potential justifies tighter margins.

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How Michigan Compares to National Averages

Metric
Michigan
National Avg
Avg Cap Rate
3.9%
3.8%
Avg Home Price
$254K
$333K
Avg Rent
$1,355/mo
$1,524/mo
Property Tax
1.46%
1.08%
Vacancy Rate
6.2%
5.6%
Pop. Growth
0.29%/yr
0.92%/yr

Michigan Cities by Cap Rate Tier

5% – 6% (1)4% – 5% (7)3% – 4% (12)Below 3% (2)

All 22 Michigan Cities Ranked

1
Bay City, MI6.0% cap rate
$175K median$1,280/mo rent1.46% tax0.3% growth
2
Battle Creek, MI4.9% cap rate
$180K median$1,150/mo rent1.46% tax0.3% growth
3
Marquette, MI4.9% cap rate
$235K median$1,500/mo rent1.46% tax0.3% growth
4
Midland, MI4.8% cap rate
$235K median$1,470/mo rent1.46% tax0.3% growth
5
Saginaw, MI4.8% cap rate
$160K median$1,000/mo rent1.46% tax0.3% growth
6
Sterling Heights, MI4.2% cap rate
$260K median$1,460/mo rent1.4% tax0.2% growth
7
Warren, MI4.1% cap rate
$260K median$1,460/mo rent1.44% tax0.1% growth
8
Flint, MI4.1% cap rate
$185K median$1,070/mo rent1.52% tax-0.5% growth
9
Lansing, MI4.0% cap rate
$240K median$1,330/mo rent1.42% tax0.3% growth
10
Detroit, MI3.9% cap rate
$260K median$1,460/mo rent1.54% tax-0.1% growth
11
Jackson, MI3.8% cap rate
$215K median$1,160/mo rent1.46% tax0.3% growth
12
Mount Pleasant, MI3.6% cap rate
$220K median$1,150/mo rent1.46% tax0.3% growth
13
Ann Arbor, MI3.5% cap rate
$405K median$2,040/mo rent1.48% tax0.8% growth
14
Kalamazoo, MI3.4% cap rate
$265K median$1,340/mo rent1.46% tax0.3% growth
15
Big Rapids, MI3.4% cap rate
$215K median$1,080/mo rent1.46% tax0.3% growth
16
Traverse City, MI3.3% cap rate
$400K median$1,970/mo rent1.46% tax0.3% growth
17
Grand Rapids, MI3.2% cap rate
$345K median$1,640/mo rent1.38% tax1.1% growth
18
Muskegon, MI3.2% cap rate
$240K median$1,170/mo rent1.46% tax0.3% growth
19
Adrian, MI3.2% cap rate
$230K median$1,120/mo rent1.46% tax0.3% growth
20
Niles, MI3.1% cap rate
$265K median$1,260/mo rent1.46% tax0.3% growth
21
Monroe, MI3.0% cap rate
$260K median$1,210/mo rent1.46% tax0.3% growth
22
Holland, MI2.8% cap rate
$335K median$1,500/mo rent1.46% tax0.3% growth

Other Midwest States

Illinois (17 cities · 4.4% avg)Indiana (25 cities · 4.0% avg)Kansas (14 cities · 3.8% avg)Ohio (27 cities · 3.7% avg)Missouri (17 cities · 3.3% avg)Nebraska (10 cities · 3.3% avg)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Michigan a good state for rental property investing?
Michigan has an average cap rate of 3.9% across 22 cities, which is above the national average of 3.81%. The best-performing city is Bay City at 6.0%. Average home prices of $254K offer affordable entry points. Property taxes at 1.46% are moderate.
What is the best city to buy rental property in Michigan?
Bay City leads Michigan with a 6.0% cap rate, $175K median price, and $1,280/mo rent. The best city depends on your strategy — cash flow investors should look at the top of this ranking, while growth-focused investors may prefer Grand Rapids (1.1% population growth). Use the calculators on each city page to model specific deals.
What are property taxes like in Michigan?
Property taxes in Michigan average 1.46%, which is above the 1.08% national average. The lowest rate is in Grand Rapids at 1.38%. On an average-priced home of $254K, annual taxes are approximately $3,702.
How many Michigan cities pass the 1% rule?
0 of 22 Michigan cities (0%) pass the 1% rule at median prices. None pass at median prices, meaning investors should target below-median properties or use value-add strategies to improve returns. The 1% rule says monthly rent should be at least 1% of purchase price.

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