[jomaco1]

Yes, Muskegon Heights is pretty econimically challenged. Roosevelt Park is a nice older community, mostly cape cods and more reasonably priced than Norton Shores. Lakeside area has some good deals too.

[flintboy101]

I've lived in Flint my enntire life and do not like it at all. The crime and the economy are both horrible. I haven't been to the west side of Michigan before, but it HAS to be better than Flint.

[GRRAZO]

^ yes from by the factors you described it is better than Flint, although Flint is a very interesting place.

Muskegon actually reminds me of the east side in a lot of ways

Have you looked at Kalamazoo? It is not by any means a booming town but it is not as depresed as Flint and a slightly smaller size, it also seems to be a fairly progressive city and a college town...also possible to get from there to downtown chicago in 2 hours, although I drive fast... Detroit just under 2...If you like being around the lake...St. Joe, although has a lot of Chicago summer homes...or my favorite... South Haven

[Michigansnowflake]

I lived in SE Michigan for 40 years, the last 2 I have lived in Charlevoix.........the west side of the state is much better, nicer, cleaner, beautiful, friendly people, slower pace of life. I plan on never leaving the west side nor living in SE Mi again

[mackinac81]

Originally Posted by Michigansnowflake

I lived in SE Michigan for 40 years, the last 2 I have lived in Charlevoix.........the west side of the state is much better, nicer, cleaner, beautiful, friendly people, slower pace of life. I plan on never leaving the west side nor living in SE Mi again

I'm with ya on that one. I've lived in the Kalamazoo/Grand Rapids area my whole life and I love it! For me, Lake Michigan is what does it for me. I can't pass up all the summer festivals and opportunities to see the sunsets. And it does feel more hometown-ish.

The east side has it's plusses too, but for West Michigan suits me better.

[acedog]

Our family recently relocated to Grand Haven and we LOVE it! There is a definite small town feel to the area. Great for families and outdoor activities. We are very pleased with the schools as well.

[Coldjensens]

Used to be that the east side had more going on, and the West side was more quiet and prettier. Now It seems that the west side may have more going on and a better economy. The east side offeers some fabulous real estate opportunities and probably still has more shopping and dining opportunities, sports teams, more people, overall the West side is probably a better choice at least in the short term.

[Cliffie]

Originally Posted by travelling_paws

So you long-time Michigan people, what's your take on east side vs west side? Are they really that different?

Totally different. Different ethnic blend, different subcultures, different ritziness factors...I grew up on the East Side, where people are totally nice downtown and breathtakingly, pointlessly hostile (think of the infected people in NYC in the Will Smith movie that just came out, I Am Legend) in the suburbs. In general the West Side is friendlier, but also more pretentious -- it's the only place I've ever seen someone wear a mink coat to the movies.

[Bydand]

I think it really depends on the community. I personally like the West side, but that is where I was born and raised, so it just feels more like home. I've lived east side and know some wonderful warm people over there, but the sunrise over the lake was just weird . I have lived in the UP, and loved it up there. A short distance between cities on the West side makes a huge difference in the level of pretentiousness you run into. Scottville to Ludington is like night and day. Scottville is still the warm little community without a pretentious bone, while Ludington can be very pretentious. Only about 10 miles separate the two. Traverse City need Pretentious to be capitalized; Empire, not so much. There are some cities that I am afraid the majority of the population is going to drown during a heavy rain storm because their noses are so far in the air. That is for both east and west sides. Look at Rochester Hills - Can you say PRETENTIOUS.

[ivyinmichigan]

I grew up on Westside (and my family still stays there) and I currently live on the Eastside. I would prefer to live on the Westside and just travel to the eastside for sporting events, etc (2-3 hours max). Life seems more fast paced on the Eastside. There is also a major distinction between classes - you are either driving a Benz or a Honda. Westside has more of a friendlier feel to it. I would say there is also less crime on the West side of MI.