Everything You Need to Know Before Moving to Ann Arbor, Michigan
Published by Chris Townsend
Relocating to a new place can be exciting for different reasons. For some people, the reason for the excitement is easy to figure out. They just love new things and there is no better way to experience new things than to change where you live.
For others, it is quite deeper. They want new connections with new people. There is a high chance that you will make new friends when you move.
No matter the reason, living in a new place brings its perks which get people excited. Still, like most things in life, the excitement doesn’t last forever. Eventually, reality rears its head showing us that life isn’t without its challenges.
The challenges can put a damper on the whole relocation process. This is why researching before moving is important.
It goes behind your glass-eyed excitement to show you what to expect. Researching on the town, city, or even state you are moving to is important. It streamlines the preparation for the relocation.
However, too much research can make you focus on all the negatives of moving. It can make it seem like all that is ahead is bad.
A balanced view will help you better than an overly positive or negative view.
And this is what Three Movers aims to provide as we tell you what you should know when moving to Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in Washtenaw County of the state of Michigan. It is the fifth-largest city in Michigan with a population of 124,000 people.
It is home to the University of Michigan. The city’s economy is greatly affected by the University. It also has a lot of technology-based companies because of the research being done in the university.
Ann Arbor is named after the two wives of the founders of the city. Both women’s names were Ann. The other part of the name was gotten from the stands of bur oak trees in the city.
Ann Arbor has a total area of almost 29 square miles of which 0.87 square miles is occupied by water. The water is part of the Huron River.
The city landscape consists of hills and valleys with elevations ranging between 750 feet to 1000 feet above sea level.
Everything You Need to Know About Ann Arbor
If you are considering moving to the city of Ann Arbor, there are a few things you should know beforehand. These tips will help you plan and prepare for your move.
- The Climate
The climate of the city is influenced by the Great Lakes. The climate is considered a Midwestern humid continental climate. The four seasons are very distinct making each time of the year its world.
During winter, temperatures fall rapidly and suddenly. They can go as low as 15 degrees and don’t usually go higher than 35 degrees.
In the summer, temperatures get as high as the mid-80s but there have been some recorded days in the 90 degrees ballpark. This happens between July and August.
Spring and Fall are usually short and don’t swing as much as the other two seasons.
So, prepare for the winters in Ann Arbor when moving to the city because winter always comes.
- There are Amazing Parks
Ann Arbor is the type of city outdoor lovers will enjoy. There is a lot of outdoor activity all year round.
You would expect outdoor activities to taper down in winter but you would be wrong. There are skiing events, snowboarding, and ice skating.
There are acres of park grounds to explore with many miles of trails to hike or bike through. This allows residents to engage in events like hunting, hiking, bike riding, and fishing.
- The Schools are of a High Standard
If you are moving to the city with your family, this will be good news for you and your kids.
Education is taken seriously in the city. Some of the best schools in the state of Michigan are in Ann Arbor.
Such a rich academic environment provides all sorts of educational programs and with the proximity of the University of Michigan, continuity becomes an attainable bonus.
The city prides itself on its advanced music program. It is home to preschools, elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools. There are also over 20 private schools in the city.
If you are moving with kids, you won’t be lacking educational options for them.
- This is a Great Place for a Career in Education
It is a fact that the education sector of Ann Arbor is one of the most developed in the state. If you are moving to the city with an interest in education, then there will be a lot of opportunities.
There are opportunities at all levels of education ranging from preschool to university levels. There are even specialized high schools you can grow a career in.
This doesn’t mean that other careers aren’t welcome because they are. After all, Ann Arbor has an unemployment rate that is lower than the national average.
- This is a Tree Town
It is engraved in the name so it shouldn’t come as a surprise to know that there are a lot of trees.
The dense population of trees begins in the parks and extends to the residential area. There are over 50,000 trees in the streets o the city and an equal number of trees in the parks.
Moving to Ann Arbor will change your perspective of the word ‘fresh air’ especially if you are coming from a crowded city.
- The city is Always Bubbling
Ann Arbor has a Downtown that has a life of its own. There are always events being held there. It has a very rich art and books culture and exciting festivals.
There are so many events, a simple stroll Downtown will make you discover something that is happening. There are farmers’ market events, book launches, food festivals, and wine tasting events.
Ann Arbor doesn’t lack entertainment and that is a big attraction for people looking for fun things to explore regularly.
- It is a college Town
Yes, it is a city but it owes part of its city status to the University of Michigan. Ann Arbor saw its first major boom in population when the university moved from Detroit in 1837.
Since then, the whole city has somehow grown with the university as the heart of it. Many businesses exist in the city simply because there is a big college there.
There are a lot of sporting events as well as festivals aimed at the young adults that school in the university.
The university has over 30,000 employees and an extra 12,000 working in the medical center.
Note though that because it is a college-centered community, moving times in spring and fall, come with jampacked traffic.
- Cost of Living
It is established that the university influences the economy of the city and that is also reflected in the cost of living. The cost of living in Ann Arbor is higher than the United States average.
This is mainly due to the cost of housing. The population of students in the city increases the demand for rent driving the cost of housing up.
This also affects the cost of owning a home which is higher than the national average as well.
Another reason the cost of living is high is transportation which is higher than the national average.
While all these seem discouraging, they are the main reasons for a high cost of living. This is because other things like the cost of food or education are less than the national average.
So, if you are moving to this city, you will have an easy life if you can conquer housing and transportation.
- It isn’t Far from Detroit
Detroit is about 48 miles away from Ann Abor, making it play the suburb role to its bigger brother.
The distance has influenced things like flight patterns with Detroit’s airport supplying Ann Arbor citizens with a way to fly out of the country from an airport close by.
The distance provides an advantage for sports fans who want to catch a game in the big city.
On average it takes an hour to get into Detroit from Ann Arbor meaning a person can work in Detroit and live in Ann Arbor.
Moving to Ann Arbor
The nature of a college town, the midwestern weather, the high-quality education, or the constant supply of entertainment might sway you to move to this great city.
There are challenges to living in Ann Arbor, of course, as the cost of living, but that can be offset with proper planning.
This planning begins with planning your relocation properly and that is where we come in.
Hiring Three Movers to move your items to Ann Arbor is the best thing to do. We can meet any specific moving needs you have.
Contact us by dialing (888) 202-0036 and relocate in style.
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