[desaalev]

I know, for some this is an easy decision. I have to ask for those that have a good view on either/both locations. I have heard only good about A2 and mostly bad about Kalamazoo, but we have a few things to look over and I would like some perspective.
My husband wants to go to college at Western or U of M. Price for school does not matter, it is paid for.
He wants to major in Aeronautical Engineering. We currently live in Jackson and do not want to commute for school. My major can be accomplished in either location. Our jobs can be transferred to either location as well.
We do not have a lot of money to buy a home. Looking at 80K and under. I haven't really been to either place, so I am not sure on good vs. bad neighborhoods in either place. I have searched on here though and found good and bad either way.
We have two children, one that is 5 and one that is still an infant, so a good neighborhood is preferred, good school system is even better. We are selling our current home, or trying to, as quickly as possible, but we have to make a decision first. Our degrees will not be completed for at least 3 years, maybe a little longer. We hope to stay in the new location for a little longer though, if not making it permanent.
Thank you for any input!!

[wagonproject]

Well I am no expert as I am only 20. But yes Kalamazoo has a bad side (north/east..), but there are plenty of nice places. There is the Kalamazoo promise for your kids (I don't know what circumstances its under as I went to school in Mattawan (a town right next door). I know Western has a top notch Engineering program. As far as homes go, Im not sure what 80k will get you, but look at Jaqua Realtors-Real Estate Services in Greater Kalamazoo and South Haven Lakeshore. and Kalamazoo Real Estate Those are two of the main relators, there are a ton more though. Also you could rent for a while, there are a ton of rentals everywhere. My g/f and I are renting a nice condo by western for $550 a month.

As far as Ann Arbor goes Im not sure, I have a lot of friends who go to school there though and seem to like it.

Yeah Im not a lot of help, but any specific questions just post up, theres a few more on here from Kzoo/Ann Arbor!

Scott

[GRRAZO]

Your money will definetly go further in kalamazoo. IMO Kalamazoo is friendlier but is also a little more run down, not much smaller and has most of the things A2 has. Both are somewhat vibrant but laid back type cities. I've lived in Kalamazoo for 5 years and only vistied A2 but many times. WMU does have a top notch engineering and avition programs compared to the rest of the school although I dont know how they stack up against U of M. I may be bias but I say go for kzoo!

[Ann_Arbor]

I went to H.S. in Kalamazoo and now grad school in Ann Arbor.

Both cities are nice but I like Kalamazoo more. It feels more like a real city- yes there are problems, but Ann Arbor feels too much like 'Pleasantville'. That is a very subjective opinion, whoever, most would probably describe Ann Arbor as more of a college town, and Kalamazoo as a small city. Furthermore, Kalamazoo's proximity to Lake Michigan and Chicago trumps Ann Arbor's location.

[MittenDweller82]

Considering that your educational expenses are paid, and jobs are untouched, Ann Arbor would be my choice. My preference is based on these factors:

1. Completing your degree at one of the top U.S educational institutions
2. Recreation, cultural, and quality of life.
3. Better social networking and career opportunities.
4. Diversity and safety for your children.

If renting is not yet out of the question, I would recommend scouting for a home on the west end of town. Prices range from a low 900 to 1500+. There are many quaint areas that are composed primarily of professional students, and well established older families. From this area you could easily take public trans, or bike to campus in less than 2 miles. There are other neighborhoods that are very nice that would turn up cheaper rentals east of UM.

If renting is just out of the question, then I would consider Kalamazoo more strongly. The prospects of finding a sub 100K home that suits your needs is far greater. Having lived in Jackson at one time, it can be deceiving, as the cost of living there is almost 30% lower than the rest of the country. In Jackson, 80K will get you a lot of home in town, but this is hard to do in any other city. Overall, I think your family would enjoy Ann Arbor, the opportunity, things to do, and premier education would outweigh the cost of living. Good Luck, hopefully I helped somewhat!

[Softballfan]

$80,000 in Kalamazoo isn't going to buy you much at all. It will either be tiny with very few amenities or in a bad section of town e.g. Northside, Edison.
I'd consider renting a nice apt or townhouse. Or rent a house.

As far as prestigious Universities, come on , its not even close. U of M vs. WMU.....lol. Go to Michigan.

[desaalev]

Thank you to everyone. We decided on Ann Arbor. We are buying a manufactured house for now, I can't believe how nice they are! Extra bedrooms, jacuzzi, fireplace, wow our money is going a long way...
We visited Kazoo and that settled everything, not the type of place we wanted to live. To Ann_Arbor: we have kids, so the 'Pleasantville' feel works for us. You may have meant it negatively, but it helped when making the decision to move there. Also, I did find out that U of M Aerospace Engineering ranks 5th in the nation.
Go Blue!

[Cliffie]

If you're looking to actually buy a place, I recommend K'zoo. Housing prices are NEVER reasonable in AA, no matter how tough the times are. If you fear people who wear socks with their sandals, all the more reason to go to Kalamazoo.

[MittenDweller82]

Originally Posted by desaalev

Thank you to everyone. We decided on Ann Arbor. We are buying a manufactured house for now, I can't believe how nice they are! Extra bedrooms, jacuzzi, fireplace, wow our money is going a long way...
We visited Kazoo and that settled everything, not the type of place we wanted to live. To Ann_Arbor: we have kids, so the 'Pleasantville' feel works for us. You may have meant it negatively, but it helped when making the decision to move there. Also, I did find out that U of M Aerospace Engineering ranks 5th in the nation.
Go Blue!

Good for you and your family, it really is a "no brainier" and that will become more apparent as you live here. Much more to do than Kzoo and certainly not as rough around the edges.

[desaalev]

Originally Posted by Cliffie

If you're looking to actually buy a place, I recommend K'zoo. Housing prices are NEVER reasonable in AA, no matter how tough the times are. If you fear people who wear socks with their sandals, all the more reason to go to Kalamazoo.

I am one of those people who wears socks/sandals! lol
And we are actually buying a place, not in a park, and it is still VERY reasonable. If I knew about them before, I would have moved to A2 a long time ago.