RANK #189 / 996 · POP 194,302 · MI
PROJECTED GROWTH: +2.1%
Howell, the county seat, draws visitors with its historic downtown, local dining, and events like the Michigan Challenge Balloonfest. Livingston County, located in southeastern Michigan, offers access to Detroit, Lansing, Ann Arbor, and Flint via I-96, US-23, and M-59. The area maintains a suburban and rural feel, characterized by rolling hills, woodlands, and over 75 inland lakes. Outdoor recreation is a significant draw, with opportunities for hiking, biking, fishing, and boating across numerous parks and recreation areas, including Island Lake Recreation Area and Brighton Recreation Area.
Livingston County is largely a commuter community, with many residents traveling to jobs outside the county, contributing to some of the state's longer commute times. The public school system is highly regarded, with several districts ranking among the best in Michigan. The local economy has shown resilience, with job growth projected to exceed pre-pandemic levels. Recent economic developments include investments in broadband infrastructure and public safety communications. The county also has a low unemployment rate and has been recognized for its quality of life.
Overvalued relative to economy
Well below national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Below national median (13x)
Housing looks overvalued at 7.6x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Howell AI Data Center
Meta (rumored)
|
$1,000M | Proposed |
|
Livingston County Wind Farm
Canadian and Dutch company
|
$1,000M | Proposed |
|
Mid-Michigan Pipeline Replacement
Consumers Energy
|
$550M | Completed |
|
Livingston Energy Storage
Vesper Energy
|
$300M | Planned |
|
Multiple New Residential Communities
Various Home Builders
|
$50M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Livingston County has a Boom Town Index score of 81/100, ranking #189 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +0.4% and a median household income of $96,135, it's an above-average county on economic indicators.
The median home value in Livingston County is $311,800 with median rent at $1,207/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.3083, which is more affordable than the national average.
Population growth: +0.6% year-over-year. Job growth: +0.4%. Home values changed +4.2% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 3.42% of Livingston County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.