As the center of the automotive industry, Michigan has been in the news for all the wrong reasons over the last few years. Detroit is its heart and soul, but there is more to Michigan than just a bunch of automotive plants. Divided into two parts, the state features both a nice lower portion and an upper peninsula that is driven by a lot of tourism. People come to the lake cities in the upper peninsula during the summer, as it allows them to get away from the heat and enjoy some great locations. There are attractions in that part of the state, and you can find many great hotels in the major cities, too.
The local economic outlook for most Michigan cities has been somewhat bleak, but it is still a great state in many ways. Michigan boasts a great educations system, with some of the top universities calling it home. Likewise, the cost of living in many of the cities has dropped to a point where it can make a lot of financial sense to live there. The home buying opportunities are plentiful for those people who can stand the biting cold that comes along with living near the Great Lakes.
Crime rates in Michian cities are (on average) lower than the national average. Larger cities like Detroit and Grand Rapids do have higher crime rates and care should be taken when looking for a safe neighborhood in those cities.
