RANK #653 / 1001 NAT · #32 / 36 MI · POP 879,853
1YR FORECAST: +1.3%
5YR OUTLOOK: +26%
Bordering Detroit to its north, Macomb County, Michigan, offers a blend of suburban and rural living, with communities like Utica providing a small-town atmosphere alongside access to larger amenities. The county boasts 30 miles of Lake St. Clair shoreline, along with numerous rivers and streams, providing opportunities for boating, fishing, and other water activities. Commuting throughout the county and to neighboring Detroit is facilitated by major roadways like I-94, I-696, M-59, and M-53, though traffic can be heavy during peak hours. Public transportation is available through the SMART bus system, offering fixed routes and on-demand services. The county also features extensive parks and trails for hiking and biking, including Stony Creek Metropark.
Life in Macomb County is characterized by a strong sense of community, with many residents remaining connected to their hometowns. Families are drawn to the area for its public schools, which are recognized for strong academic programs. The economy, historically rooted in the automotive and defense sectors, is expanding into emerging industries such as aerospace, automation, and robotics. This diversification, alongside ongoing investment in commercial and residential development, contributes to a growing job market. Macomb Community College also plays a role in the local economy by providing education and training for the workforce.
Macomb County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +3.4% YoY, population +0.2%, wages +1.5%). 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 9.0x — 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 →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Prologis 32 Mile Technical Campus (Data Center)
Prologis
|
$750M | Proposed |
|
Four Cities Metro Pipeline Replacement
Consumers Energy
|
$182M | Under Construction |
|
Macomb Town Center (MTC) Mixed-Use Development
Macomb Township and Carlisle | Wortman Associates, Inc.
|
$100M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
At 34/100, Macomb County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 1001 counties we track. Median income of $77,837 combined with job growth of -1.4% suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.
Housing in Macomb County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $243,900 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.32, with rents averaging $1,211/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Macomb County's job market is contracting (-1.4% YoY) while population is roughly stable (+0.2% change). Home values are +3.4% over the past 12 months. Hiring headwinds without an offsetting exodus — residents are staying, but local employers are shedding payroll.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.73% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Macomb County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.