[niknanette]

Any reason one would be much better than the others? Or reasons to stay away. I'm not completely sold on any of them but I'm finding plenty of homes in the range I'm looking for in those areas. I need decent schools. Also need a good real estate agent for the area if anyone has suggestions.

[jaynarie]

It really depends on your preference. What are you looking for?

Personally, I prefer Davison. I'll get that out in the open before I go on, because there is a bias. Sorry about that.

Schools- Davison takes the lead here for me. Historically, Grand Blanc usually ranks better (although not by much), but I really like the system that Davison has. They have a strictly kindergarten building (Thomson), two K-4 buildings (Siple and Hill), two 1-4 buildings (Central and Gates), a 5th/6th building (Hahn), a 7/8 building (Davison Middle), a traditional high school and an alternative high school. Hill offers the option of a 'balanced calendar'. Most of the district will likely move to the balanced calendar in 2016-2017.
Grand Blanc schools are good, but over crowding is an issue. They have 9 elementary buildings. Without looking it up, I believe two are K-2, two are 3-5, four are K-5, and then there is City School/Perry Center with kindergarten and special programs. They are not all equal in terms of student population make up and test scores. They have two middle schools. And a mess at the high school level. They have it split into two campuses- the high school and the former middle school. For the most part, the old high school houses 9th, and the original high school houses 10-12. But, some students have to go back and forth. They are not close, either. Maybe a half mile? Over a quarter, for sure. In the winter this can be brutal. But, there are great teachers there, so it is not like it is a terrible place. I just prefer Davison.
Lapeer has had some changes in the last few years, and I haven't kept up with them much. Of the three, they have traditionally been the weakest of the three districts. (Not bad, just not as good in comparison.)

The actual city-
Again, I prefer Davison. Cute downtown, great sense of community. Easy access to everything. Virtually no crime (I once witnessed TWO cops respond to a snapping turtle in the road in a neighborhood. Two squad cars for a turtle.) GREAT parks (Abernathy and Richfield) and Abernathy is being expanded to include a lake with a beach and a splash pad. Very walkable within city limits. Many rural areas if that is more your style.

Lapeer would be my second choice here. Bigger than Davison with more shopping/dining, but that is because Lapeer is farther from Flint. Nice downtown. Very safe. Lots of rural options.

Grand Blanc would be third for me. There really isn't a downtown area. There is half of a block on Grand Blanc Road, where it meets Saginaw that sort of resembles a downtown, but it is really lacking in that area. Very sprawled out and not walkable at all. Grand Blanc boarders Flint Township and Burton, which typically has more crime. Grand Blanc itself is safe, but when you get to the northern edge, it jumps quite quickly. Rural is a possibility, but Davison and Lapeer have far more rural areas. The parks are disappointing compared to Davison's. Bicentennial Park has a splash pad, a sledding hill, and many ball fields of all kinds, but the playground is very disappointing. On average, GB is going to be the most expensive, but not by a huge margin. Easiest access to Detroit/Metro Detroit.

I hope my admittedly biased description is helpful. Feel free to ask/PM any questions you may have.

[niknanette]

I'm not entirely sure what i'm looking for, but Davison sounds lovely. I grew up in Capac, definitely want bigger than that. Lived in Wyoming (the state) for 10 years...too far from family, and the nearest bigger city was 3 hours away for shopping/specialists. Not cool! And currently renting in Clinton Township. I love my neighborhood, and love having access to everything I could possibly need/want...not so keen on the traffic to get anywhere. And property taxes are incredibly high along with more expensive housing than out there. Trying to stick within about 45 minute drive to Capac to visit the family. I think I'd like ether a couple acres not too far outside of a town (meaning not more than a couple minutes of dirt roads) or a bigger lot in a town or subdivision. Needs to be less than an hour from an airport for my husband's job, but I think all 3 of those should be fine to fly out of Flint.

[jaynarie]

Even if you are in rural Lapeer, you won't be more than 45 minutes from Bishop.
I've lived in both Davison and GB. Chose GB due to convenience to work, and quickly wished I could go back to Davison. I'd take the commute. I've never lived in Lapeer, but often went/go there to shop. And I make regular trips to the fro-yo place (Blend).
I'm a teacher and I subbed for a bit straight out of college. I subbed in both Davison and GB. Great experiences in both. But I know it is rough for the high schoolers in Grand Blanc walking back and forth in the winter. My doctor actually pulled his son out because of it and put him into a private school. Plus with 'school of choice', the Grand Blanc elementary schools are really becoming quite different. Great teachers at all of them, but some of the schools are getting a more transient population.