Job Transfer to Detroit Metro Area (Sterling Heights, Ann Arbor: rent, homes, safe area) - Michigan (MI) - City-Data Forum

NerdyCALatina · 03-23-2010, 10:46 AM

I am currently considering a job transfer from California out to MI. This transfer would probably be a couple of years. I am looking to move into an area close to Sterling Heights and Troy. I am single, 27, Latina, and an engineer. Can anyone recommend a safe area that has people around my age and affordable housing? I know that rent is less there... but still looking for any suggestions around the $700 area. I am also looking for a reputable graduate school in engineering.

On a separate note, going off statistics and city data it looks like the area is not as diverse as I'm used to.. any insight into how good the ethnic relations are out there? I'm not too concerned though, just curiosity really.

Thank you alL!

rdub1968 · 03-23-2010, 11:20 AM

Pontiac has a lot of Latinos and is very affordable. I am not sure how safe the areas are that you may be looking at though in that price range. I'm sure someone else can add more.

DaniellaG · 03-23-2010, 11:50 AM

I feel overall Pontiac is not a safe area. I can't say much about Sterling Height cause I am not familiar. Where is your job? Near Troy I would suggest Royal Oak,Troy,Birmingham though it may be more expensive. I had a friend who was an engineer living in RO who enjoyed it. There is a downtown area with restaurants and clubs. Troy has Somerset Mall which is a really nice upscale mall. Birmingham is near both which has outdoor shops and restaurants which is nice to walk around in the summer. As for graduate school I am not sure how the engineer program but you may want to research Wayne State University and Oakland University which are near. Further out in Ann Arbor is U of M. I lived most of my life in MI and for short period I moved to Southern California. It is a way different feel MI from CA. There are pro's and con's of each.

ckhthankgod · 03-23-2010, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaniellaG

I feel overall Pontiac is not a safe area. I can't say much about Sterling Height cause I am not familiar. Where is your job? Near Troy I would suggest Royal Oak,Troy,Birmingham though it may be more expensive. I had a friend who was an engineer living in RO who enjoyed it. There is a downtown area with restaurants and clubs. Troy has Somerset Mall which is a really nice upscale mall. Birmingham is near both which has outdoor shops and restaurants which is nice to walk around in the summer. As for graduate school I am not sure how the engineer program but you may want to research Wayne State University and Oakland University which are near. Further out in Ann Arbor is U of M. I lived most of my life in MI and for short period I moved to Southern California. It is a way different feel MI from CA. There are pro's and con's of each.

What about Ferndale? Depending on where the job is located, what about some of the Downriver communities, which tends to have a few more Hispanics/Latinos?

Doesn't U of M-Dearborn have some engineering programs too?

MIEng · 03-23-2010, 01:05 PM

I don't know how important it is to you to be near latinos, but just be aware that the latino population in metro Detroit is minimal. We are engineers too and we are both latinos and we live in Sterling Heights. There are some south american and european families in my neigboorhood but I consider that very rare. Now that been said I don't think it matters. I have never felt any type of prejudice against me or my family (my husband is white but I'm tan so I look very latina). Also consider that there are a lot of indian and asian families in the area so people in general are used to diversity in one way or another. In the area of Troy I don't think you will have no issues either.

The only thing is that SH and Troy are family oriented areas and you may feel a little out of place. Royal Oak may be more of your liking if been around other single people is important to you but with that budget you have to do a lot of research to make sure you are in a safe area.

My husband went to UofM for his graduate degrees and it was a very difficult commute, I did mine in Oakland U, much easier commute. There are plenty of Universities in the metro area were you can do a graduate degree in engineering, there are a lot of engineers in this area.

Good Luck.

NerdyCALatina · 03-23-2010, 03:07 PM

My job located in Troy. It is not necessary that I be around other Latinos... I was just curious really. I do however, want to be around the younger single crowd rather than the family homes though. $700 is just an idea. It's flexible... just figured since I'm out there I might as well save some money, but I will definitely be looking at a SAFE area over cheap.

I'll take a look at Royal Oak. Sounds good.

It does lookt like UofM offers the graduate engineering degree I'm looking for.

NerdyCALatina · 03-23-2010, 04:51 PM

On a follow up.. what's are the safe areas of Royal Oak?

rdub1968 · 03-23-2010, 05:52 PM

Well if being around singles is more important, I also recommend Royal Oak. Royal Oak is a pretty safe town, especially if you are closer to the downtown area or north of it around 11 mile road. In general the further you are north of 8 mile road, the better. But you won't get the ethnicity there.

Just stay away from Royal Oak Township, that is not nearly as nice.

DaniellaG · 03-24-2010, 06:19 AM

I am not that familiar with the good and bad part of RO but I think downtown is safe and young or the area bordering Birmingham. Another thought are you thinking of U of M in Dearborn or U of M Ann Arbor. If Ann Arbor you could live in Farmington Hills or Novi. This would be a half way mark between Troy and your work in Ann Arbor. With M-5 it has made the drive a lot easier. I really think Birmingham is a cute area too though not sure the price.

NerdyCALatina · 03-24-2010, 02:32 PM

Thanks guys!