Episode 0012, 6/25/2026

What’s The Best Town To Move To In Northern Michigan?

Blog Reference:

Episode Summary

There is no single best town to live in Northern Michigan because every community serves a different lifestyle. This episode explains how to evaluate Traverse City, Cadillac, Suttons Bay, Elk Rapids, and Frankfort based on your priorities instead of relying on generic internet rankings.

Key Takeaways for Northern Michigan Buyers & Sellers

• Traverse City: Prioritize this community if healthcare, shopping, and employment opportunities are important to your daily life.
• Cadillac: Consider this area if affordability and four-season recreation are higher priorities.
• Suttons Bay: Expect limited inventory and higher pricing if you prioritize walkability and waterfront living.
• Elk Rapids: Look here if you want a balance between small-town living and convenient access to Traverse City.

The Core Topic

How to determine which Northern Michigan town best fits your lifestyle instead of relying on generic “Top 10” rankings.

Full Transcript

[00:11]Welcome to Northern Michigan Real Estate Intelligence. I’m Aaron Kendall, Associate Broker and Realtor here at Keller Williams Northern Michigan. Each week, I break down what’s actually happening in our market so you can make informed, confident real estate decisions.

This week, I want to tackle one of the most searched relocation questions I hear from people moving here.

[00:33] What’s the best town in Northern Michigan to move to?

It’s a simple question, but I think it’s actually the wrong question.

Because there is no universal winner.

And that’s one of the reasons Northern Michigan is so unique.

As we move through June of 2026, more people continue exploring Northern Michigan as a place to relocate, retire, work remotely, or simply slow down their pace of life.

And understandably, people want an answer.

They want someone to tell them where they should live.

[01:05] But after years of helping buyers across Northern Michigan, I’ve learned that rankings don’t work very well here.

The internet loves to publish articles that say things like “The Top 10 Places to Live In Northern Michigan.”

The problem is those lists don’t know anything about you.

They don’t know your budget.

They don’t know if you’re commuting.

They don’t know if you have children.

They don’t know if you work remotely.

And they certainly don’t know what kind of lifestyle you want.

That’s why I encourage people to stop asking, “What’s the best town?” and start asking, “Where would my everyday life work best?”

[01:41]For some people, that’s Traverse City.

Traverse City offers the largest concentration of amenities in Northern Michigan.

You have shopping, healthcare, restaurants, an airport, trails, beaches, and employment opportunities.

For many people relocating from larger metropolitan areas, Traverse City feels familiar while still offering Northern Michigan’s slower pace.

The tradeoff, of course, is housing costs.

Generally speaking, you’ll pay more for convenience.

But for many buyers, that’s a worthwhile tradeoff.

[02:14] Then there’s Cadillac.

Cadillac has become one of the most attractive options for buyers seeking affordability while still maintaining access to Northern Michigan’s lifestyle.

You still have four-season recreation.

You still have lakes.

You still have healthcare and a strong sense of community.

But often at a lower price point than Traverse City.

[02:34] Then we have communities like Suttons Bay.

Suttons Bay appeals to people who value walkability, wineries, and a smaller waterfront environment.

It’s beautiful.

It’s highly desirable.

And inventory can sometimes be limited, so expect significantly higher prices.

[02:51] Elk Rapids is another community I think gets overlooked.

It’s positioned between Traverse City and Charlevoix, and many people appreciate the balance it offers.

You get a walkable downtown, marina access, schools, and easy access to larger communities without feeling overly busy.

[03:11] Then there’s Frankfort.

Frankfort appeals to buyers who truly want to embrace a slower pace.

If Lake Michigan sunsets and a quieter atmosphere are high priorities, Frankfort deserves a serious look.  With crystal clear water and some of the best sunsets around, it can feel like you are living in a puzzle or a postcard scene.

[03:32]None of these communities are better than the others.

They’re simply different.

And that’s really the point.

The biggest mistake I see relocation buyers make is choosing a town before they choose a lifestyle.

That’s backwards.

[03:46] Before selecting a location, I encourage people to answer a few questions.

How important is healthcare access?

Do you want to walk downtown?

How much do schools matter?

How much are you willing to commute?

Do you want acreage?

Do you want to be near water?

Do you want a vibrant social environment, or something quieter?

Once those answers become clear, the list of potential communities usually gets much smaller.

[04:12] I recently published a companion article called “What Northern Michigan Town Is Best to Live In?”

You can find it at my website, aaronkendallrealestate.com and look under the blog section for that title.  The article breaks down several communities and explains why there isn’t one perfect answer.

Because most people aren’t actually choosing a town.

They’re choosing how they want to live every day.

And those are very different decisions.

[04:38] Before we wrap up, make sure you follow or subscribe and look for next week’s episode.

Each week, I’ll continue breaking down what’s actually happening across Northern Michigan so you can make informed and confident real estate decisions.

If you want more information, NorMI™ can help compare communities based on lifestyle, schools, commute times, affordability, and long-term fit.

If you’d like to dive deeper on this, you can ask NorMI™ something like:

Compare Traverse City, Cadillac, Suttons Bay, Elk Rapids, and Frankfort for a family of four based on cost of living, schools, commute, outdoor activities, and overall lifestyle fit.  Ask me the questions needed to figure out the best Northern Michigan town to move to.

If you are following along on the transcript, you can just click on those words and watch NorMI™ do magic.

Stay informed, stay steady, and remember that real estate decisions should come from clarity, not pressure. I’ll talk with you next week.