[crazynip]

Saginaw, Flint, Detroit. These are all up and coming places.

[detwahDJ]

All the Lake Michigan lakeshore is touristy and busy during summer, quiet during the winter. Jobs are in the tourist trade, except for the essentials.
Areas close to the lake get "lake effect" snow squalls. If you don't like snow, stay east of US-131 (it'll be degrees colder but dryer).
Northern mid-michigan often gets frigid. The closer to the lake, the moister and warmer the air (slightly). The further north, the colder - depends on how you feel about cold weather (I would research avg temps if that's a concern).
Winter driving is better in the cities, can be iffy outstate.
Grand Haven and Spring Lake are like twin cities, touristy in summer.
Walker is a G.R. suburb and that's a plus for it year-round.

[MountainMen]

Originally Posted by xz2y

Are there "bad" areas in TC?

No, not really. I'm no expert, but the area south of the city, "big box land", especially coming up US-31, would be less good, relative to the peninsulas and the coastline. But throughout the TC area, the climate is phenomenal and the natural scenery is majestic. I'll take the worst area in TC over the best area in Flint/Detroit/GR any day.