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Between these two cities, which city is better in terms of:
Outdoor activities
Beautiful nature
Health/organic food and restaurants
Low crime
Friendly folks
Prosperous economy
Clean air, very low pollution
A swimable, boatable, clean body of water
Between these two cities, which city is better in terms of:
Outdoor activities
Beautiful nature
Health/organic food and restaurants
Low crime
Friendly folks
Prosperous economy
Clean air, very low pollution
A swimable, boatable, clean body of water
Outdoor activities: Tie
Beautiful Nature: Tie
Health/organic food and restaurants: Madison
Low Crime: Ann Arbor
Friendly Folks: Ann Arbor
Prosperous Economy: Madison
Clean Air, very low pollution: Ann Arbor
A swimable, boatable, clean body of water: Ann Arbor
I live in Madison but I've never been to Ann Arbor, though I've heard good things. Both are great cities, but extremely cold in the winter.
The two cities are very similar IMO. Home to probably the two of the largest, most regarded public research universities in the midwest. Similar size 100-300,000 in population. Similar geographic location (latitude and climate). Liberal, progressive, cosmopolitan, etc. I think in general if one likes one of the cities then they should like the other.
The big difference I see is that Madison is more geographically isolated, but has better nature and outdoor opportunities close by. Madison is on the edge of the hilly driftless area and Baraboo Hills.
Ann Arbor wins in terms of access to other areas. Its on the edge of a major metro area (Detroit) just minutes from its international airport.
Access to outdoor amenities: Madison
Access to urban amenities: Ann Arbor.
Madison wins most of these categories except (maybe?) having lower crime? I also think that it's a wash for which city has friendlier people.
Access to urban amenities I'd actually give to Madison, as I'd rather be in close proximity and an easy bus ride to Milwaukee and Chicago than Detroit.
Madison wins most of these categories except (maybe?) having lower crime? I also think that it's a wash for which city has friendlier people.
Access to urban amenities I'd actually give to Madison, as I'd rather be in close proximity and an easy bus ride to Milwaukee and Chicago than Detroit.
Ann Arbor is much closer to Detroit than Madison is to Milwaukee and Chicago. Ann Arbor is minutes from Detroit International Airport too.
Ann Arbor is much closer to Detroit than Madison is to Milwaukee and Chicago. Ann Arbor is minutes from Detroit International Airport too.
To be honest, they seem to be very similar.
I know that AA is much closer to Detroit, but (as I stated) Madison is much closer to cities with urban amenities that I'd prefer to be near (Mke, Chi), so I give it to Madison. I actually spent quite a while contemplating this decision when I was choosing to go to grad school, and Madison's proximity to Mke and Chi definitely were preferential to me.
I know that AA is much closer to Detroit, but (as I stated) Madison is much closer to cities with urban amenities that I'd prefer to be near (Mke, Chi), so I give it to Madison. I actually spent quite a while contemplating this decision when I was choosing to go to grad school, and Madison's proximity to Mke and Chi definitely were preferential to me.
Was distance a factor as well? That is what I was thinking about.
Was it the location of amenities in the Detroit area too? I know Detroit has Midtown, Corktown, the Cass Corridor, Downtown and many areas in the metro along the Woodward Corridor(Ferndale, Royal Oak, Birmingham, etc) that could fit in terms of urban amenities. Perhaps places like Farmington and Plymouth may work in terms of walkability as well.
I know that AA is much closer to Detroit, but (as I stated) Madison is much closer to cities with urban amenities that I'd prefer to be near (Mke, Chi), so I give it to Madison. I actually spent quite a while contemplating this decision when I was choosing to go to grad school, and Madison's proximity to Mke and Chi definitely were preferential to me.
Understood. Thats perfectly fair. But Ann Arbor is 45 minutes from Detroit, essentially commutable distance to downtown.
Obviously Chicago is th much better city to visit than Detroit, but Madison is nearly 2.5-3 hours from downtown Chi. And Detroit has more going on than Milwaukee (though I like Milwaukee). Once you get over 2 hours, its pushing as far as day trips are concerned. You pretty much have to make it an overnight thing.
Ann Arbor is wonderful.....but Madison is on a totally different level...twice as big, growing faster, state Capital...
Fast forward 30 years and Ann Arbor is Metro detroit's coolest suburb...and Madison is a Million-plus stand-alone metro.
Do you think that Madison gets a little over 400,000 people within 30 years? That is a very large amount of growth for a metro of its size.
Ann Arbor already has its own metro.
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