What is the best gay city to live in Michigan?
Which city in Michigan is the top LGBTQ-friendliness while being the most affordable? Find out here on this episode. Then download your FREE Queer Money Kickstarter, a 9-step Guide to Kickstart Your Journey to Financial Independence.
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What’s the most affordable, LGBTQ+ friendly City in Michigan?
What city’s the runner-up for most affordable, LGBTQ+ friendly in Michigan? Ferndale! Why? The Human Rights Campaign gives Ferndale a 100 on its Municipal Equality Index, which is one of the three cities in Michigan to get this high score. Home values average $242,000 per property, which is in the middle for the state. The rents average $1,650 a month for a 2-bedroom/2-bathroom apartment. The cost of living in Ferndale is 109.2% of the national average, which is in the middle for the state. The average income is $69,000 a year, and the median income is $57,000 a year, which puts both in the middle for the state.
So, which is the winner for the most affordable, LGBTQ+ friendly city in Michigan? Detroit! Why? Detroit’s HRC MEI is 100. Home values in Detroit average $68,000 per property. This is why Detroit earns our top spot. Notably, some homes are being sold by the city for $1. Most, though, are sold at considerably lower than national average costs. The rents average $1,233 monthly for a 2-bedroom/2-bathroom apartment, which is on the low end. The cost of living for Detroit is 80.2% of the national average, the lowest in Michigan. The average income is $52,000 yearly, the second lowest for Michigan. The median income is $40,000 a year, the lowest for Michigan.
Of note is that Ann Arbor comes in at a close third for the most affordable, LGBTQ+ friendly city in Michigan. It also scored a 100 on HRC’s MEI. Home values and rents are just too high for our analysis.
Some great things about Detroit include that it’s the birthplace of the automobile, Motown, and Madonna! Motor City is a big city with decent-paying jobs and low-cost housing. Motor City Pride is typically the second weekend in June. It was held on June 10th & 11th in 2023.
Check out the local LGBTQ magazine Between the Lines. Check out LGBT Detroit and Affirmations community centers and support.
If you’d like to see the results of all the cities in each state we’re analyzing, get the dynamic list of Affordable LGBTQ+ Friendly Cities in the U.S. here. or click the link in your podcast player for a growing analysis.
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Previous Bonus Podcast Episodes
- The Best Gay City to Live in Minnesota
- The Best Gay City to Live in Mississippi
- The Best Gay City to Live in Missouri
Click below to listen to this bonus episode.