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Technically, there are suburbs within Metro Detroit that are farther than it is from Detroit to Ann Arbor. But the thing is those suburbs are contiguous with development or above all are more economically connected to Detroit.
Ann Arbor is pretty independent of Detroit in both economy and culture since a majority of people who live in Ann Arbor don't really commute out of Ann Arbor. Even most of the small towns in Washtenaw County serve as mostly commuter suburbs to Ann Arbor.
There's some connection, but not really enough to consider them apart of the same metro area. Besides that, Ann Arbor doesn't add that much to Metro Detroit since most of the amenities the Ann Arbor has are already present in Metro Detroit just in smaller quantity (and of course with much more of a college atmosphere).
There is a regular poster on the Detroit forum named brodie734 who lives in Ann Arbor but works in downtown Detroit. Anecdotally, I work for a federal agency, and 3 of the 11 people in my department are Ann Arbor area residents. There are several other Ann Arbor residents in other departments.
There are a lot of Ann Arborites who work in Detroit. They like the Ann Arbor lifestyle and vibe, but Ann Arbor doesn't provide all of the jobs. The spouse of one of my Ann Arbor co-worker works at the GM TECH CENTER - that is one crazy commute.
There is a regular poster on the Detroit forum named brodie734 who lives in Ann Arbor but works in downtown Detroit. Anecdotally, I work for a federal agency, and 3 of the 11 people in my department are Ann Arbor area residents. There are several other Ann Arbor residents in other departments.
There are a lot of Ann Arborites who work in Detroit. They like the Ann Arbor lifestyle and vibe, but Ann Arbor doesn't provide all of the jobs. The spouse of one of my Ann Arbor co-worker works at the GM TECH CENTER - that is one crazy commute.
It's not that hard to find people who commute from the Lansing area either and that's unarguably farther. The number of commuters from anywhere other than Detroit immediate suburbs into Detroit is less than 1% of all total commuters so it make it seem like Ann Arbor has an elevated status over other cities that are a similar distance and have similar commute patterns to Detroit. It shouldn't be included if you not going to include other satellite cities.
Oh wow. I was not aware that Ann Arbor was that far from Detroit. Then yeah, its kind of strange to claim it as part of Detroit. That would be almost like Minneapolis claiming St. Cloud or Rochester.
Downtown Detroit is 45 minute drive from downtown Ann Arbor.
From Google Maps, it appears downtown Minneapolis is 1.5 hours from Rochester.
St. Cloud is 65 miles from Minneapolis, Ann Arbor is 42 miles from Detroit.
The distances are not comparable.
IMO Ann Arbor is part of the Detroit area because the sprawl now connects the 2, but Ann Arbor is not a suburb; it has its own distinct identity and orbit.
Wasn't this supposed to be a Detroit vs. Minneapolis thread once upon a time?
Yes, but it devolved into a is Ann Arbor part of the Detroit Metro thread. The answer to that question is yes, Ann Arbor is more equivalent to Stillwater than to Rochester or St. Cloud, although there is no perfect comparison to any city in the Twin Cities. The Detroit Metro is bigger, so it's suburbs stretch out to Ann Arbor. There is a fair number of people who commute between the two, or where one spouse works in Detroit and the other spouse in Ann Arbor.
As for the original question, I would pick Minneapolis over Detroit. Detroit Metro has more interesting suburbs, as there are a lot more with a "Main Street" with a few blocks of restaurants, bars, and shopping there. But Minneapolis city is so far ahead of Detroit city, it tilts the scales in MSP's favor. That's not to take away from Detroit, which is starting to develop a few more vibrant neighborhoods. The vast majority of Detroit resembles North Minneapolis, with high poverty and crime and a lack of stores, restaurants, nightlife etc. Downtown Detroit has relatively little of the dining, bars, or retail scene of downtown Minneapolis. Again, it's better than it was 10-20 years ago, but it is still far behind. A lot of that has to do with the entrenched poverty and lack of diversity in Detroit. The only thing in Detroit's advantage is there are casinos in the city if you like gambling, whereas in Minneapolis they are only in the far suburbs.
As far as cultural institutions, the two both do reasonably well. MIA and DIA are both great museums. Both have Symphonies. Minneapolis has an edge in live theater, though Detroit has some decent live theater as well. The music scenes are different, but both have good indy music. Detroit has more music history with Mo-Town and has produced more superstars. For sports, both have the big 4 leagues. MN will be getting a expansion MLS team. If Ann Arbor is included, the Detroit Metro has better college sports. Outdoor activities both revolve around lakes and woods. There is better bicycling infrastructure in the the Twin Cities.
So, both metros have a fair amount in common, but the lack of upper-middle class and upscale urban areas in Detroit puts it at a big disadvantage compares to MSP.
The vast majority of Detroit resembles North Minneapolis, with high poverty and crime and a lack of stores, restaurants, nightlife etc. Downtown Detroit has relatively little of the dining, bars, or retail scene of downtown Minneapolis. Again, it's better than it was 10-20 years ago, but it is still far behind. A lot of that has to do with the entrenched poverty and lack of diversity in Detroit. The only thing in Detroit's advantage is there are casinos in the city if you like gambling, whereas in Minneapolis they are only in the far suburbs.
I try not to be one of those people who kick Detroit but to be honest I wouldn't even say that Detroit proper resembles North Minneapolis, if it did it would be a significant improvement. North Minneapolis may be poor, and have a significant black population, but it is also largely intact. It is more accurate to say that the nicer neighborhoods in Detroit resemble North Minneapolis.
More ethnic diversity, more urban walkable downtowns, and an international college town, and basically has a surrounding metro that is more comparable to Chicagolands suburbs.
Minneapolis suburbs are basically Lake Wobegon (Prairie Home Companion) with more money and traffic. (Unless thats what you are looking for).
As for the original question, I would pick Minneapolis over Detroit. Detroit Metro has more interesting suburbs, as there are a lot more with a "Main Street" with a few blocks of restaurants, bars, and shopping there. But Minneapolis city is so far ahead of Detroit city, it tilts the scales in MSP's favor.
To be fair, in the immediate Twin Cities metro you can find the Downtowns of Hopkins, Wayzata, Anoka, Chaska, Shakopee, White Bear Lake etc. Stillwater not that far away. Richfield and Edina have developed a suburban Downtown area if that makes sense. Not exactly sure how these Downtown's compare to suburban Detroit though as I have never visited yet.
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