Hamburg
RANK #455 / 996 NAT · #33 / 36 MI · POP 194,302
1YR FORECAST: +1.3%
5YR OUTLOOK: +25%
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.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
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 996 counties.
Livingston County scores 54/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 996 U.S. counties (#455). Median household income is $96,135 and job growth is running at +0.4%. 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 $311,800 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.31, with rents averaging $1,207/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Livingston County's population is growing — up +0.6% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of +0.4%). Home values shifted +4.2% over the past year. In-migration is outpacing local hiring, which often points to remote workers or retirees driving the headcount.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.42% 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.