Market rankings · Michigan

Real estate businesses in Michigan

Every metro area, small-town market and county in Michigan, ranked by the Groundwork market score for real estate businesses, with competitor counts and household spending for each.

Listings: 12,725; 859 chain locations (7%)
Official establishments: 5,600; +11.2% since 2019
Household spending a year: $57.1B; On rent and homeowner costs
Listings per 10k households: 31.2; 19% below the U.S.
Housing spending per listing (U.S. = 100): 104; 4% above the U.S.
Rank among states: #28 of 51; Market score 47 · Lower middle

A site report maps the real estate businesses on map listings around any address in Michigan by name and distance, and the spending within reach.

Free10 actions over 3 days, no card

Survey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure

What this means

Michigan has 12,725 real estate businesses on map listings as of September 2026. 859 of them (7%) are chain locations, against 6% across the U.S. That comes to 31.2 for every 10,000 households, 19% below the U.S. rate of 38.5.

At $13,996 per household (16% below the U.S. average), households in Michigan spend about $57.1B a year on rent and homeowner costs. Housing spending per office is 4% above the U.S. figure. The spending figure is all rent and homeowner costs, a measure of housing demand, not money real estate businesses take in.

Official counts show 5,600 businesses with payroll classed as real estate agents, property managers, mortgage lenders and inspectors in Michigan in 2023, up 11.2% from 2019. That is one for every 728 households, against one for every 414 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count rose 15.8% over the same years. Since fiscal 2022, 105 SBA-backed loans worth $26.2M have gone to businesses classed as real estate agents, property managers, mortgage lenders and inspectors in Michigan.

Among the 50 states and DC, Michigan ranks #28 for real estate businesses, with a Groundwork market score of 47 (lower middle). Of the 16 scored metro areas in or partly in Michigan, the Monroe metro area scores highest (68). Of the 19 scored small-town markets in or partly in Michigan, the Holland area scores highest (60).

Every market in Michigan for real estate businesses

Download the ranking (CSV)

Numbered by Groundwork market score among the markets based in Michigan, highest first; the U.S. rank compares each market with every other of its kind. A metro area that crosses a state line is listed in each state it reaches, and numbered only in the state its page is under. How the score works.

Metro areas

Metro areas reaching Michigan, ranked for real estate businesses by Groundwork market score
Market	Score	Listings	Per 10k households	Housing spending per listing (U.S. = 100)	Population growth	U.S. rank
1Monroe, MI	68	128	20.3	161	+0.7%	#46 of 387
2Bay City, MI	60	72	16.0	187	−1.6%	#89 of 387
3Battle Creek, MI	60	93	17.4	174	−0.6%	#90 of 387
4Saginaw, MI	54	173	22.2	136	−1.1%	#142 of 387
5Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI	54	166	24.5	123	+1.8%	#144 of 387
6Midland, MI	54	105	30.0	111	+0.3%	#147 of 387
South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI	51	304	23.7	132	+0.1%	#171 of 387
7Lansing-East Lansing, MI	49	524	27.0	118	+1.4%	#189 of 387
8Jackson, MI	48	165	26.4	118	−0.4%	#196 of 387
9Kalamazoo-Portage, MI	44	337	31.5	103	+0.8%	#242 of 387
10Ann Arbor, MI	42	556	36.9	96	−0.4%	#257 of 387
11Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI	39	6,068	34.3	97	+0.1%	#288 of 387
12Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI	39	1,611	36.6	92	+2.8%	#291 of 387
13Flint, MI	37	509	30.4	100	−1.1%	#309 of 387
14Traverse City, MI	25	331	50.6	66	+2.2%	#383 of 387
15Niles, MI	24	235	36.7	85	−1.3%	#384 of 387

Small-town markets

Small-town markets reaching Michigan, ranked for real estate businesses by Groundwork market score
Market	Score	Listings	Per 10k households	Housing spending per listing (U.S. = 100)	Population growth	U.S. rank
1Holland, MI	60	92	20.2	165	+2.1%	#137 of 536
2Houghton, MI	59	22	14.2	211	+1.8%	#141 of 536
3Owosso, MI	59	44	15.6	195	−0.4%	#142 of 536
4Iron Mountain, MI-WI	57	20	14.2	212	+0.4%	#163 of 536
Marinette, WI-MI	56	47	16.0	185	+0.3%	#178 of 536
5Sturgis, MI	55	40	16.9	178	+0.1%	#195 of 536
6Hillsdale, MI	51	32	17.9	168	0.0%	#251 of 536
7Alpena, MI	49	25	19.2	149	−0.1%	#282 of 536
8Alma, MI	48	27	18.3	164	−1.1%	#291 of 536
9Sault Ste. Marie, MI	42	26	18.5	159	−1.9%	#359 of 536
10Adrian, MI	42	81	20.8	150	−1.6%	#363 of 536
11Coldwater, MI	42	35	20.7	144	+2.5%	#364 of 536
12Escanaba, MI	42	33	20.7	143	−0.8%	#366 of 536
13Marquette, MI	40	88	31.1	97	+2.3%	#397 of 536
14Ludington, MI	33	36	28.1	109	0.0%	#478 of 536
15Big Rapids, MI	33	58	34.7	84	+4.7%	#479 of 536
16Cadillac, MI	28	65	33.2	90	+2.0%	#514 of 536
17Mount Pleasant, MI	22	73	29.3	99	+0.3%	#528 of 536
18Petoskey, MI	22	106	69.8	48	−1.0%	#532 of 536

Counties

Counties in Michigan, ranked for real estate businesses by Groundwork market score
Market	Score	Listings	Per 10k households	Housing spending per listing (U.S. = 100)	Population growth	U.S. rank
1Barry County, MI	68	32	13.1	249	+2.2%	#270 of 2,229
2Arenac County, MI	65	5	7.6	379	+0.5%	#362 of 2,229
3Alcona County, MI	65	6	11.3	254	+3.7%	#370 of 2,229
4Montcalm County, MI	64	35	14.3	210	+4.1%	#411 of 2,229
5Newaygo County, MI	63	25	12.7	236	+3.1%	#443 of 2,229
6Tuscola County, MI	58	27	12.6	235	−1.2%	#649 of 2,229
7Presque Isle County, MI	57	10	15.0	195	+1.0%	#712 of 2,229
8Ionia County, MI	57	38	16.3	192	−0.5%	#714 of 2,229
9Osceola County, MI	57	16	17.1	171	+2.7%	#720 of 2,229
10Allegan County, MI	57	92	20.2	165	+2.1%	#726 of 2,229
11Monroe County, MI	57	128	20.3	161	+0.7%	#727 of 2,229
12Lake County, MI	56	7	13.5	201	+9.1%	#764 of 2,229
13Lapeer County, MI	56	66	18.9	171	+1.0%	#773 of 2,229
14Clinton County, MI	55	54	17.1	202	+1.6%	#812 of 2,229
15Shiawassee County, MI	55	44	15.6	195	−0.4%	#815 of 2,229
16Clare County, MI	54	22	17.6	157	+2.3%	#868 of 2,229
17Dickinson County, MI	53	17	14.3	211	−0.3%	#905 of 2,229
18Houghton County, MI	53	22	15.4	195	+1.6%	#912 of 2,229
19Ogemaw County, MI	52	14	14.9	189	+1.6%	#970 of 2,229
20St. Joseph County, MI	52	40	16.9	178	+0.1%	#974 of 2,229
21Bay County, MI	51	72	16.0	187	−1.6%	#1,028 of 2,229
22Cass County, MI	51	39	18.4	174	+0.2%	#1,034 of 2,229
23Kalkaska County, MI	51	14	18.0	167	+4.3%	#1,036 of 2,229
24Hillsdale County, MI	50	32	17.9	168	0.0%	#1,069 of 2,229
25Eaton County, MI	50	96	21.1	154	+0.4%	#1,075 of 2,229

Show all 83 counties

Counties in Michigan, ranked for real estate businesses by Groundwork market score, continued
Market	Score	Listings	Per 10k households	Housing spending per listing (U.S. = 100)	Population growth	U.S. rank
26Crawford County, MI	50	14	22.5	127	+5.7%	#1,093 of 2,229
27Calhoun County, MI	49	93	17.4	174	−0.6%	#1,125 of 2,229
28Alpena County, MI	49	25	19.2	149	−0.1%	#1,132 of 2,229
29Missaukee County, MI	47	9	15.2	196	+1.4%	#1,206 of 2,229
30Gratiot County, MI	47	27	18.3	164	−1.1%	#1,213 of 2,229
31Midland County, MI	47	105	30.0	111	+0.3%	#1,244 of 2,229
32Oceana County, MI	45	25	24.0	125	+1.7%	#1,346 of 2,229
33Gogebic County, MI	44	9	12.9	220	−0.4%	#1,373 of 2,229
34Branch County, MI	44	35	20.7	144	+2.5%	#1,389 of 2,229
35Muskegon County, MI	44	166	24.5	123	+1.8%	#1,408 of 2,229
36St. Clair County, MI	44	177	26.1	121	+0.1%	#1,410 of 2,229
37Chippewa County, MI	43	26	18.5	159	−1.9%	#1,445 of 2,229
38Lenawee County, MI	43	81	20.8	150	−1.6%	#1,449 of 2,229
39Delta County, MI	43	33	20.7	143	−0.8%	#1,453 of 2,229
40Gladwin County, MI	43	28	24.8	116	+2.8%	#1,471 of 2,229
41Saginaw County, MI	42	173	22.2	136	−1.1%	#1,511 of 2,229
42Macomb County, MI	42	957	26.7	123	+0.7%	#1,518 of 2,229
43Leelanau County, MI	42	30	31.1	117	+3.0%	#1,521 of 2,229
44Iron County, MI	40	10	18.0	157	+1.1%	#1,598 of 2,229
45Sanilac County, MI	40	37	21.1	140	−1.0%	#1,601 of 2,229
46Van Buren County, MI	40	77	25.1	123	+0.7%	#1,610 of 2,229
47Ottawa County, MI	40	389	34.9	100	+3.9%	#1,627 of 2,229
48Marquette County, MI	40	88	31.1	97	+2.3%	#1,629 of 2,229
49Otsego County, MI	40	37	32.9	95	+3.8%	#1,633 of 2,229
50Huron County, MI	39	25	17.7	166	−2.7%	#1,653 of 2,229
51Jackson County, MI	39	165	26.4	118	−0.4%	#1,675 of 2,229
52Livingston County, MI	39	298	39.0	96	+1.7%	#1,690 of 2,229
53Iosco County, MI	38	30	25.6	108	+0.3%	#1,737 of 2,229
54Menominee County, MI	37	15	14.5	200	−2.2%	#1,765 of 2,229
55Wayne County, MI	37	1,643	23.5	130	−1.1%	#1,780 of 2,229
56Kalamazoo County, MI	37	337	31.5	103	+0.8%	#1,796 of 2,229
57Washtenaw County, MI	36	556	36.9	96	−0.4%	#1,844 of 2,229
58Mason County, MI	35	36	28.1	109	0.0%	#1,868 of 2,229
59Mecosta County, MI	35	58	34.7	84	+4.7%	#1,882 of 2,229
60Ingham County, MI	33	374	31.9	97	+1.7%	#1,978 of 2,229
61Mackinac County, MI	32	16	30.8	97	+3.8%	#2,006 of 2,229
62Kent County, MI	32	1,117	43.5	78	+2.5%	#2,013 of 2,229
63Antrim County, MI	32	48	43.2	73	+5.3%	#2,016 of 2,229
64Cheboygan County, MI	31	27	24.2	125	+0.9%	#2,032 of 2,229
65Benzie County, MI	31	26	33.7	95	+3.1%	#2,041 of 2,229
66Oakland County, MI	30	2,927	55.2	67	+1.2%	#2,080 of 2,229
67Genesee County, MI	29	509	30.4	100	−1.1%	#2,092 of 2,229
68Manistee County, MI	29	41	38.8	78	+2.3%	#2,102 of 2,229
69Isabella County, MI	25	73	29.3	99	+0.3%	#2,174 of 2,229
70Wexford County, MI	24	56	40.9	73	+2.3%	#2,186 of 2,229
71Charlevoix County, MI	24	57	46.5	71	0.0%	#2,188 of 2,229
72Grand Traverse County, MI	24	261	64.8	51	+1.4%	#2,190 of 2,229
73Berrien County, MI	23	235	36.7	85	−1.3%	#2,194 of 2,229
74Roscommon County, MI	23	43	37.1	78	+1.9%	#2,195 of 2,229
75Emmet County, MI	20	106	69.8	48	−1.0%	#2,214 of 2,229
Montmorency County, MI	Not scored	11	22.4	123	+7.3%
Alger County, MI	Not scored	14	39.6	73	−2.3%
Oscoda County, MI	Not scored	6	15.8	172	+6.0%
Baraga County, MI	Not scored	1	2.9	976	+0.3%
Schoolcraft County, MI	Not scored	6	15.4	188	+1.7%
Luce County, MI	Not scored	2	8.1	342	−1.1%
Ontonagon County, MI	Not scored	2	6.4	437	+0.4%
Keweenaw County, MI	Not scored	0	0.0	n/a	+6.2%

Markets with fewer than 5 real estate businesses on map listings, and counties under 10,000 people, aren’t scored; they’re listed last in each table.

Questions

How many real estate businesses are in Michigan?

Map listings as of September 2026 show 12,725 real estate businesses in Michigan. 859 of them (7%) are chain locations. The listings count real estate agents and brokers, property managers, mortgage brokers and lenders, and home inspectors. Official counts show 5,600 businesses with payroll classed as real estate agents, property managers, mortgage lenders and inspectors in 2023, up 11.2% from 2019. Official counts list 39,339 one-person businesses without payroll.

How much do households in Michigan spend on rent and homeowner costs?

About $57.1B a year, or $13,996 per household. That is 16% below the U.S. average (an index of 84, where 100 is the U.S. average). For the 12,725 real estate businesses on map listings, housing spending per office is 4% above the U.S. figure. That figure is all rent and homeowner costs, used as a measure of housing demand; it is not money real estate businesses take in. It is estimated from the incomes of the 4,076,369 households in Michigan and national spending patterns by income.

How does Michigan compare with the U.S. for real estate businesses?

Michigan has 31.2 real estate businesses per 10,000 households, 19% below the U.S. rate of 38.5. The index of housing spending per office is 104, where 100 is the U.S. At the U.S. ratio of real estate businesses to household spending, Michigan would have about 13,171, against 12,725 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 728 households, against one for every 414 across the U.S. The official count rose 11.2% from 2019 to 2023, against +15.8% for the U.S.

Which market in Michigan has the highest market score for real estate businesses?

Among 16 scored metro areas in or partly in Michigan, the Monroe metro area scores highest, at 68 (upper middle). Among 19 scored small-town markets in or partly in Michigan, the Holland area scores highest, at 60 (upper middle). Among 75 scored counties in Michigan, Barry County scores highest, at 68 (upper middle). Scores compare each market with others of its kind across the U.S.

What is the Groundwork market score?

The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. Michigan scores 47 for real estate businesses (lower middle), #28 of the 50 states and DC.

How can I see the market around a specific site?

Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Michigan. It maps the real estate businesses on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.

Real estate agents and brokers10,048 listings
Property management1,058 listings
Mortgage brokers and lenders1,366 listings
Home inspectors253 listings

Screening a site or an acquisition in Michigan?

A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.

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