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Old 04-17-2017, 09:22 AM
 
11 posts, read 15,902 times
Reputation: 10

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Hi there!

I from Russia and I am looking for the best place to live in without a car. Also I'd like this place would be not so expensive and very walkability.

By the time I move I'll have about $10k and both dependant wife and little daughter. Which city will be better? I think it can be Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids or Madison, Wi.

P.S. I am a lawyer with Russian degree. For the first time in USA I won't be able to work as a lawyer so I am going to be a truck driver.
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Old 04-17-2017, 12:19 PM
 
Location: Ann Arbor MI
2,221 posts, read 2,219,090 times
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Are you planning/hoping to do short haul home at night trucking or long haul cross country trucking?
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Old 04-17-2017, 02:35 PM
 
11 posts, read 15,902 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by craig11152 View Post
Are you planning/hoping to do short haul home at night trucking or long haul cross country trucking?
I think it doesn't matter, but short haul is preferable.
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Old 04-17-2017, 06:42 PM
 
Location: Michigan
790 posts, read 2,310,878 times
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Rents are high in Ann Arbor and Grand Rapids. Transit is a little better in GR; walkability is a little better in AA. I've spent some time in Madison but don't know enough about it to compare it to the others. It's a college town and a state capitol, so it's probably similar. If you like boating, Madison might be better.

Is your wife American? If not, and if you don't already have a job waiting for you here in the US, you might have better luck in Canada. Montreal has what you are asking for. On the other hand, finding a truck-driving job might be harder in Canada.
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Old 04-17-2017, 06:47 PM
 
Location: NC
1,873 posts, read 2,387,461 times
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Here's exactly what you want https://www.walkscore.com/cities-and-neighborhoods/
  • Grand Rapids = 55, but the most walkable Grand Rapids neighborhoods are Heartside-Downtown (94), East Hills and Baxter.
  • Ann Arbor = 50, but the most walkable Ann Arbor neighborhoods are Downtown (94), West Park and South Main.
  • Madison = 48, but the most walkable Madison neighborhoods are State-Langdon (92), Downtown and Vilas.
But you can find the most walkable neighborhoods in each on the site.

Last edited by Midpack; 04-17-2017 at 06:56 PM..
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Old 04-17-2017, 07:39 PM
 
Location: Grand Rapids Metro
8,882 posts, read 19,762,447 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Stilljoy View Post
Hi there!

I from Russia and I am looking for the best place to live in without a car. Also I'd like this place would be not so expensive and very walkability.

By the time I move I'll have about $10k and both dependant wife and little daughter. Which city will be better? I think it can be Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids or Madison, Wi.

P.S. I am a lawyer with Russian degree. For the first time in USA I won't be able to work as a lawyer so I am going to be a truck driver.
Because of the concentration of manufacturing in West Michigan, there's a large number of trucking/logistics companies. They're all desperate for drivers, they advertise everywhere. But my guess is you'll be driving back and forth to Detroit or Chicago every day, if that doesn't bother you. Both are almost equidistant from GR, about 2.5 hours by car.
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Old 04-17-2017, 11:32 PM
 
11 posts, read 15,902 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tuebor View Post
Rents are high in Ann Arbor and Grand Rapids. Transit is a little better in GR; walkability is a little better in AA. I've spent some time in Madison but don't know enough about it to compare it to the others. It's a college town and a state capitol, so it's probably similar. If you like boating, Madison might be better.

Is your wife American? If not, and if you don't already have a job waiting for you here in the US, you might have better luck in Canada. Montreal has what you are asking for. On the other hand, finding a truck-driving job might be harder in Canada.
No, my wife isn't american. We're DV Lottery winners.
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Old 04-17-2017, 11:33 PM
 
11 posts, read 15,902 times
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Midpack, magellan, thank you!
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Old 04-18-2017, 01:50 AM
 
11 posts, read 15,902 times
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I think it should be a college town with good public transportation, affordable rent and lot of parks nearby. Probably I could pay attention to another cities and states. School ratings doesn't matter, but I wouldn't like to live in criminal area like Detroit or similar.
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Old 04-19-2017, 03:08 PM
 
Location: Midwest transplant
2,050 posts, read 5,912,675 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Stilljoy View Post
I think it should be a college town with good public transportation, affordable rent and lot of parks nearby. Probably I could pay attention to another cities and states. School ratings doesn't matter, but I wouldn't like to live in criminal area like Detroit or similar.
Lansing and East Lansing, Holt and Okemos have a wonderful public transportation system, as well as being a college town with Michigan State University. Center of the state, capital city of the state. Decent school districts, lots of diversity because of the college, lots of parks and walkable neighborhoods.
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