[Balmoral]

Moving to MI in a few months and one of my job prospects is in Saginaw while my fiance's job will be in Flint. What are the nicer areas to live in?

We currently live in NYC and are realistic it will be a big contrast; however, if we live somewhere in between Saginaw & Flint, are there active cities nearby? I assume AA and Lansing are the closest ones?

[zthatzmanz28]

Still a distance to Lansing. Ann Arbor is probably not a realistic drive for most activities. Realistically you would be inbetween nothing. Vassar to the east and Chesaning to the west? May be Clo? Saginaw and Flint would be the closest cities for activites.

[ckhthankgod]

Frankenmuth?

[detwahDJ]

Originally Posted by Balmoral

Moving to MI in a few months and one of my job prospects is in Saginaw while my fiance's job will be in Flint. What are the nicer areas to live in?

We currently live in NYC and are realistic it will be a big contrast; however, if we live somewhere in between Saginaw & Flint, are there active cities nearby? I assume AA and Lansing are the closest ones?

No big city action there - about what you would expect from either Flint or Saginaw themselves. That is farming country - even all around the thumb. Rustic recreation starts at Lake Huron.
This satellite view says a lot. The lighter areas are farmlands and the darker are rustic forestlands. Tourism is along the lakes. Yes, get ready to downsize your existence to cities like Flint, Saginaw, and Bay City. That's politically conservative outstate Michigan. There is enjoyable touring along Lake Huron, but lots more along Lake Michigan, a favorite area of Chicagoans and other out-of-staters.

Google Maps

[Balmoral]

Thanks for the feedback. That was what I initially thought about (rural) when I looked at the area between Saginaw and Flint. It will be hard transitioning from the heart of NYC to farms. It will definitely factor in where we want to live. I may have a good job opportunity there but maybe taking a risk when it comes to employment and finding something south of Flint (closer to AA or Detroit) would be better.

Always hard moving and trying to find a job...

[michmoldman]

I would live in Frankenmuth

[detwahDJ]

Originally Posted by Balmoral

Thanks for the feedback. That was what I initially thought about (rural) when I looked at the area between Saginaw and Flint. It will be hard transitioning from the heart of NYC to farms. It will definitely factor in where we want to live. I may have a good job opportunity there but maybe taking a risk when it comes to employment and finding something south of Flint (closer to AA or Detroit) would be better.

Always hard moving and trying to find a job...

The question is, how badly do you need those big city amenities, how much, and what type?
I see different qualities in each of the cities - Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Ann Arbor, Detroit and suburbs, Lansing, Pontiac, whatever.
Ann Arbor is what you would expect of a larger college town. Detroit - sprawly neighborhoods with not much going on, gritty, pockets of blight and crime, trendy areas, underground art and music scenes, a metro area with neat places to visit, uncertainty and change.
Definitely more interesting overall than outstate and plenty more to do, but on a smaller scale than NYC.
Then too, assuming you do some research, what are your skills and where are they marketable. That's about it...

[MSwartz]

Originally Posted by michmoldman

I would live in Frankenmuth

Frankenmuth is a really nice community but it's situated around the Bavarian Inn and would get quite cheesy after the novelty wore off. It's also a very religious and conservative town, which could dissuade OP.

I would tell you to check out living in Saginaw. Commuting on the expressway is only about 40-45 minutes to Flint, all on 675 and 75. Not to mention, if you're living in Frankenmuth, it's going to take an extra 10-15 minutes to the expressway and more in winter since the country roads have to deal with blowing snow.

I know quite a few people who commute from the Tri-Cities to Flint regularly and have heard no real complaints.

Living in the Flint area of course will offer you more opportunities to travel deeper into the Detroit metro area, but I am not as well versed on good communities in the Flint area. Maybe someone else can chime in.

[ManoftheNorth]

Originally Posted by MSwartz

Living in the Flint area of course will offer you more opportunities to travel deeper into the Detroit metro area, but I am not as well versed on good communities in the Flint area. Maybe someone else can chime in.

In this situation, closer to Flint might be the way to go: Grand Blanc, Davision, maybe? If the OP is used to big city amenities, they will want to be able to get down to the Detroit-Ann Arbor area on the weekend, which is much more doable from the Flint area then Saginaw. Flint has a decent sized airport too, don't they? That might be an important factor for the OP.

[Balmoral]

Thank you everyone from your input. Should work out a position in Saginaw, maybe it would be better to stay around the Flint area compared to Saginaw just to have to opportunity to get some "big city" culture. Frankenmuth geographically might be something to consider but the conservative and religious culture might be a big shift from liberal hedonistic NYC.

Occupationally, my job market is either in healthcare or academia (I just mention Saginaw since there might be a specific opening there) so I assume Lansing/AA/Detroit will prove to be a bigger job market for me.