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Where Are The Best Places To Retire In Michigan?

One can only hope to retire someday. There’s freedom from work which means a person can travel more, pick up hobbies, volunteer, or take a step back and just enjoy…

Storytelling image of a multiethnic retired senior couple in love
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One can only hope to retire someday. There’s freedom from work which means a person can travel more, pick up hobbies, volunteer, or take a step back and just enjoy life. Michigan residents can retire and collect Social Security benefits any time after age 62. While many Michiganders retire to Florida and other sunny states, there are plenty of Michigan cities to go to and retire.

Niche.com has put together a list of the best places to retire in Michigan and narrowed it down to a list of 25 places. They gathered data and reviews from public data sources including U.S. Census along with millions of reviews from students, parents, and residents on their website.

Charlevoix Township ranks #1

In Michigan, Charlevoix Township was ranked as Michigan’s top place to retire. With a population of more than 1,800, they offer a suburban rural mix for residents. According to Niche, 33 percent of its population is over the age of 65 years old. One of Charlevoix’s current residents left a review on Niche.com that said, “Beautiful small town! Lakes everywhere. Quiet in the winter, bustling in the summer. Home prices higher for year around residents but who wouldn’t enjoy this little piece of paradise.”

Meanwhile, ranking last on the list at number 25 is Douglas in Allegan County. This Michigan town has a population of over 1,100. 34 percent of its population is over the age of 65 years old.

Also ranked on the list at number 5 is the popular destination Frankenmuth. This city is known for its Bavarian architecture, family-style chicken dinners, and Bronner's, the world's largest year-round Christmas ornament and décor store. “Frankenmuth is a bubble. Rarely is there any criminal activity occurring and when there is, it is at the most minimum of charges,” said one review of the town.

When looking to settle down for your retirement years, consider these spectacular towns in the Great Lakes state. See Niche.com’s full list of rankings here.

Kayla is the midday host on Detroit’s 105.1 The Bounce. She started her career in radio back in 2016 as an intern at another Detroit station and worked her way here. She's made stops in Knoxville, TN, Omaha, Ne and other places before returning to Detroit. She’s done almost everything in radio from promotions to web, creating content on social media, you name it. She’s a true Michigander, born and raised. So, you can catch her camping or vacationing up north to exploring the downtown Detroit or maybe even catching a sports game. During her free time, Kayla enjoys watching movies, roller-skating, crafting, and music festivals. She and her husband together dip into many of the great things Michigan has to offer. Together they also like to travel. A few hobbies of hers include wine and beer tastings, crafting, hiking, roller skating, movies, home improvement projects, gardening, and festivals. She’s always looking to take on more local events happening in the community. She loves connecting with the community. When writing, Kayla covers topics including lifestyle, pop culture, trending stories, hacks, and urban culture.