8 Best Places To Live In The Great Lakes In 2025

Erie, Pennsylvania

Home to 92,957, Erie blends vast outdoors and affordable attractions into a highly livable waterfront city. Offering an average home value of $185,102, nearly a hundred grand cheaper than the state's $272,299, it is easy to make ends meet for singles or support your family and take the kids to the expERIEnce Children's Museum or go out for entertainment. In addition to Lagoon Indoor Water Park and the Erie Sports Center, the weather is beautiful to enjoy Erie's abundant year-round outdoors, including Chautauqua Park, Erie Zoo, Asbury Woods, and Presque Isle.

Formerly in railroading, Erie remains the primary access point to Lake Erie, while top employers include government, manufacturing, health care, insurance, and tourism. In addition to a good public transit system and highly regarded grade schools, the city is home to the reputable (and beautiful) Gannon University. This historic (century-old this year) institution boasts some 4,600 annual enrollment, a 13:1 student-faculty ratio, and nearly 100 clubs and organizations. Whether you're working or studying, it is minutes to trails and water sports along the many beaches on Presque Isle.

Marquette, Michigan

There's something utterly wholesome about this major historic port on Lake Superior's southern shore that could appease any group to move in today. Home to 21,395, Marquette's primary industry is shipping iron ore, alongside a thriving tourism sector and jobs in hospitality, health care, and education. For an average home value of $306,500, you can settle into a charming place in North Marquette, which offers different-styled homes, Wright Street Falls, and access to the Dead River. Northern Michigan University is a historic, highly regarded institution along Presque Isle Ave.

Central Marquette is residential, with a mix of student and family housing, while the oldest neighborhood and discreet subdivisions in the south enjoy forest access and a "local ski hill," Marquette Mountain Resort. The town's pride, the brick Marquette Harbor Lighthouse, is a red-and-white tower landmark. Work-life balance comes naturally.

Presque Isle Park is a 323-acre peninsula with wooded trails and scenic cliffs, the Black Rocks. Hiawatha National Forest, an iconic state wilderness on three Great Lakes, is 40 minutes southeast for water sports, camping, and more.

Plymouth, Minnesota

Home to some 75,648, Plymouth is among the safest for its size in Minnesota. Oftentimes, beautiful city skylines like this hide faults within, but having reported just 37 violent crimes and 24 aggravated assaults as per 2019 FBI data, many towns half its size report as much or more. Peace of mind comes at a price tag of $492,000 to own, but the range of housing makes it attainable to an average American/family. In addition to some 55,000 jobs, including manufacturing, the city supports innovation and businesses of all sizes—a green flag for both entrepreneurs and skilled workers.

For those seeking big city life with a thriving commercial-industrial base, it is a place to proudly announce "home." Plymouth State University offers over 100 undergraduate and graduate degrees, while Abbott Northwestern - WestHealth, along Campus Drive, provides care in times of need. Both Eagle Lake Regional Park and Clifton E. French Regional Park on Medicine Lake offer waterfront recreation, including a swimmable beach, fishing, lighted trails, a boat launch, and picnicking. Millennium Garden is a beautiful place for a walk with a fountain and other features that feel upscale.

Racine, Wisconsin

Between Milwaukee and Chicago, Racine is a hub for doing business without the high costs. Home to global and family-owned firms, innovative industry leaders, and start-ups, Racine is perfect for career-minded individuals with opportunities in manufacturing and logistics. There are various health care and social service providers, plus the campus for Gateway Technical College, while Marquette University offers master's degrees just 30 miles away in Milwaukee. Home to 76,602, what really draws the newcomers is the average house value of just $195,542, compared to Wisconsin's $312,361.

The city boasts two historic lighthouses and mostly low-rise buildings downtown in lieu of a steel jungle. For another kind of jungle, let your kids go ape alongside 100 different animals at Racine Zoological Gardens, including 50 endangered species. The gorgeous North Beach, voted one of the US's top five freshwater beaches, attracts water babies for a swim, sand volleyball, and angling. This relaxing Lake Michigan coast spans nearly 50 acres blocks from downtown to bond with your friends after work or spend a weekend afternoon bathing in tropical island vibes along soft-sanded shores.

Rochester, Minnesota

Home to 122,413, with a poverty rate of 9% and median household income of $87,767, stats point to an enviable lifestyle. Rochester draws career-minded individuals with a thriving economy and emphasis on professional and medical fields. The average commute takes about 22 minutes, and the unemployment rate is only 3.7%. In addition to the infectious energy, its natural advantage is another major attraction. Lovely views right downtown add to the allure, making it easy to avoid a burnout on a breezy stroll along the river, the rolling hills, or hiking in the woods.

The Zumbro River flows through, offering a bucolic feel in a large city, plus Quarry Hill Nature Center and Quarry Hill Park. No wonder people feel inspired, refreshed, and ready to tackle work and personal matters. Home to the renowned Mayo Clinic, plus the University of Rochester and the Mayo Clinic School of Medicine, Rochester was named America's first Intercultural City (ICC) in 2018. With many of European descent, it persists as one of the best places to settle in the North Star State. The average home value here is $327,857—still below the state's $337,891.

Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario

How about a dream job, room to breathe, and balancing life with work just ten minutes via the International Bridge from the US (and Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan)? Home to roughly 78,000 in 2024, Sault Ste. Marie offers a stable career and growth in the respective field. Skilled workers are highly valued due to many retirees and tech startups during the recent economic development. With significant job demand in forestry, aviation, finance, healthcare, engineering, and more, the environment is perfect to start a business, raise a family, or work remotely. Movers can look forward to the second-shortest commute in Ontario.

The average home value of 218,000 is well below Ontario's 636,128 and Michigan's. There is an international airport and direct access to the Trans-Canada Highway. The poised Canadian dollar as of April 2025 makes another compelling case for moving to the historic heart of the Great Lakes. Its allure persists to this day, since the city is home to the Great Lakes Forestry Research Centre, Algoma Steel Inc., and the head office for the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation. Take a conference call and meet up with friends in Michigan for a BBQ, swim, or a weekend camping trip.

St. Clair Shores, Michigan

Home to 57,548, St. Clair Shores offers a vibrant boating culture, a variety of local shops, restaurants, and landmarks. Just 15 miles from Detroit, it is a lakeside retreat amidst urbanity. The locals enjoy a 25-minute commute to work or big city entertainment, then back to beautiful architecture and lakefront allure. With over 6.5 miles of shoreline, many have backyard access to the lake via winding canals through neighborhoods. Ford House is the prominent family's 1930s-era estate. In addition to major highways Interstate 94 and I-696, it is a quick drive to lakes Huron and Erie.

This city along the "left chamber" of the heart-shaped Lake St. Clair is “The Boating Capital of Michigan,” with private and public marinas. As a hub for boaters, it thrives through tourism, fishing, and two power plants, part of the greater area's industry. Boasting just a 7% poverty rate and a median household income of $72,693, the average home value of $222,544 is below the state's. Enjoy lunch by the waterfront or play ball with your kids at Kyte Monroe Park. Veterans Memorial Park has a lakefront play and picnic area and a beach, while Blossom Heath Park lights up for holidays.

Traverse City, Michigan

Home to 15,707, Traverse City blends small-city vibes into grand natural beauty. Proudly "the Cherry Capital of the World," it offers a juicy life, known for wine production and views of the clear blue Grand Traverse Bay. Despite the higher average home value of $433,471, the housing range makes it affordable to a vast variety. Traverse City has a year-round tourist business base that supports a strong economy and other industries, like technology and hospitality. The annual National Cherry Festival bumps up the population for a week by about half a million attendees.

With a poverty rate of 9% and a median household income of $71,731, people really spend here, with $99,004 in 2022 total retail sales per capita. The locals enjoy great life quality along miles of shoreline, plus a thriving healthcare sector, including the major state hospital. After work, many turn into sailors, kayakers, and beach bums when not mingling downtown, a lively scene of culinary excellence with waterfront restaurants and local breweries. Kids who start off at the highly rated school system can go on to Northwestern Michigan College, with a variety of degree programs.

Two Harbors, Minnesota

Home to 3,600, the county seat and biggest town on Superior's northwestern coast offers a serene atmosphere downshore from Duluth. Two lighthouses and a historic railroad depot give a glimpse into its booming past. It is a safe haven for families with access to great primary education. Errands are a breeze with easy parking, local supermarkets, pharmacies, and restaurants. The average house value is below the state's at $281,884, and most are single detached properties and apartment buildings.

Offering a mixed industry and larger population than its neighbors, the median household income is $62,885 and the poverty rate is 12%. The average commute of 25 minutes takes into account 30 minutes north to Duluth for work or its big city lights, entertainment, and services. Despite a lack of diversity, tourists gentrify the mix. Since 47% of locals are single, it is a great place to mingle for anyone seeking a quiet and calm lifestyle, including artists and remote workers. Additionaly, the many places for hanging out are at easy access to Lake Superior and hiking trails.

The five Great Lakes, with sweeping scenery akin to an ocean coast, straddle the US-Canada border. The surrounding region benefits from the cool summer breezes that lure tourists, while living in an instant vacation feel and lovely views no matter the season outside. There is so much to look forward to when living in the Great Lakes.

Whether you're a big city stickler or the charm of small towns has enough pull to pack up and leave the steel, there's no lack of greenery to take kids to a city park or camp in the nearby woods with friends. From foliage hikes to skiing, skating, and snowshoeing in winter—the quieter months when tourists also stay home or head south.