Things You Need to Know Before Moving to Michigan
Are you moving to Michigan?
The state of Michigan is in the Great Lakes and Upper Midwest regions of the United States. This might not come as a surprise, considering that Michigan is home to the Great Lakes. Michigan is famous for its mesmerizing natural landscape, its active outdoor lifestyle, and some of the nation’s leading universities. And how can we forget the lakes?
When it comes to watersports, Michigan is a great place to be! In addition to this, Michigan has a reasonable cost of living. So, if you are considering moving to Michigan, there are several things you need to know and prepare. Here are things you need to know before moving to Michigan.
What is it like living in Michigan
The Economy in Michigan
Ranked 29th in state economy rankings by USNews. Michigan’s score depends on several subcategories, including business environment (#26), employment (#35), and growth (#16). The Midwest state has a GDP of nearly $509 billion, and the median income is approximately $30,500.
Moving Estimate
Estimate your moving expenses and get free quotes from professional movers near you."*" indicates required fields
Tax Rates for Michigan
- Property Tax: 1.64%. Michigan is ranked #41 in terms of the effective real-estate tax rate.
- Sales Tax: Michigan state sales tax rate is 6%. There are no local sales taxes.
- Income Tax: 4.25%. The state has a flat personal income tax system.
Income and Salaries for Michigan
As of May 5, 2022, the average annual pay for a Full Time in Michigan is $39,109 a year according to ZipRecruiter.
Top Industries
- Medical Devices
- Cybersecurity
- Healthcare
- Defense
- Carbon Fiber / Composite Materials
- Aerospace
- Life Sciences
- Automotive / Mobility
- Information Technology
- AgriBusiness
Top Employers
University of Michigan Health System, Grand Valley State University, Microsoft, Ford Motor, FedEx, Darden Restaurants, Henry Ford Health, Pfizer, Arconic, and Kellogg.
Housing Market
The typical home value of homes in Michigan is $231,865. This value is seasonally adjusted and only includes the middle price tier of homes. Michigan home values have gone up 16.0% over the past year.
Health Care
In 2020, the average national cost for health insurance is $456 for an individual and $1,152 for a family per month.
Pros and Cons to Live in Michigan.
Pros:
- Low cost of living: With an index of 96.7, Michigan offers a cost of living that is lower than the nationwide average. Housing currently scores a 76 (compared to the national average of 100).
- Natural beauty: From colorful autumn leaves to the majestic Tahquamenon Falls and Mackinac Island, Michigan (especially the Upper Peninsula) is renowned for its stunning scenery.
- Outdoor activities: Enjoy kayaking, boating, fishing, camping, or hunting? If you’re an outdoorsy type, you’ll be hardpressed to find a better place to enjoy rugged outdoor adventures.
- Top colleges: Along with the University of Michigan and Michigan State University, Michigan is home to several prominent liberal arts colleges (including Hillsdale College and Hope College).
Surrounded by lakes: If you’re into water and beach activities, summertime in Michigan is the best! It’s virtually impossible not to know someone who lives by a lake or owns a lake house.
Cons:
- Freezing winters: This is particularly true in the northern part of the state. If you’re moving from a more temperate climate, grab a warm winter coat and insulated boots.
- Unpredictable weather: Storms out of nowhere, sunny then snowing… Welcome to Michigan. The City of Houghton, for example, has the most erratic weather in the nation.
- Roads: First off, potholes are unavoidable. The Wolverine State has some pretty bad roads (due to winter), and that doesn’t seem to be getting better any time soon.
- Public education: With the 11th worst graduation rate in America, the state school system has a lot of room for improvement. Fourth-grade reading proficiency is currently less than 30%.
Is Michigan A Good Place To Live?
Well-known as the bedrock of the American automotive industry, Michigan is a great state to call home with its incredible lakes and a low cost of living that makes it an attractive place for raising a family. Between a huge sports culture and majestic rugged landscape, it’s easy to see why Michigan is attractive to outdoorsy-type people and families wanting to get away from densely-populated urban areas. Of course, it helps that the Great Lakes State is home to some top colleges as well.
Retire in Michigan
The Great Lakes State can make for a decent retirement destination. It offers some of the lowest living costs in the country and maintains a low poverty rate among seniors at 8.1%, compared with 9.3% of the U.S. The tax situation, though, is not so great—and a bit complicated. Social Security benefits are not currently taxed, but starting in 2020, taxpayers turning 67 will have to choose between deducting Social Security income or $20,000 of all income sources for single filers ($40,000 for couples).
Are you thinking about moving to Michigan for retirement? We Are The Best Moving and Storage has moving services and facilities all over the country, so we can help with your move as you downsize for retirement. Get a quote today!
Education in Michigan
According to a report on states with the best schools by USNews, Michigan is currently ranked #38 in the nation. It has the 11th lowest high-school graduation rate and the 21st highest public-school spending.
Best Schools in Michigan
According to USNews, these are the top 3 best elementary schools in Michigan.
1. Webster Elementary School
Student/ Teacher Ratio: 17:1
Math Proficiency: 100%
Reading Proficiency: 97%
Webster Elementary School is a magnet school located in Livonia, MI, which is in a small city setting. The student population of Webster Elementary School is 287 and the school serves 1-6. Webster Elementary School is ranked #1 in Michigan Elementary Schools. Schools are ranked on their performance on state-required tests, graduation, and how well they prepare their students for high school.
How to Enroll
If you are interested in learning more about Webster Elementary School enrollment, you can click here for more information.
2. Gallimore Elementary School
Student/ Teacher Ratio: 16:1
Math Proficiency: 100%
Reading Proficiency: 96%
Gallimore Elementary School is a magnet school located in Canton, MI, which is in a large suburb setting. The student population of Gallimore Elementary School is 347 and the school serves PK-5. Gallimore Elementary School is ranked #2 in Michigan Elementary Schools. Schools are ranked on their performance on state-required tests, graduation, and how well they prepare their students for high school.
How to Enroll
If you are interested in learning more about Gallimore Elementary School enrollment, you can click here for information.
3. Brown Elementary School
Student/ Teacher Ratio: 21:1
Math Proficiency: 95%
Reading Proficiency: 95%
Brown Elementary School is a public school located in Byron Center, MI, which is in a large suburb setting. The student population of Brown Elementary School is 555 and the school serves K-4. Brown Elementary School is ranked #3 in Michigan Elementary Schools. Schools are ranked on their performance on state-required tests, graduation, and how well they prepare their students for high school.
How to Enroll
If you are interested in learning more about Brown Elementary School enrollment, you can click here for more information.
Are you thinking about moving to Michigan with your familly? We Are The Best Moving and Storage has moving services and facilities all over the country, so we can help with your move as you downsize. Get a quote today!
Things to Do in Michigan
1. Mackinac Island
Mackinac Island is a 3.8-square-mile island within Lake Huron that has served as the indigenous home of the Odawa people, the site of a strategic fur trading center during North America’s colonial period, and a popular resort colony during the late 19th century.
Today, much of the island is preserved within Mackinac Island State Park, though a variety of tourist attractions remain for year-round fun. The island is famously car-free and is listed as a National Historic Landmark, showcasing beautiful Victorian-style architecture at sites such as the Victorian Grand Hotel.
2. Michigan Science Center
The Michigan Science Center is Detroit’s premier science and technology museum formed following the closure of the Detroit Science Center in 2011. The museum, which was opened to the public the following year, is home to Michigan’s only Chrysler IMAX Dome Theatre, along with venues such as the DTE Energy Sparks Theater and the Dassault Systèmes Planetarium.
Exhibit galleries showcase more than 250 hands-on exhibits for young visitors, focusing on space, engineering, health, and physical science topics. Other attractions include the museum’s Chrysler Science Stage, which showcases educational performances, and the Toyota Engineering 4D Theater, which showcases 4D screenings of films such as National Geographic’s “Extreme Weather.”
3. Boyne Mountain Resort
Boyne Mountain Resort has been in operation for over half a century within the village of Boyne Falls, founded in 1947 by Everett Kircher as the Boyne Ski Lodge. Today, the resort is easily accessible from Boyne Mountain Airport and offers a wide variety of year-round attractions, including more than 60 downhill skiing trails and 35 kilometers of cross-country skiing opportunities.
Cozy hotel rooms, creekside condos, alpine-style chalets, private villas, and authentic log cabins are available for rental, offering amenities such as full kitchenettes, whirlpool tubs, and private dining and deck areas. In addition to skiing facilities, the resort is also home to Avalanche Bay, the state’s largest indoor water park, along with a 19,500 square-foot luxury spa, an 18-hole disc golf course, and zipline adventure courses.
4. Detroit Institute of Arts
The Detroit Institute of Arts, commonly referred to as the DIA, holds one of the most significant fine arts collections in America, considered to be one of the country’s top six art museums. More than 66,000 works valued at over $8 billion in total are showcased in the museum’s collections, with more than 100 galleries spread out over its 658,000-square-foot display space. The museum, which is located within the city’s Cultural Center Historic District, highlights works across time from Africa, Asia, indigenous and post-colonial North America, Oceania, and the Middle East.
5. Detroit Zoo
Detroit Zoo is one of the state’s most popular family attractions, receiving more than 1.5 million annual visitors. The 125-acre zoo was originally opened in 1883, reopening in its modern incarnation in 1928, and is known as the first zoo in America to implement barless animal habitats. More than 2,000 animals are showcased throughout the nonprofit zoo, representing over 240 species and housed within naturalistic habitats meant to mimic animals’ original ecosystems.
Among the zoo’s most impressive exhibits are its Polk Penguin Conservation Center, a 326,000-gallon habitat that is home to more than 75 penguins. Other family attractions at the zoo include the historic Tauber Family Railroad, the Korman Tadpole and Rissman Playventure children’s playgrounds, a classic carousel, a 4D theater, and a virtual-reality simulator ride.
Are you ready to make your move to Michigan?
Moving to Michigan can be a big event for most people, especially if you come from a smaller town. For all of your long-distance moving needs, be sure to keep We are the Best Moving and Storage in mind as our movers have handled moves for millions of customers across the country. Keep your mind at ease and go with us to move you to Michigan.
