Livability Awards
Located in the state of Michigan, Ann Arbor is a moderately-sized city with a population of 118,087 people. In Ann Arbor, there are 4,239 people per square mile, which is well above the national population density average. According to the most recent Census, 72% of Ann Arbor residents are White, 16% Asian and 7% Black. Ann Arbor could be a great place for young adults and students as the average age of 28 years old is below the nation’s average. Ann Arbor is known to be family friendly as more than 80% of the population has already tied the knot. It might also be worth noting that 60% of residents also have children under the age of 18.
Without the right tools, relocating to any new town can be very stressful and challenging. Living in Ann Arbor, Michigan could be a great experience for anyone who puts in the time to do the research required. To help you find the best places to live in and around Ann Arbor, AreaVibes has created a livability score using key metrics like amenities, cost of living, education, employment and more.
Ann Arbor, MI receives 79/100 for its livability score; this results in a ranking of #67 in Michigan and #2,140 in the USA. Based on this score, Ann Arbor would be considered a very livable city! Ann Arbor also ranks in the top 10 percent of all cities, which is no small feat! Based on the scores for each individual category, Ann Arbor has been rewarded with high marks for amenities (A+), crime (A-) and education (B+). There are some categories that Ann Arbor ranks poorly for, including: cost of living (D-) and weather (D-). It might be worth taking a closer look to find out why.
Based on the proximity of local amenities like grocery stores, restaurants, coffee shops, parks, librairies, etc., Ann Arbor has received a higher than average score for its local amenities. If you’re planning on relocating and making this area your permanent home, it’s nice to know that there is an ample amount of amenities and things to do within walking distance or a short drive. Some of the interesting things to do and attractions include: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum, and Kerrytown.
Certain items on your wish list like shopping, restaurants, nightlife and proximity to public transportation are all important factors to search for. Having said that, perhaps the most important metric to consider when contemplating a move to Ann Arbor is real estate affordability. The median home price for Ann Arbor homes is $250,200, which is 95.8% higher than the Michigan average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Ann Arbor, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 4.3, which is 72% higher than the Michigan average. Knowing if your home will appreciate on a long term or even a short term basis should be factored into your decision making. An increase in your home’s value can be a good way to generate tax-free equity that can create long term financial security. In the past year, appreciation rates for homes in the Ann Arbor area were 9.2% and 5 year appreciation rates were 8.5%.
| Statistic | Ann Arbor | Michigan | National |
| Average one way commute | 20min | 24min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 54.6% | 82.5% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 7.1% | 8.8% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 11.0% | 1.4% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 4.6% | 0.5% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 14.7% | 2.2% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 7.2% | 3.7% | 4.6% |
| Walk | Bike | Compact | Car | S.U.V. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Distance | |||||
| Duration | |||||
| Cost/Month |
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