[Coldjensens]

We moved here from CAlifornia (OC) 2 years ago. We chose Grosse Ile and we love it, but we had to be close to the airport and to Detroit. Horses here are mostly kept at the community owned farm/stables. A few people keep them on their property, but it is rare.

With no restrictions on locations, look on the west side of the state. It is beautiful along Lake Michigan and the economy is better there.

South Lyon is an excellent choice for horses. I grew up there. At the time (long ago), it was the horse capital of the USA according to the almanac. It is a lot more built out now and the schools are excellent. Look in New Hudson and Lyon township too. You want to be in South Lyon East High school area. It is a brand new high school and it is really something else.

[darstar]

What ever you do , stay away from the old industrial areas of the state.........Up and coming areas are few and far , but they do exist. Look for towns that depend on higher education , new development , tourist attraction, and health care.
Others have talked about Marquette , in the UP. It is another world up there , has little in common with the lower state. I think the Marquette area would be a great place, to put down roots. Check it out , before you decide to settle in the land under the bridge , who wants to be a troll ?.....

[Rikabeth]

I live in Pinckney around Brighton its a pretty good area. Schools are good and it is developing very good and there is a very low crime rate and there are also lots of large lots for raising horses. Pinckney is especially has lots of horse farms and 2 grocery stores, a few little strip malls and a few fast food places and it is pretty much a nice place to live overall!!

[cauliflower18]

I was born and raised in Holland, and am not Dutch. Its true the dutch have a pretty substantial impact on the area, and the culture is still very conservative, but Holland has become MUCH more accepting and diverse over the past 20 years.

Its a great place to raise a family, not such a nice place if your young or single.

[Albion08]

I grew up in Chelsea (Ann Arbor Area), It is a wonderful place to live. Very safe, lots of things to do, GREAT schools. It is sort of upscale though so i am not sure what you are looking for!

[jazziejayla]

iam originally from detroit but i live in florida now witl my 2 little girls and iam thinking about moving back home but not to detroit im thinking more of ann arbor ypsilanti area but a little nervous iam a single mother and i get absolutly no help from the state of florida for my kids

[Coldjensens]

With Kids I would avoid Ypsi. Ann arbor schools are good. Ypsi township has tolerable schools. Most of the quaint small surrounding communities have great schools (Chelsea, Dexter, Saline, South Lyon, Tecumseh, Plymouth). Any of these places are great places if you can find somehting you can afford.

[beiarluis]

A trip to Michigan in early Oct of '08 in search of Baker college for RN degree, made me fell in love with this state, After departing from Wayne Airport into the state, I was overwhelmed by the histroy like churches this state had to offer, at that point I assumed that this is a God loving state. (correct me if I am wrong) is it an illusion? comparing with Los Angeles Cali at least. At Michigan, I am also considering to purchase a house and to make Michigan my second home. like any southern american, I have nothing left but respect for the people and the state. However; it`s hard to find a safe <low crime rate, good school zone, non-racial area to settle> Some local real estate agent introduced places like "Harper Woods, Flint, St. Clair, Roseville, Kaiser" just to name a few. I was lost because I am an outsider, I am only a Freshman to this state, So i need some Godly seniors sincere advices before my move.

[kazoopilot]

Originally Posted by beiarluis

A trip to Michigan in early Oct of '08 in search of Baker college for RN degree, made me fell in love with this state, After departing from Wayne Airport into the state, I was overwhelmed by the histroy like churches this state had to offer, at that point I assumed that this is a God loving state. (correct me if I am wrong) is it an illusion? comparing with Los Angeles Cali at least. At Michigan, I am also considering to purchase a house and to make Michigan my second home. like any southern american, I have nothing left but respect for the people and the state. However; it`s hard to find a safe <low crime rate, good school zone, non-racial area to settle> Some local real estate agent introduced places like "Harper Woods, Flint, St. Clair, Roseville, Kaiser" just to name a few. I was lost because I am an outsider, I am only a Freshman to this state, So i need some Godly seniors sincere advices before my move.

OK. As far as this being a God-loving state, it is and it isn't. On this side of Heaven there's no place that's God-loving or Christ-following in it's entirety. Michigan is no different than California (or anywhere else) in that respect.

As far as the areas that you named, they're like comparing apples to 747s. Flint is about as far away from Harper Woods as you can possibly get (culturally). Since you're from LA, think of Watts compared to Malibu. Flint is a large, ghetto city about 60 miles north of Detroit. It's an extremely poor city, being decimated by the collapse of the auto industry. It's extremely high in crime, and has been named the most dangerous city in America. Harper Woods is a ritzy, wealthy suburb of Detroit, located just west of Grosse Pointe, one of the wealthiest cities in America. Very low in crime, big beautiful homes, safe, but very low in culture. Unless you're rolling in money, you won't be able to afford it there. NEITHER is the best of what Michigan has to offer, and neither represents what Michigan is as a whole.

Small towns are by far the best place to live in Michigan. In the L.P. (Lower Peninsula, the part that's shaped like a hand) I would suggest Three Rivers, Constantine, Edwardsburg, Mendon, and Centreville. All are safe, friendly, conservative small towns in S.W. Michigan. From what you stated, however, it sounds like you may prefer the U.P. (Upper Peninsula, north of the L.P). It's a vast, beautiful, snowy wilderness dotted with friendly small towns. The "largest" towns (all are under 20,000 in population) are Menominee, Escanaba, Ironwood, Houghton, Marquette, and Sault Sainte Marie. I would suggest living away from those areas in an even smaller towns. I've heard good things about Crystal Falls and Negaunee. Check them out.

[xlabel]

I live in Paw Paw and would recommend it highly. It's small but not to small. Kalamazoo is 20 minutes east and Lake Michigan is 35 minutes west. Low crime, good schools, lots of vineyards in the area and rolling hills, nice lakes. It's close and easy access to I-94. We have just one of everything right here in town Pizza Hut, Burger King, Mcdonalds etc. If you want to go to the mall or Wal-mart, Kalamazoo has all that. There are a few nice small towns nearby like Lawton, Mattawan, Hartford if you want to go a little smaller. I work in Grand Rapids, it's an hour drive, folks think I'm crazy for commuting that far but I like it here, wouldn't live anywhere else.