[smbriley23]

My wife and I are moving back to Michigan soon - just took a job in Southfield... although we visit often, we haven't lived in MI since college in early '80s. Have 4 high schoolers that are all good student atheletes. Looking for a good family community within 30 minutes that has:

1) great schools for college prep
2) good sports programs
3) smallish community (under 10000 pop. preferably)
4) nice downtown
5) great place to raise kids

If you have any knowledge or advice, I would love to hear from you.

[Cato the Elder]

If you can afford it, Birmingham fits all your criteria except the population is around 20,000. Still, it feels like a relatively small community. Good luck and welcome back to MI.

[smbriley23]

Cato - thanks for the feedback. Are there good towns that are a bit smaller up by the lakes region north/west of Birmingham to consider as well? Will be good to be back in "friendly" territory with other loyal Lions, Pistons, and Tiger fans.

[Cato the Elder]

Originally Posted by smbriley23

Cato - thanks for the feedback. Are there good towns that are a bit smaller up by the lakes region north/west of Birmingham to consider as well? Will be good to be back in "friendly" territory with other loyal Lions, Pistons, and Tiger fans.

That is an option. I would also look at smaller towns like Franklin that have Birmingham schools. The problem with these less dense areas is that you don't really have a downtown to speak of, at least not like the one in Birmingham. You'll have to make this decision about what factors you listed are most important to you, as some are inversely related.

[Cliffie]

You might try Clarkston, Farmington, or Royal Oak -- I'm mostly thinking nice neighborhoods and low-crime school districts as I type. Clarkston is by far the smallest, a village tucked into the countryside sort of behind Pontiac. Pontiac itself, Indian Village in particular, is not bad except for the Count Crapula schools.

[smbriley23]

Cliffe, Cato - i appreciate you taking time to give me some feedback - means a lot to me as i'm trying to move a large family. The locations you have suggested along with plymouth, milford and south lyons have been bubbling to the top of my multi-sourced searches. I love Michigan intensely and have yearned constantly for over 25 years to have the opportunity to return permanently ....often regretting moving to the east coast after grad school - albeit i've been blessed with corporate jobs that paid well, nothing compares with the incredible beauty of michigan, and the generous midwestern spirit of friends and family that i miss.

Lately, i've been spending some time recently going thru other threads about people moving to or from michigan. with notable exceptions, this forum seems to largely attract those that like to focus on negativity, wallowing in their problems, whining and fault finding for their troubles in michigan - assuming that it is someone elses doing and not their own responsibility for decisions they've made. in my career since i graduated from grad school in mid-'80s (michigan schooled) and a life of poverty in michigan as a child, and having had to leave michigan due to job scarcities, i've lived in NJ and maryland and out west too where there are plenty of similar troubles - particularly in trenton, newark, baltimore and dc areas that have very serious problems, but also a lot of great opportunities exist to make a difference - i have really enjoyed taking some big risks and leaving michigan and relocating a couple of times and finding success - it was life transforming to be sure. of course, now i'm permanently adventurous and like risk .... but i guess that partly explains why i'm interested in michigan again.

But, now that I have been away for many years, I am eager to take what experiences and skills that i've acquired in michigan, and especially on east coast and out west, back to michigan, where i know there is much trouble and uncertaintly ... and much success and overcoming attitudes as well. I believe it was Magellan that i read in earlier threads that said that like any type of investing, whether dollars or personal, that to "sell low and buy high" is a poor strategy ... i'm in a position now to "buy low and invest". that is what i want to do and am grateful that that door has now re-opened. i want to teach my children about what a great state michigan used to be, is for many now, and can be tomorrow if they will invest themselves, educate in relevant fields, work smart and hard, and stay to make it a better place. there is no place like michigan more worthy (i understand that very well now), and there are no people more worthy of that decision than fellow michiganders.

All my best to fellow Michiganders...

[Cato the Elder]

Originally Posted by smbriley23

Lately, i've been spending some time recently going thru other threads about people moving to or from michigan. with notable exceptions, this forum seems to largely attract those that like to focus on negativity, wallowing in their problems, whining and fault finding for their troubles in michigan - assuming that it is someone elses doing and not their own responsibility for decisions they've made.

But, now that I have been away for many years, I am eager to take what experiences and skills that i've acquired in michigan, and especially on east coast and out west, back to michigan, where i know there is much trouble and uncertaintly ... and much success and overcoming attitudes as well.

Spot on analysis. Take heart in the fact that Michigan is changing as we speak. Hopefully, it will be meaningful, deep-hearted change and not the band-aid fixes from the past that has landed us back where we are. As has been said before, MI needs change and if it means new blood, so be it. Many of us were born here and have now returned many years later after schooling and working on the coasts. IMHO, this is what MI exactly needs - people who have roots here AND new ideas from living elsewhere. It is the only way that MI will permanently change. I think this trend will only accelerate as the cost of living on the coasts become increasingly prohibitive.

[Sparrow_temp]

Michigan is a great state right now if you've already made it elsewhere and are looking to move in. I'm sure there are lots of deals to be had since a lot of the locals are being forced out due to the economic conditions. This is one of those states though that you don't see a whole lot of people making big money here and then moving elsewhere to spend it.

[SherryAnne]

Royal Oak is a great choice because it has great neighborhoods and is close to everything you would need. Other great ideas would be Troy or Rochester Hills. Clarkston has a small-town feel to it and some people like that, others don't. But the point is that it is more out-of-the-way than many would want. Also, it would not be a quick drive to Southfield...

[MapGeek]

Consider Plymouth and/or Wixom as well. Plymouth's downtown is about as small-town Americana as you can find. The Plymouth-Canton school district is also excellent.