Well-known for being the bedrock of America’s auto industry, Michigan, the Great Lake State is quite a perfect state. Leaving aside the rough long winters, you might as well begin looking at the glass half full if you’ve been here long enough.
To begin, Michigan is overflowing with natural beauty that is unmatchable.
No other state can compare to the wide stretch of freshwater shoreline in Michigan and its 3,000 miles of shore, the uncountable family-friendly attractions are built naturally to motivate an active, outdoor lifestyle.
It won’t come as a surprise that everyone here lives within six miles of either a stream or a lake, it just makes sense since the state has an astonishing 11,000 inland lakes.
Popular Science magazine gave Michigan a seal of approval while stating that by the year 2100, this state will be the best place to live in America.
The charms of Michigan extend beyond nature as there’s also no lack of well-paying jobs and high-quality education here.
The U.S. News & World Report ranked the University of Michigan as the third-best public university in America.
This state provides plenty of well-paying jobs in areas such as technology, professional, and business services, under which there are trade, utilities, construction, and transportation.
We also cannot forget leisure and hospitality.
The fact that Michigan also has one of the lowest costs of living in the Midwest makes it easy to see why Michigan states as a tempting destination for tourists and people looking to settle.
Now that we have almost all the whys covered, here are some of the best places to live in Michigan for anyone looking to relocate to this state.
1. Ann Arbor
Home to the distinguished University of Michigan, Ann Arbor is a city of 116,000 residents and has its location in Washtenaw County. And there’s more to why it is quite famous.
Also known for its natural areas and abundant parks, a joyful economy, low crime, a growing, progressive culture, regular festivals, and free outdoor music, Ann Arbor has the 130-mile Huron River flowing inside its boundaries.
The top-notch schools, alluring neighborhoods, and a happening downtown are enough to answer your questions on why Ann Arbor can possibly be the best place to live in Michigan.
2. Okemos
Another Michigan city is known for being among the best places to live in America, let alone Michigan, Okemos is a little city of just 22,000 and it draws many people to its shores in Ingham County with its first-rate school system. For many, that alone is the main reason why they choose to settle here.
Okemos provides an excellent quality of life, and the cost of housing is way effective. The average value for a home is $194,200 and for just $230,000 you can also own a typical four-bedroom two-bath mansion.
3. East Grand Rapids
Regarded all over as one of the best places to live in the Wolverine State, the Grand Rapids was also ranked 19th in the Best Places to Live in America by the U.S. News & World Report and it was considered the fourth best place to retire.
Having around 11,000 residents, this suburb is known for its excellence in about everything. Here you’ll find some of the best schools in the state, a stable, high-paying job market with an average household income of about $112,000 (double of the national average), a low crime rate, and high quality of life.
4. Birmingham
Located in Oakland County, this Detroit suburb is just the ideal place to raise your kids.
No kidding!
In this city of 20,500, there are five public schools and they are pretty much known for molding out some of the sharpest minds in Michigan, with the average test scores being 21% higher than the national.
When it comes to the residents of Birmingham, more than three-quarters of them are college-educated. And with an average household earning $108,135 annually, it’s safe to say that they earn pretty decent too.
This city is safer as compared to 83% of all American cities and the unemployment rate is also 48% lesser than the national average.
5. Beverly Hills
Michigan also has its own version of Beverly Hills.
The Beverly Hills of Michigan is nestled in Oakland County and it is smaller, and less swanky as compared to the one in California. This village of 10,500 residents is special in itself as it has a soul. There’s definitely less plastic, and you’ll find yourself in a welcoming community with an unmissable charm.
The chances of ending up as a victim of property crime is a meager 1% so living here is certainly a safe choice.
To add to the good list, you won’t have to pay a fortune to buy a home in the Beverly Hills of Michigan as the median rate in the area sits at an attractive $285,500.
You could always opt to go for a great picnic and fishing grounds in Riverside Park while Beverly Park also has a certain appeal to bikers and hikers.
6. Novi
A suburb in Oakland County that is home to around 58,000 residents, Novi is quite a desirable county when it comes to some of the best places to live in the state.
Sitting around halfway between Detroit and Ann Arbor, Novi is just the right spot for anyone looking to have a suburban lifestyle with urban convenience.
Similar to the other places mentioned on this list, Novi also has a high ranking for education, income levels, and safety.
When in Novi, the chances of you falling prey to violent crime is one in a little over 1,500, and the residents earn a combined $82,587 per household yearly.
This is among the fastest progressing cities in Michigan, and it continues attracting a number of top employers, which includes the likes of Magna International and Ryder.
Not to forget, Novi is pretty diverse too, as it boasts of the highest Japanese population among any city in the Great Lake State. The number is more than 2,600.
Reference – https://livability.com/mi