[cmuguy25]

Originally Posted by katieghill

We love artsy things like theatre and music and want there to be activities available. But mostly we are looking for the most family friendly feel with the best schools. Definitely dont want a big city feel, but would like more events and resources than a small town.

I would say Ann Arbor or Grand Rapids. SE Michigan is nice and I currently live there, but I would move to Grand Rapids or Ann Arbor if I could.

I personally love the Grand Rapids area. I'm from a small town in the Upper Peninsula, and love GR. It is a very family oriented and fun area. Plenty to do. I wouldn't say it has a big city feel, I never felt really rushed, but I could see how some people might. It depends on your comfort level. GR is also known has being a very conservative area. Not sure if that plays into anything, but just giving you the heads up. Sunday can be kind of dead in the city area and not much is open late. (Don't get me wrong, still love the area, but it's true.)

Ann Arbor could be a great move for you guys. You said you grew accustomed to the offer's of the University of Florida, well with the University of Michigan, it may be very similar for family and an easier adjustment, minus the weather. Ann Arbor also puts you in a better location for a work. Access to GR and Detroit is a big plus for Ann Arbor. Plenty of parks, events and it is more of a liberal area (as you would expect with UofM.)

Best of luck!

[teachbeach]

The suburbs of Lansing~Okemos, Haslett, East Lansing. 10-15 minutes to Lansing airport, 45 minutes to Flint airport, 1 hour to Grand Rapids airport and the Michigan Flyer to Detroit to catch any flight that makes sense to fly from Detroit. (I personally am finding better deals on flights out of Flint than any of the other 3 right now).

Okemos, Haslett and East Lansing have excellent school systems and the parent involvement and expectations for academic performance and excellence are quite evident in all of the schools. Lansing boasts the state capital, a baseball team, museums, festivals, a zoo, lots of parks, trails, outdoor areas, great restaurants and lots of cultural events throughout the year. With 2 hospitals (Sparrow and McLaren) your family is well covered, and the doctors and specialists available in the area are plentiful.

East Lansing is the home of Michigan State University, and the town of normally about 48,000 residents doubles when the students come back to campus. The college has tons of activities for families (children's garden, ducks on the river, bicycle rentals, Wharton Center for performing arts) and East Lansing has all of the big box stores and super stores you could ever need/want.

Okemos and Haslett are slightly smaller communities, but blend into the outskirts of East Lansing, and often have East Lansing addresses, even though their children might attend either Haslett or East Lansing schools. Rentals are reasonable, the areas are safe, there's lots of open, green space for bike riding, pushing strollers etc. The public transportation system (CATA) is immense, and driving places is very easy.

The drive to Grand Rapids would be an easy 1 hour and the drive to Detroit slightly longer. I guess it would depend on how often he would have to drive to either.

I grew up in Grand Rapids, you do have to pay attention to the schools your children will attend, some are rated better than others, but many of the communities surrounding the area and even the area of East Grand Rapids, have high performing schools. Ann Arbor is also a great community, but tends to be (in my opinion) overrated and as you've realized, expensive. The University is a huge asset to the town, and the downtown area is great with or without the student presence. Perhaps Howell or Chelsea (close but much less expensive) would be options for your family.

Good luck and welcome to the mitten state!

[snoopygirlmi]

Grand Rapids is the hub of West Michigan. There's a ton of stuff to do there and good schools.

Lansing is really two things, the state government and MSU. It really is a company town in that way. Downtown used to shut down around 5-6pm. (Don't know if it's still that way because I haven't lived in the area for years.)

Ann Arbor is a big draw b/c of the university, but it's expensive and crowded. I'm w/the previous poster who says that it tends to be over-rated. Good schools. Close to Metro Detroit.

If those were my only three choices, I'd pick GR in a heartbeat. Mostly because I'm just not into the whole university scene. GR has colleges and universities in the area, but they aren't the focal point of the community. It's more diverse.

[Coldjensens]

In any area, you may want to consider satellite towns too. Near Ann Arbor is Chelsea, Plymouth, Dexter, Tecumseh, Saline. . . all very family friendly with great schools.

In Detroit Metro I personally think Grosse Ile is the best place for raising a family. Grosse Pointe is really nice too, but a lot different. Troy, Birmingham, Rochester, Rochester Hills, Farmington (and hills), Walled Lake, misc small lake communities. . . all offer different advantages depending on what you want. Then when you get out a way, Northville, Novi, Canton, West Bloomfield, South Lyon and Milford each have their positives. (All the listed places have very good to excellent schools safety, etc. except maybe Milford, their schools are only good imo.

Near Lansing you have Okemos, Marshall (sort of near lansing). Ont he West side of the state there are some really beautiful places near and not near Grand Rapids.


One thing about Michigan, it is pretty hard to not be near a very good hospital.

Every place offer different things. Most liste are extremely safe, upscale and have great or better schools. Some have water, some have a cool downtown, some have nature, some have proximity to Detroit with its world class art museum, extensive theater district, professional sports, remarkable architecture, events, conventions, etc. Some places are more quiet, some more busy. Some are just subdivisions and strip malls, some are quaint small towns with neighborhoods. Some are very metropolitan, some are only minutes form apple orchards and hay fields. You have so many choices, you need to first identify your priorities and rank them. Then people can be more helpful.

There is not going to be anyone who can really help you with all areas. I know quite a lot about Detroit Metro, including Ann Arbor area, but only a little about Grand Rapids or Lansing. Other people may know Grand Rapids inside out, but not so much abotu Detroit metro or Ann Arbor. Etc. Thus, no one person is likely going to be able to tell you which general area of the State is best for you. I can tell you the West Side is the prettiest and the East side has the most going on and the middle is well in the middle, but each area has cities that are the best int he area for certain things. It is not really possible to describe one area as the best in the state for any given thing.

A lot depends on personal preferences also. Although I like Okemos and two other smallish towns in the area, I find the Lansing area basically boring. Others think it is the best place in the state to live. For some, Detroit Metro is where it is at while others find it crowded and confusing. Some may find Ann Arbor ideal (I love Ann Arbor), others will say it is too expensive, pretentious, and liberal, or too full of noisy immature college kids, or smug, or too whatever.

One neat thing in Michigan is there is a huge variety of different types of towns and cities offering very different lifestyles. There are tons and tons of fabulous small towns and suburbs with everything most families could want. Your problem is too many choices, but you can hardly go wrong. If I had unfettered location options like you do, I would be hard pressed to choose a region, let alone a town within a given region.

[GreatLakesStateofMind]

Grand Rapids is more affordable than Ann Arbor, plus you'll have way more amenities, also you'll be just over two hours from Detroit and about 3 north of Chicago, beaches are only a hop a away in one of the many coastal towns on Lake Michigan. And though it does have a slight small town charm to it... (that's far from a bad thing)G.R. truly has the feel of a much larger city. Also not to down the Detroit area but it's future has a large question mark hovering around it, while G.R. is constantly expanding. Btw don't sleep on G.R.'s suburbs either:Walker, Comstock Park, Plainfield Tonwship, Grandville, East Grand Rapids, and of course Kentwood & Wyoming. But it you like the college town feel than maybe Ann Arbor or East Lansing may be a better fit for you.

Just sayin , don't sleep on Grand Rapids https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moQiXZO6R1A

[KeepingUpwithUs]

This area is affordable, top schools, great culture, shopping, restaurants, diverse population...head toward Shelby Twp and you find great schools and very reasonable taxes. College towns have so much turnover and they feel deserted in the summer (Have lived in East Lansing for 4 years) - beautiful but too quiet.

[SFNative87]

Dearborn!!!!!

[Arthur Digby Sellers]

Originally Posted by SFNative87

Dearborn!!!!!

No.

[detwahDJ]

Originally Posted by katieghill

My husband is being transferred to Michigan. His clients will be both in Detroit and in Grand Rapids, so because he has clients on both sides of the state, we have the option on living where ever we would like in Michigan. Problem is, we know nothing about Michigan. So we need some help.

Our daughter is 2, so good elementary schools are a necessity. We also have one on the way, so a good hospital is also a must. We obviously want something safe. We are coming from Gainesville, Florida. So we are used to a small town, but one with a lot of amenities. Mostly we want family friendly with relatively easy access to an airport (cause hubby will have to travel outside Michigan occasionally for work).

Right now we are looking at Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, and Lansing.

Ann Arbor looks great because it looks very similar to Gainesville but the rental market there is obscene. Grand Rapids looks nice, but Im concerned there isnt a lot there. And truthfully I know nothing about Lansing.

If you were us, and could move anywhere in Michigan with a family, where would you go and why?

Gainesville? You must now consider winter travel.
Since you travel a lot between cities, I would get closer to where you will spend the most time on business and favor places close to major arteries which are cleared faster. Just throwing this consideration into the mix.
Basically, the further west, the more snow.
http://media.mlive.com/weather_impac...8b35defd59.jpg

[JoulesMSU]

I would pick Lansing.