Michigan's Snobbiest Cities (Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, Rochester Hills: 2015, home, incomes)

[Arthur Digby Sellers]

Michigan

I'm scratching my head at this one. Northville is number 1 but Grosse Pointes, Birmingham or Bloomfield Hills don't even make the list??

[brodie734]

Wealthy doesn't always equate to snobby... snobbishness carries connotations of unearned arrogance. So Northville, pretty but poorer than it's neighbors to the north, might work in a way that the phenomenally wealthy but rather staid and boring Pointes or Bloomfields do not.

Frankly, and I say this as a UM alumnus, it's a farce Ann Arbor didn't make the list.

[belleislerunner]

Snobby is an attitude - not a metric you base off home prices/median incomes etc.

The entire article was written sensationally to get people to click on the link and hits for their advertisers and was even on the news. Not one iota of truth in it.

[Arthur Digby Sellers]

Originally Posted by brodie734

Wealthy doesn't always equate to snobby... snobbishness carries connotations of unearned arrogance. So Northville, pretty but poorer than it's neighbors to the north, might work in a way that the phenomenally wealthy but rather staid and boring Pointes or Bloomfields do not.

Frankly, and I say this as a UM alumnus, it's a farce Ann Arbor didn't make the list.

I wasn't referring necessarily to wealth. Every conversation I've had with most people from GP/Birmingham revolve around those cities and how great they supposedly are. I've always viewed Northville as less snobby than their wealth lets on.

Completely agree with you on Ann Arbor. Someone who lived there once actually told me "It's the only tolerable place in Michigan to live."

[mgkeith]

I think the poll is meant to be silly. Snobbery is a state of mind and an individual attitude.

[NOLA101]

Originally Posted by brodie734

Wealthy doesn't always equate to snobby... snobbishness carries connotations of unearned arrogance. So Northville, pretty but poorer than it's neighbors to the north, might work in a way that the phenomenally wealthy but rather staid and boring Pointes or Bloomfields do not.

Frankly, and I say this as a UM alumnus, it's a farce Ann Arbor didn't make the list.

Northville is richer than the Pointes. But Birmingham-Bloomfield is richest of all.

The Pointes aren't that rich these days. More middle-upper middle class except along the lake.

Also, the poll is silly. My sister lives in Birmingham and it is VERY snobby; much more so than Northville (which is a nice community but zero snob appeal).

[DTWflyer]

One doesn't usually think of Royal Oak as being snobby.....no metric can capture this, is the general feel of the people:

My personal list:
1. Birmingham (far and away #1)
2. Northville
3-tie. Novi
3-tie. Rochester Hills
4. Harbor Springs
5. East Grand Rapids

[WayneCounty]

Northville, the Grosse Pointes, Rochester Hills, Birmingham...

[Retroit]

Anyone can open a website and list anything in any order.

[irongrl]

Originally Posted by DTWflyer

One doesn't usually think of Royal Oak as being snobby.....no metric can capture this, is the general feel of the people:

My personal list:
1. Birmingham (far and away #1)
2. Northville
3-tie. Novi
3-tie. Rochester Hills
4. Harbor Springs
5. East Grand Rapids

I tend to agree with this list. I live in Plymouth and I don't see it as being snobby at all. I do think that Northville has that tendency though. Just my opinion.