Michigan Has the Worst City for Average Price-to-Rent Ratio in America

The cost of renting and buying a place to live has been going up the past several years. But, there are still some cities that are a steal when it comes to renting costs. That's good news if you're looking to rent an apartment and either aren't ready to buy or don't have the funds right now. Unfortunately, one Michigan city is among the worst in America when it comes to renting. It's even the worst city for average price-to-rent ratio in America.

Lemonade.com has put out a list of the best cities for renters in America. They note, "When deciding where to relocate, it’s easy to focus on factors like jobs, climate, and the local arts and culture scene. But you may want to consider less obvious or flashy factors like rental availability, monthly utility costs, and renter protection laws, as these critical factors vary widely across the country—and can have a real impact on your quality of life." As for methodology, for the study, they "analyzed and ranked the 50 most populous U.S. cities across 11 categories." They also "scored each city based on three weighted main categories: cost of rent (50% of total score), how robust renters’ rights are (30% of score), and availability of rental units (20% of score)."

Before we get to our state, let's look at the No. 1 city in America for renters. It's Washington D.C., with a cost rank of 14, renters' rights rank of 4 and availability of 2. Minneapolis, Minnesota, is No. 2 and Albuquerque, New Mexico, is No. 3. Rounding out the top five is Long Beach, California, at No. 4 and Mesa, Arizona, at No. 5. I'm surprised about Long Beach, as I would think it would be expensive.

So, what about Michigan? Detroit is the absolute worst city for average price-to-rent ratio in America, according to this study. It's also the second worst when it comes to the percentage of vacant housing units for rent. Not the best news, but I love the Motor City. Find the full list here.

For those currently in the process of job hunting, the market is working in your favor right now. There are plenty of job opportunities available. Representatives from the Michigan Department of Technology, Management, and Budget came together for a conference in Lansing on Tuesday. The event aimed to chart the course of the state's employment landscape for the next seven years. Additionally, they’re working to ensure people know about the jobs currently in high demand.

Yesterday, the DTMB and the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity released two publications: Michigan’s Hot 50 and Michigan’s Career Outlook. Michigan’s Hot 50 brochure provides a comprehensive list of careers projected to have high demand and offer competitive wages, with the projections extending until 2030. This informative resource includes key details such as job titles, projected annual job openings, hourly wage ranges, insights into job growth, and the necessary education or training levels.

For people with a high school diploma and short-term training, several careers are expected to experience heightened demand over the next eight years. These careers include amusement and recreation attendants, animal caretakers, exercise trainers, group fitness instructors, bartenders, hosts, and hostesses.

On the other hand, for those with a bachelor’s degree or higher, the demand is projected to be strong for professions including general and operations managers, accountants, auditors, medical and health services managers, physician assistants, and industrial engineers.

The information gathered in these lists is valuable for students and job seekers. It assists them in making informed decisions about their future paths.

"It is our goal to provide our education and workforce partners with the information they need to help Michiganders find their path to high-demand, high-wage jobs," Scott Powell, director of the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget's Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives, said in a news release.

Check out these five most in-demand jobs in Michigan, as highlighted by Michigan's Department of Technology, Management, and Budget. See the complete list here.

The projected annual job openings amount to 6,545, offering an hourly wage spanning from $29 to $72. Anticipated growth from 2020 to 2030 stands at 11.9%. The usual educational and training prerequisites beyond high school for this role include a bachelor's degree alongside relevant work experience.

The projected annual job openings amount to 7,635, offering an hourly wage spanning from $19 to $29. Anticipated growth from 2020 to 2030 stands at 12.7%. The usual educational and training prerequisites beyond high school for this role include a postsecondary nondegree award, short-term on-the-job training, or a license.

The projected annual job openings amount to 8,240, offering an hourly wage spanning from $21 to $40. Anticipated growth from 2020 to 2030 stands at 9.6%. The usual educational and training prerequisites beyond high school for this role include moderate on-the-job training.

The projected annual job openings amount to 6,345, offering an hourly wage spanning from $30 to $38. Anticipated growth from 2020 to 2030 stands at 7.9%. The usual educational and training prerequisites beyond high school for this role include a bachelor's degree or s license.

The projected annual job openings amount to 1,420, offering an hourly wage spanning from $19 to $30. Anticipated growth from 2020 to 2030 stands at 12%. The usual educational and training prerequisites beyond high school for this role include a bachelor's degree or s license.