RANK #600 / 1001 NAT · #30 / 36 MI · POP 195,833
1YR FORECAST: +1.8%
5YR OUTLOOK: +27%
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.
Livingston County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +3.7% YoY, population +0.3%, wages +4.5%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Below-average climate & terrain
Below national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 18.1x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
| 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 1001 counties.
Livingston County scores 40/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 1001 U.S. counties (#600). Median household income is $103,039 and job growth is running at +0.5%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
Housing in Livingston County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $356,800 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.29, with rents averaging $1,287/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Population and employment in Livingston County are both close to flat — population +0.3% YoY and jobs +0.5%. Home values shifted +3.7% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.06% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Livingston County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.