THE DIRTBID REGIONAL MODEL · MICHIGAN
Sitework in Michigan on the same Richmond Metro = 1.00 scale as the rest of DirtBid: 17 cost regions and 83 counties, each with a soil-risk rating from USDA and USGS data. Detroit Metro runs highest at 1.00×; Battle Creek Metro lowest at 0.86×.
Michigan multipliers and county ratings are planning-level: built from federal price and soil data, and not yet checked against local bids or a local estimator.
Dominant ground: Conover, Wawasee, Blount
6 counties in this region. 6 of 6 rate high for water table. 6 of 6 rate high for dewatering. Highest risk score: Lapeer County (6 of 10).
Counties: Lapeer County, Livingston County, Macomb County, Oakland County, St. Clair County, Wayne County
Dominant ground: Rubicon, Kalkaska, Grayling
53 counties in this region. 47 of 53 rate high for water table. 43 of 53 rate high for dewatering. Deep frost protection is likely in 15 of 53. Highest risk score: Alpena County (7 of 10).
Counties: Alcona County, Alger County, Allegan County, Alpena County, Antrim County, Arenac County, Baraga County, Branch County, Charlevoix County, Cheboygan County, Chippewa County, Clare County, Crawford County, Delta County, Dickinson County, Emmet County, Gladwin County, Gogebic County, Gratiot County, Hillsdale County, Houghton County, Huron County, Iosco County, Iron County, Isabella County, Keweenaw County, Lake County, Lenawee County, Luce County, Mackinac County, Manistee County, Marquette County, Mason County, Mecosta County, Menominee County, Missaukee County, Montmorency County, Newaygo County, Oceana County, Ogemaw County, Ontonagon County, Osceola County, Oscoda County, Otsego County, Presque Isle County, Roscommon County, St. Joseph County, Sanilac County, Schoolcraft County, Shiawassee County, Tuscola County, Van Buren County, Wexford County
Dominant ground: Plainfield, Oshtemo, Marlette
5 counties in this region. 5 of 5 rate high for water table. 5 of 5 rate high for dewatering. Highest risk score: Barry County (5 of 10).
Counties: Barry County, Ionia County, Kent County, Montcalm County, Ottawa County
Dominant ground: Conover, Marlette, Parkhill
3 counties in this region. 3 of 3 rate high for water table. 3 of 3 rate high for dewatering. Highest risk score: Clinton County (5 of 10).
Counties: Clinton County, Eaton County, Ingham County
Dominant ground: Conover, Brookston, Del Rey
1 county in this region. 1 of 1 rate high for water table. 1 of 1 rate high for undercut. Highest risk score: Genesee County (6 of 10).
Counties: Genesee County
Dominant ground: Wawasee, Boyer, Fox
1 county in this region. 1 of 1 rate high for water table. 1 of 1 rate high for dewatering. Highest risk score: Washtenaw County (5 of 10).
Counties: Washtenaw County
Dominant ground: Kalamazoo, Oshtemo, Coloma
1 county in this region. Highest risk score: Kalamazoo County (4 of 10).
Counties: Kalamazoo County
Dominant ground: Parkhill, Selfridge, Tappan
1 county in this region. 1 of 1 rate high for water table. 1 of 1 rate high for undercut. Highest risk score: Saginaw County (5 of 10).
Counties: Saginaw County
Dominant ground: Plainfield, Covert, Pipestone
1 county in this region. 1 of 1 rate high for water table. 1 of 1 rate high for dewatering. Highest risk score: Muskegon County (5 of 10).
Counties: Muskegon County
Dominant ground: Riddles, Hillsdale, Houghton
1 county in this region. 1 of 1 rate high for water table. 1 of 1 rate high for dewatering. Highest risk score: Jackson County (5 of 10).
Counties: Jackson County
Dominant ground: Kaleva, Rubicon, Kalkaska
4 counties in this region. 1 of 4 rate high for water table. Highest risk score: Kalkaska County (5 of 10).
Counties: Benzie County, Grand Traverse County, Kalkaska County, Leelanau County
Dominant ground: Pewamo, Selfridge, Lenawee
1 county in this region. 1 of 1 rate high for water table. 1 of 1 rate high for undercut. Highest risk score: Monroe County (6 of 10).
Counties: Monroe County
Dominant ground: Oshtemo, Riddles, Spinks
1 county in this region. 1 of 1 rate high for water table. 1 of 1 rate high for undercut. Highest risk score: Berrien County (6 of 10).
Counties: Berrien County
Dominant ground: Oshtemo, Kalamazoo, Hillsdale
1 county in this region. 1 of 1 rate high for water table. 1 of 1 rate high for dewatering. Highest risk score: Calhoun County (5 of 10).
Counties: Calhoun County
Dominant ground: Tappan, Londo, Selfridge
1 county in this region. 1 of 1 rate high for water table. 1 of 1 rate high for undercut. Highest risk score: Bay County (5 of 10).
Counties: Bay County
Dominant ground: Pipestone, Kingsville, Selfridge
1 county in this region. 1 of 1 rate high for water table. 1 of 1 rate high for undercut. Highest risk score: Midland County (6 of 10).
Counties: Midland County
Dominant ground: Kalamazoo, Oshtemo, Spinks
1 county in this region. 1 of 1 rate high for water table. 1 of 1 rate high for dewatering. Highest risk score: Cass County (5 of 10).
Counties: Cass County
FAQ
From USDA soil survey data, the most common across the state: water table (73 of 83 counties rate high), dewatering (68 of 83 counties rate high), undercut (29 of 83 counties rate high). A parcel can differ from its county, so read the survey for your exact site.
From the Commerce Department's Regional Price Parities, on the same Richmond Metro = 1.00 scale as Virginia. Across 29 reviewed regions that method missed by about 0.03 on average. They have not been checked against executed bids in Michigan, so use them for planning, not a final bid.
They are screening ratings from federal soil and geology data, not a local estimator's review and not a geotechnical report. Tested against 511 reviewed counties, they land within one level most of the time, and exact matches are less common. Get borings before you price a real site.
Soil Report
A $350 DirtBid AI Soil Report reads the official USDA survey for your exact parcel, flags the hazards above, and prices the risk — before you buy land or sign a contract.