[YAZ]

Originally Posted by tom2010

I did have one weather question though. Would you say the winter in A2/Detroit is similar to Chicago or worse?

It's about the same.

[cocytus]

No offense...but I can't believe that you actually FOUND a job in Michigan.
I bet a lot Michigan natives that had to move were PO'ed when they read that...LOL

[YAZ]

Originally Posted by cocytus

No offense...but I can't believe that you actually FOUND a job in Michigan.
I bet a lot Michigan natives that had to move were PO'ed when they read that...LOL

Quite happy that some folks are doing well, actually.

Let's hope this trend continues.

[tom2010]

We are mainly looking for a smaller town with good schools. Saline, Chelsea, and the West side of A2 are kind of our target areas. We are still learning where is nice and where to avoid. I will know a lot more in a few weeks.

In regards to my job, I'm very fortunate to have a skill set that is in very high demand that you cannot go to school and learn. They were unable to find a qualified local candidate from what I was told. Hopefully the state and local governments can try to recruit new businesses to come there, but its tough considering most people want to live on the coasts or sunbelt, not the rustbelt. I have lived all over and am willing to give it a try. We liked what we saw when we visited.

[Coldjensens]

Dexter is also a good option. Plymouth is great. South Lyon/Lyon Township is pretty nice. Northville is another great town that is real close.

All of these have great schools and low crime and are terrific places to raise a family. Most have neat old fashioned downtowns.

Tecumseh is also really neat, but it is a bit of a drive to A2.

Michigan has more coast than almost any other state. Alaska has more, Texas might, and California maybe.

[YAZ]

Tom,

Chelsea would be my first choice off of your list, then I'd look at Superior Township, which is just a 'lil north of A2.

Lots of nice 'lil towns in SE MI.

[michsnowlvr]

Originally Posted by skyl4rk

Chicago is colder and it gets more snow than SE MI.

Yes, a lot of people are leaving MI but I would bet that most of them would rather stay. If you have a job, it is still a great place to live.

In the winter, Chicago is slightly colder and windier than southeast Michigan, but actually gets LESS snowfall than Detroit. Chicago averages 38" of snow per winter and Detroit averages 44". Ann Arbor unofficially averages 50" or so. In the summer, Chicago gets slightly hotter than southeast Michigan. While its probably just an anomaly and not a change in climate, both areas (NW IL and SE MI) have been seeing snowier than normal winters and more comfortable summers the last few years.

The above is all about the lake MI influence. However to the casual observer who doesnt check weather statistics, the difference would be hardly noticeable (though if you do pick Ann Arbor or NW of Ann Arbor, you may notice the increase in snow).

And I agree...if you have a job, it is an awesome place to live. Ann Arbor is the #1 college town in the country (that may or may not be your thing).

[NSX]

Originally Posted by michsnowlvr

In the winter, Chicago is slightly colder and windier than southeast Michigan, but actually gets LESS snowfall than Detroit. Chicago averages 38" of snow per winter and Detroit averages 44". Ann Arbor unofficially averages 50" or so. In the summer, Chicago gets slightly hotter than southeast Michigan. While its probably just an anomaly and not a change in climate, both areas (NW IL and SE MI) have been seeing snowier than normal winters and more comfortable summers the last few years.

The above is all about the lake MI influence. However to the casual observer who doesnt check weather statistics, the difference would be hardly noticeable (though if you do pick Ann Arbor or NW of Ann Arbor, you may notice the increase in snow).

And I agree...if you have a job, it is an awesome place to live. Ann Arbor is the #1 college town in the country (that may or may not be your thing).

Definitely second that. If you're into the college-town atmosphere, Ann Arbor / East Lansing are two of the best areas in the midwest. However, the winters are hard to put it mildly.

[sunshine girl2]

I live in Ann Arbor. I relocated to Michigan from beautiful South Florida because I found a very good job in Ann Arbor, better than any job offer elsewhere... so yes, people do move to Michigan for great job opportunities! Congrats to you on your new job!

My brother-in-law works for Visteon and his office is in Visteon Village. He and his family (wife and 3 kids, ages from 7mos to 7 years) live in Ann Arbor and love it, and they are currently moving to the Scio Township area (essentially right next to Ann Arbor proper).

The Ann Arbor area is great, lots to do and lots for families. Housing is more expensive than other areas, though. But the amenities of the city are obvious, especially with the university atmosphere and green spaces.

Roads all over Michigan are a mess (especially compared to where I came from in Florida... no potholes anywhere in Boca, but here in Michigan they are everywhere and they are car-swallowing!). It's a fact of life in this climate (both weather and economic).

Speaking of weather, I also happened to live in Chicago for several years before I lived in South Florida (I've been kind of transient!). Michigan and Chicago are pretty comparable. Chicago may be slightly more temperate due to the effect that Lake Michigan has on the weather, but when it's cold, it's cold! I haaaate winter, I am a warm-weather person through and through, but I deal by taking trips back to FL frequently. Dealing with winter is the biggest challenge for me about living in the north (and I grew up here).

Good luck!

[North Wind 89]

Canton has a lot of larger sized (3 or 4 bedroom) homes for rent. It's not as charming as other places, but very safe and family-friendly. We live there and are very happy. It might be a good place to start until you get to know the area better.