[thesearch]

Hi, we are possibly moving to Toledo Ohio. But, we aren't sure whether we would like to live in Ohio or Michigan. So far we are leaning towards Michigan. We would need to live within an hour of Toledo. What we are really looking for in a town/city is stores like Best Buy and a Wal-Mart Super Center, a cinemas etc.within a short distance. If you have ever been to say a town in North Carolina, for instance one near Charlotte, that's what we are looking for. Also, we are looking for a place that is not to exspensive, clean/well kept up and with as little crime as possible. If anyone can help please respond!

[ImaMichigander]

Sounds like Findlay might be a good place for you. 45 minutes south of Toledo. There isn't much besides Monroe in MI within that 45 minutes of Toledo. The Downriver Communities are nice, but it might be a longer drive. And the construction on 75 is always a bother.

[flyingwriter]

Michigan is so much better than Ohio. You could look at areas like Livonia and Plymouth, which are about an hour from Toledo. The downriver suburbs are a little closer. Also, there are Lambertville and Temperance, which are Toledo suburbs in Michigan.

[thesearch]

Thanks for the in put! Is there anywhere that is not really close to Detroit? I have been reading and is seems like no likes southeastern Michigan. Does anyone have pictures of the area?

[grhtex]

Check out Lambertville/Temperance/Ida/Whiteford. Just over the state line from Toledo in Michigan.

[ImaMichigander]

Originally Posted by thesearch

Thanks for the in put! Is there anywhere that is not really close to Detroit? I have been reading and is seems like no likes southeastern Michigan. Does anyone have pictures of the area?

I suggested Findlay, but the truth of the matter is that I LOVE southeastern MI. We moved here a year ago, this week and it was a very difficult decision. The people in the Downriver Communities are especially nice. (A bit crazy from all of the stuff in the air, soil and water from all of the chemical plants and steel mills, but really nice people.) We just returned from a trip out of state and I swear, I knew I was back in OH because people are just not as friendly or polite.

It seems to me that there are easier travels from the greater Toledo area into Toledo than from around Metro Detroit. Like I can't imagine how long the drive from Plymouth to Toledo would be during rush hour. We lived in Farmington Hills and were building a home in Brownstown, so I was driving my daughter to school in Rockwood and when there was NO traffic around 11am for pick-up and it still took every bit of 45 minutes to an hour to get there.

MI is really rough right now because of all of the auto industry changes. Those Big 3 job losses are affecting all areas of the economy. Toledo, is really just the most southern bit of MI, in my opinion, but it doesn't seem nearly as bad here in Findlay as it was in Brownstown.

With that said, there are nice communities in Brownstown, Trenton, Newport. You can get a GREAT house for a GREAT price-- which is also true in OH. If you say south of Wayne County in MI, the taxes are less and housing dollar is generally more house for less.

[Daytonnatian]

Hoestly, there is virtually no difference between NW Ohio and SE Michigan, except that maybe some of the Michiganders have more of the northerney accent.

Findlay's a good suggestion, but it may be a little too far south. Also Fremont, Norwalk, Perrysburg, Maumee, and Bowling Green might even be good places to consider in Ohio. For Michigan, really Monroe, Dundee (probably your best bet if you're an outdoorsy-type, since they got Cabela's), Ann Arbor, Yplantsi, and places out by the airport might also work out well.

Good Luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Cliffie]

Metro Detroit is huge, varied and has a lot to offer. My sister lives by Cleveland and she hates it there, saying it is unbelievably fundamentalist and there is nothing to do. Detroit proper really looks no different from Toledo, but the ethnic blend is different -- we have Greektown, Polish Hamtramck and highly-Middle Eastern Dearborn, where Toledo has a more German and Hungarian flavor to it. If you're heavily into spicy sausages, then, go with Toledo.

But you can get the best of both worlds by living in Dundee, Monroe or Luna Pier, MI. It's a pretty easy commute by SE Michigan standards.

[ImaMichigander]

Originally Posted by Daytonnatian

Hoestly, there is virtually no difference between NW Ohio and SE Michigan, except that maybe some of the Michiganders have more of the northerney accent.

Findlay's a good suggestion, but it may be a little too far south. Also Fremont, Norwalk, Perrysburg, Maumee, and Bowling Green might even be good places to consider in Ohio. For Michigan, really Monroe, Dundee (probably your best bet if you're an outdoorsy-type, since they got Cabela's), Ann Arbor, Yplantsi, and places out by the airport might also work out well.

Good Luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bowling Green is a nice suggestion! The scoop on NW OH is that there is a decent couple of malls in Toledo. Most of the other towns are pretty tiny. But BG is just about 15-20 minutes into Toledo or Perrysburg. Perrysburg-- while I don't know much about the town, has a nice little shopping strip right off of 75, that has most everything that you requested.

Findlay has a Best Buy and a small Pet Supplies Plus, 2 Wal-Marts and a Meijer, as well as Lowes and Menards. There are some chain restaurants and a handful of good local restaurants. But if I want to shop, I have to go into either Toledo or Colombus.

[thesearch]

Thanks for all the help! Does anyone know about flood zones or areas that floood alot? I've been coming across some scary stuff that implies Ohio floods almost everywhere! And I am not sure about Michigan. All I know is the thought of flooding freaks me out!