Aside from being famous for being the heart of America’s auto industry, Michigan is also known as the Great Lakes State, and it’s as perfect as they come. If you can manage to leave the long and harsh winters aside, there’s no reason you won’t be able to enjoy yourself.
It’s difficult to match Michigan’s abundance of natural beauty. No other state boasts a 3,000-mile stretch of freshwater shoreline, as well as plenty of family-friendly activities that are organically designed to promote an active, outdoor lifestyle. However, not every place in Michigan offers the same opportunities.
There are certainly some places for young professionals in Michigan that provide excellent options.
What’s so great about Michigan
Before you start looking for places for young professionals in Michigan that’ll suit your needs, it’s essential to understand what’s so great about this place. It’s very likely that either a stream or a lake will be in close proximity to where you live since there are 11,000 inland lakes. Michigan has everything.
From millions of acres of woodland to thousands of miles of picturesque trails, golf courses, and ski regions, 100 parks and leisure centers, and about ten million acres of public land, there’s not a thing you’ll miss if you relocate here. Even Popular Science magazine has approved of it, predicting that by the year 2100, Michigan will be the best area to live in in the United States. However, its allure extends beyond its natural beauty.
Michigan is known for its high-paying jobs and high-quality education. The University of Michigan is located in the 13th largest state economy by GDP. This state has plenty of well-paying job opportunities in fields like technology, professional and commercial services, trade, utilities, construction, and transportation, as well as leisure and hospitality.
When you add in one of the lowest living costs in the Midwest, it’s easy to see why Michigan remains a popular tourist and potential resident destination.
Best places for young professionals in Michigan
Finding the best place for young professionals in Michigan isn’t very hard. There are a lot of good ones to pick from. However, keep in mind that you’re not only looking for the best place to live and spend leisure time. You’re also looking to find the best place to buy a home, find work, and potentially raise a family. Having said this, we’ve gathered some places that should enable you to have it all.
Ann Arbor
The prestigious University of Michigan is located in Ann Arbor. The city has a population of 116,000 people and is located in Washtenaw County. However, it’s known for more than that. The Huron River, which runs for 130 miles through the area, is also here.
Additionally, there are many abundant parks, a thriving economy, low crime, a progressive culture, regular festivals, and free outdoor music. It’s easy to see why it’s one of the best places for young professionals in Michigan.
Okemos
Okemos, another Michigan community, was ranked fourth on Niche’s Best Places to Live in America list in 2017. Many people flock to this little city of 22,000 people in Ingham County. They do so because of its excellent school system, which is the main reason they choose to stay.
The quality of life is superb, and the cost of living is affordable. The median home value is $194,200, yet a typical four-bedroom, two-bathroom mansion may be purchased for around $230,000.
Of course, if you do decide to move to Okemos or any other place for young professionals in Michigan, you need to consider all the costs. Long-distance moving costs can add up quite a bit. Nevertheless, if you get ready financially and plan everything out as well as possible, there shouldn’t be any trouble.
East Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids is widely recognized as one of the greatest locations to live in Michigan. It was ranked number 19 in the Best Places to Live in America by U.S. News & World Report in 2017 and the fourth best place to retire. To say the least, the majority of this West Michigan city is a fantastic location to live. The East Grand Rapids suburb in Kent County was named as the third greatest place to live in Michigan.
The 11,000-person suburb is famed for having some of the top schools in the state. It also has a stable, high-paying employment market with a typical household income of $112,000. That’s more than double the national average, a low crime rate, and good quality of life.
Birmingham
If you plan on having children, this Detroit suburb in Oakland County is a great place to raise them. The city’s five public schools are noted for producing some of Michigan’s sharpest minds, with test scores that are on average 21% higher than the national average. More than three-quarters of Birmingham citizens have a college education.
They also make a decent living, with an annual household income of $108,135 on average. The city has a lower unemployment rate than the national average and is safer than 83 percent of all American cities. The one blemish on Birmingham’s otherwise spotless record appears to be housing.
The median home value in MI is $410,700, which is more than the national average. However, if you do opt for this one out of all the great spots for young professionals in Michigan, you can save money in other ways. For example, you can rent out a room in your home to get back some of the money you’ve spent purchasing it.
Find suitable movers
Prior to actually taking the leap and relocating to one of Michigan’s perfect places for young professionals, make sure that you do it correctly. Finding a reliable company to relocate you can be challenging. However, there are many databases online, including the one provided by Best Long Distance Movers, that’ll help you find dependable and trustworthy professionals.
Make sure to set your priorities straight before making a choice
Before firmly settling on one of the places for young employees in Michigan, make sure to know what you’re after. Having a priority list may sound a bit child-like. However, it’s an excellent tool that’s proven to be helpful. If you’re working from home and will spend most of your days inside, you’ll have a different set of priorities than if you were to be on the go constantly.
Conclusion
Whatever you end up choosing, chances are that you won’t make a big mistake. Nevertheless, if one of the places for young professionals in Michigan you’ve chosen doesn’t work for you, you can always relocate later. The most important thing is to follow your gut instinct and make informed decisions.
Featured Photo by Gary Meulemans on Unsplash