Car-free in Marquette. Will it work? (housing, rent, income)

[ogre]

Hi everyone. Currently living in MA, looking at grad schools, prepared to relocate to just about anywhere in the U.S. Northern Michigan is among the schools I'm considering, so I need to know whether it would work for me to live in Marquette. Money's tight, so I won't have a car at first, maybe not the whole time I'm in school. Is it possible to find a place to live in this area that's affordable on a student budget, and is within walking distance of campus, shopping, entertainment, etc.?

I'm older than the typical student, and would prefer living where there wouldn't be so much of a heavy student party scene nearby. Not having to share an apartment would be preferable as well. Doesn't have to be a big place--a studio would be fine. Is there on-campus housing that might work? If not, I don't mind a bit of a walk, but would prefer being no more than about a mile from campus, so I wouldn't spend all day getting places.

I enjoy outdoor recreation, and would find it useful to know what opportunities there are in Marquette which I could reach by a long walk. I love hiking, especially where it's hilly. It looks as if there are some woods and hills immediately outside of Marquette, maybe even a few right in town. Any good hiking trails nearby? I also really enjoy swimming in natural bodies of water. Does the water in Lake Superior warm up enough in the summertime for some serious swimming, or does it always stay so cold that people just go in barely long enough to get wet?

Speaking of cold, what is the basic collection of winter clothing needed to stay safe and comfortable in the area?

Hey, and anything else a newcomer would need to know? Thanks.

[rotwein]

MARQ-TRAN has all of the county bus routes on their web site.

[jeeg]

Marquette is very easy to live in without vehicles (I know several people who do it). I would recommend on campus grad housing or you might be able to find a cheap off campus option..... the market moves fast. A large portion of the college crowd lives there without cars. There's plenty of things to walk too and as the above poster said, we have the Marq-Tran as well as cabs.

Cold weather gear is no different then that of MA

Wife and I are outdoors fanatics which is why we moved here! Get yourself a bike to ride and you can pedal to any of the best hiking/riding trails in the area. Lake Superior is cold but tons of people still swim in it (we just did yesterday). There are areas in coves and bays that are a little warmer, just have to ask the locals where they are!
I've even seen people surfing in there shortly after the ice broke up!! Looked pretty silly to me but I was raised in southern CA and know what real surfing is! LOL
Feel free to ask any other questions. That is all that's popping into my head at the moment!
A good percentage of the people up here are active in the outdoors. Just let your interests be known, be happy to throw a couple bucks towards gas, and you'll be on your way to some fun adventures around here!

[ogre]

Rotwein, I checked the marqtran site. Thanks for the info on that. It's helpful to know that there's transit available around the entire local area.

Nice to read about all the outdoor enthusiasts in the area, Jeeg. Sounds as if I'd be in good company if Marquette were the place I ended up. I don't know exactly what kinds of water temperatures we're talking about in the lake, especially in those coves and bays. I do know I've been swimming in a pool that was still open in early fall, when the water was around sixty degrees. It felt kind of brisk when I first went in, but I got a clue as to how strenuous an exercise swimming really is, from the heat I generated. After I'd gone a few laps, the water felt not only bearable, but very comfortable!

When it comes to weather, well, I would expect to have to bundle up more than I'm used to doing, during wintertime in Marquette. MA winters are kind of rigorous, but it's still a four-season kind of climate. You've got to get well up into norhtern New England, like norhtern Maine and up that way, to find a climate similar to Marquette's. I can certainly bundle up, though.

If there's on-campus GRADUATE housing (as in being surrounded by serious, QUIET students), I'd definitely have to look into that. What kind of town is Marquette? Is it a pure college town in winter and pretty much a tourist town in summer, or is there a good core of year-round "real" people as well?

[jeeg]

Originally Posted by ogre

What kind of town is Marquette? Is it a pure college town in winter and pretty much a tourist town in summer, or is there a good core of year-round "real" people as well?

There is definitely a good core of locals here. Marquette is the shopping, dining, cultural and basically the economic center for the whole region.
We were running away from the big cities when we moved here and as my wife says "it's just city enough yet on the edge of the wilderness"

If you were talking about spending the rest of your life here, I would have a few more words/concerns to relay........ but to just spend a couple three years finishing up your schooling..... I highly recommend it! Many people do just that and never regret it.

[M TYPE X]

Marquette has real people, usually with two GM vehicles (at least one SUV) in the garage.
That's how one goes shopping at Wal-Mart.

Midwesterners: we laugh at you, not with you. Marq-Tran? hahaha
... yes, I suppose you could live in Marquette using the bus system ... is this some kind of experiment?
An old ****box Dodge Neon doesn't run that much ... I mean in terms of money. (It probably doesn't run
longer than it takes to get to the mall and back, but you should at least have some kind of car that can do that.)

Marquette is a cute town, especially in winter. You can buy thermal underwear at the ShopKo.
I would imagine that NMU has grad dorms that are quiet enough at least 5-6 days of the week.
The girls are cute too ... some Michigan girl is going to take pity on you and drive you around in her
Escort/Focus.

[scottmi]

Nope. You want to live in Michigan? Better have a car. Even if you're a student. Buy a junker for $1,000 and just let it sit if you don't want to drive it everyday - but at least you'll have access to a car - and in the UP of all places, you don't want to be hitch-hiking or walking.

[rotwein]

Jeeg - We are retired and seriously considering the Marquette area. What concerns do you have for future permanent residents? Email is ok if you don't want it on a public forumn.

[jeeg]

Originally Posted by scottmi

and in the UP of all places, you don't want to be hitch-hiking or walking.

A large percentage of the students do it each year.

[jeeg]

Originally Posted by rotwein

Jeeg - We are retired and seriously considering the Marquette area. What concerns do you have for future permanent residents? Email is ok if you don't want it on a public forumn.

75% of the most pressing concern is income. If you're retired you've already cleared that hurdle.
Another 15% concern would be winter weather. We personally love it but we sure hear a lot of people griping about it!
The remaining 10% concern would be the "isolation" factor. A lot of people gripe about it, wife and I wish it were more isolated, and are seriously considering a move to a more remote part of da U.P.! LOL