Ann Arbor Area

Adrian, MI is a town with interesting architecture. The Croswell Opera House is gorgeous and still used for local productions. The historical society building is also worth seeing. It's evident that citizens take pride in their town with the up keep of the beautiful downtown and support of businesses there. The town supports the arts with the Adrian Symphony Orchestra and other fine arts events. There is some diversity here, which sets Adrian apart from many other Michigan towns. The parks look great and there are lots of places for recreation with pools, playgrounds, and ball fields. And for hockey and skating, there's an ice rink. Living here won't cost you too much in terms of housing, renting or buying. However, the big problem in Adrian like many Michigan towns right now is the economy. Unemployment is much higher than the national average. So you really can't move here unless you know for sure there is job for you, or you're an entrepreneur willing to take your chances.

The City of Fenton%u2019s downtown has an attractive historical look. There is also town square-style shopping plaza nearby. The Shiawassee River also flows over a dam through the park in the center of town, making it even more beautiful. The park is overlooked by city hall and includes an old-fashioned gazebo and walkway by the river. One big draw for Fenton is that within 10 miles, there are 58 lakes where one can enjoy skiing, boating, hiking trails, and place to simply "be" in nature. Lake Fenton is the largest lake and provides over 11 miles of shoreline for you to enjoy. It's a fairly well educated city with 87% having high school diplomas, 22% with college degrees, and 7% with graduate or professional degrees. Fenton also has a very low crime rate. Despite the serene parks, the unemployment rate is around 13%. That's not as bad as many Michigan towns, but is significantly higher than the national average. On the bright side, home values haven't fallen as far as many other towns throughout the state. The cost of living is doable. And housing costs, whether buying or renting, won't break the bank. Overall, it's a good place to live, but the joblessness is a cause for concern.

Howell is cute city with a vibrant downtown filled with a winery, unique shops, and great restaurants. The Howell Opera House is a gorgeous building that was sadly ignored until 2000 when renovations began. They aren't complete, but at least the theatre is being used again for art shows, concerts, and other performances. Community events go on all year. However, the Melon Festival in August draws about 50,000 people. It's centered around a hybrid cantaloupe that only grows in the area. Apartment prices and choices are decent, about $480 to $700. There's not a lot to do here as you can imagine with only 10,000 people. There is the Howell Theatre, a 2 screen movie house. If you want to go to a modern multiplex, you have to drive to Brighton. The parks are lovely and the aquatic center is a good choice for exercise during the long winters. Unemployment is about 10%, the same as the national average. Thus, finding a job would be difficult, but it's not nearly as dismal as many cities in Michigan. Overall, this a nice town.

Lansing is an attractive city with lots of opportunity particularly in higher education and the arts. It has a busy music scene with the symphony, jazz festivals, and many other festivals and concerts each year. They have an active and well-supported theatre community, and there are many museums for residents and visitors to enjoy. Urban renewal projects have turned industrial buildings and offices into loft space for residential and commercial use. The downtowns is thriving. There are plenty of apartments to choose from for renting at reasonable prices. The winters here are rough with long days of gray. And unemployment is a serious problem in this city and throughout the state. If you're coming here for school and can deal with the winter blues, this a great choice. It's a good city for families too, if you know you have a job lined up for sure.

Novi is a growing city in a good location. So many towns in Michigan have populations decreasing, mostly due to the economy. However, Novi has good schools and a diversified economy. Residents are fairly well educated with 94% having high school diplomas, 49% with college degrees, and 19% with graduate or professional degrees. Apartment prices are good, although houses are a little more expensive. Also other living expenses are little high here than many other towns. If you like big malls, Twelve Oaks, is an upscale mall built in 1977. It's recently undergone renovations and updates. Many credit the mall for the city's growth and strong economy. It's a safe town, although property crime rates are slightly above the national average. The downtown area has gained some recent attention from city officials in terms of developing it more. Overall, this is a good town. It's not the best looking in terms of interesting architecture. But it has nice parks. It's clean and organized. Most importantly, the economy is growing.

Wixom is putting considerable effort and resources into downtown development. One area called the Village Center has a pedestrian plaza, restaurants, and service shops. There's also a mixed-use area with condos and townhomes being built. Most of the schools are in the Walled Lake District, which has lots of cash. It's one of the highest paid districts to work in if you're an educator. The film industry has come here, Ann Arbor, and other towns because of low costs. Thus, this area is an interesting industry to explore in terms of employment. There are no higher learning institutions in town, but there are several within 20 miles. Cost of living is fairly low, although there aren't great number of apartments. The town is doing well considering the closing of the Ford Plant in 2007. They have only about 5% of the population living below the poverty line. The people are fairly well educated with 93% having high school diplomas, 38% with college degrees, and 11% with graduate or professional degree. The city is attractive and has a number of well maintained parks that offer walking trails, pools, ball fields and more. It's not the most exciting place in terms of entertainment. But it's not a bad little town.

Plymouth is a very attractive tree lined small town that has somehow managed to avoid the high unemployment that plagues most of the state. It's clean and has great entertainment, especially for a town so small. They support the arts and even have a local orchestra. Because of the quaint downtown, the city has attracted film productions especially since filming in California has proved to be more expensive than leaving the state. There's a local farmer's market downtown each Saturday during the summer and fall. All the food comes from local farmers. The parks are beautiful and the recreation department offers a variety of activities. They also have an ice rink for skating and hockey. Housing costs here are relatively low, although there aren't many apartments to choose from right in Plymouth. It may be easier to find a house to rent. In general, this a good city for families. Even though there are some cool pubs and bars, young singles may want a place a little more exciting.

Burton is a friendly small town that's not too far from major metro areas of the state. The town offers a lot in terms of recreation. It's home to Kelly Lake Park, a 40 acre park with trails and along with the lake. There's also For-Mar Nature Preserve and Arboretum, a golf course, and the Ice Mountain hockey arena. Courtland center is a large shopping center that meets most of your needs. Living expenses are reasonable. Housing costs are fairly low, although home values have decreased from the recession. The city has a Veteran Memorial that's impressive. However, the city is missing charm. Architecture is boring and there's not much to offer as far as the arts. It's not a bad place to live, but you could find more interesting Michigan towns.

Canton, one of Michigan's fastest growing cities, currently has approximately 75,000 residents and is located 31 miles west of Detroit. This 36 square mile town is named after the Chinese city of Canton. This upscale community boasts median income levels almost double the average state salary. Along with their growth, they've been fortunate to also maintain their outstanding safety records and low crime numbers. They've been nationally recognized as one of the 20 safest cities in America (with populations in excess of 75,000). Canton is home to 7 colleges, many parks, several apartment complexes/residential developments and exceptional golf courses. Canton's close proximity to Detroit and Ann Arbor (within 17 miles) makes this a great choice for prospective residents.

Jackson is a town with a rich history. It was heavily involved in the Underground Railroad and the formation of the Republican party. The cost of living is low. Housing costs are low. There are beautiful parks such as The Cascade Falls, gorgeous manmade waterfalls. Numerous lakes and golf courses, there's something for everyone to do. However, the unemployment rate is dismal. The community and the state were already having trouble with the decline of the auto industry that began in the 1980s. With no work, professionals are leaving the city and city services suffer. Citizens express great frustration in newspaper articles and blogs. They complain of the lack of leadership and general complacency. The high school drop out rate is high. Crime is also high. So, I don't recommend coming here.