Ann Arbor, MI Reviews


49 Reviews



BestPlaces offers the best, most comprehensive city reports,
with insight into cost of living, crime, climate, and more.

Overview
Cost of Living
Crime
Climate
Interactive Map
Jobs
Weather
Schools
Education
Economy
Health
Religion
People
Politics & Voting
Housing Stats
Commute Time
Rankings
Reviews
Upgrade to Premium
United States / Michigan / Ann Arbor Metro Area / Washtenaw County / Ann Arbor / Zip Codes
What BestPlaces Users Say about Ann Arbor

As one of the largest cities in Michigan and home to the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor offers a diverse and vibrant community for its residents. With a population of over 120,000, the city boasts a thriving downtown area, access to outdoor recreation, and a renowned education system. However, living in Ann Arbor comes with its own set of pros and cons, which can be seen through the various user reviews on BestPlaces.net.

According to user "Linda" on BestPlaces, Ann Arbor is "a great place to live" with "plenty of culture, restaurants, and outdoor activities." She also notes that the city is "very eco-friendly and progressive," which is a major draw for many residents.

In contrast, "Mark" shares his experience of living in Ann Arbor as "expensive" and "crowded." He explains that the cost of living is high and the traffic can be overwhelming, especially during rush hour. However, he also mentions that the "quality of life is pretty good" and there are "plenty of job opportunities."

Another user, "Caroline," praises the city for its "sense of community" and "excellent public schools." She also highlights the "beautiful parks and nature areas" that provide a great escape from city life.

On the other hand, "Jason" expresses his frustration with the "lack of diversity" in Ann Arbor. He mentions that the city is "predominantly white" and there is a "lack of representation for minority communities." However, he also notes that the city is "very welcoming" and has a "strong sense of community."

Overall, the user reviews on BestPlaces provide a well-rounded view of living in Ann Arbor. While some residents rave about the city's cultural offerings and quality of life, others point out the high cost of living and lack of diversity. Ultimately, it is up to each individual to weigh these factors and decide if Ann Arbor is the right place for them to call home.

 based on 49 Reviews
Get to know Ann Arbor with the latest comments and reviews from people who live in or have visited Ann Arbor
All the Benefits of Small Town/Big City - 9/12/2006
I have lived on the edge of Ann Arbor in one of the many surrounding townships (where it's somewhat easier and cheaper to find housing) both with my family and as a student at the University of Michigan. Ann Arbor is great for people who still want the small town charm with the big city intellect and diversity. Google is coming to Ann Arbor; the open campus of the university really adds to the city; there is a great deal of diversity and culture due to the university and the large companies here; the parks and libraries are great; the downtown and campus areas still manage to have locally owned and unique shops; and people are very involved in local government which only helps keep the city improving. I suppose it may be difficult living here if you don't have some connection or interest in the University, since it is so integral to the city. I don't understand why some think the people here are snobs. I think intelligence is often confused with snobbery, but I think most people Read More
Abhd | Ypsilanti, MI | Reply | No Replies
Agree 19   Disagree 14

Start Your Review of Ann Arbor

the truth about ann arbor - 7/13/2006
The weather: I doubt you could find better weather in the United States than the summer and fall in Michigan. You can count on gorgeous weather between June and through September. We often get a few gorgeous, 80-degree days in April that tease us, and then it always manages to get cold again be it in April, May or early June. This cold spell only lasts less than a week. The summer is sometimes humid, but often is the perfect level of humidity and dryness. It usually varies from 75-85 degrees, though it can and does reach the low 90s. September is our best weather month. It's dry and sunny, usually in the mid- high 70s. Absolutely perfect. During the summer months, traffic is HORRIBLE. It's honestly ridiculous, due to so many people going up north for the weekend and mostly because of construction. CONSTRUCTION IS THE WORST IN MICHIGAN DURING THE SUMMER. October is a gamble. It's not odd for it to snow, though in most recent years, it hasn't snowed until closer to Thanksgiving. Read More
Megan | Chelsea, MI | Reply | No Replies
Agree 20   Disagree 20
Ann Arbor - 6/19/2006
Overly dominated by the University of Michigan, which impacts quality of life & housing costs in many downtown neighborhoods. The presence of the university, however, also positively impacts cultural/recreational opportunities (music & film, in particular).

Adding something of a European feel to the downtown is the Kerrytown Farmers Market & Shops, with the adjacent jewel of an intimate concert venue, the Kerrytown Concert Read More
Bethany | Ann Arbor, MI | Reply | No Replies
Agree 14   Disagree 8
Not what it's advertised to be... think twice. - 6/7/2006
I have lived here for 12 years and am a very well-educated person. I have found this town to be highly pretensious with no basis. It you are a down-to-earh person, with any kind of traditional morality, then this place is not for you. It is very snobby here, with a "me-first" attitude. I have found the people to be mostly out for themselves. The long-time Ann Arbor people are great, but there are many people here from other parts of the US that are not native to this state. I grew up in Michigan, and have lived in many other cities and am quite well-traveled. Ann Arbor looks great at first, very pretty, lots to do, but most of my friends have left and I want to go as well. If you are single and not in college, there isn't much to do here, as the university is the cultural focus and the night life is just for college students. If you like to act like the "big fish in the little pond" and are very liberal, you will fit in well here, but if you are more traditional then people Read More
Bp | Ann Arbor, MI | Reply | No Replies
Agree 18   Disagree 18
Q.O.L. - 6/4/2006
The quality of life in Ann Arbor is probably its best Read More
cory | Ypsilanti, MI | Reply | No Replies
Agree 16   Disagree 29
An oasis of culture in Michigan - 5/23/2006
Ann Arbor is the jewel of Michigan with over
70% of the population here being liberal and
very open-minded. The University of Michigan
and Pfizer draw many intellectuals and people
with big dreams, money or both. The average
household income here is $60K+, and you will
see many people driving around in very nice cars.
It is a town of individuals, everything from
professors to business owners to students to
skateboarders and everything in between. A
medium-sized college town with a river running
through it, Ann Arbor boasts many events and
activities like- theatre, music, art, concerts
and of course college sports. We have endless
parks good schools, great restaurants,
friendly eccentric people and plenty of
things to do like- bars, night/comedy clubs,
museums, botanical gardens, libraries and
annual festivals. There is a little of everything
here Read More
Erin  | Ann Arbor, MI | Reply | No Replies
Agree 17   Disagree 22
Great Place to live - 3/22/2006
I lived in Ann Arbor for 11 years. It's a very safe fun place to live. There are great restaurants, bars, and clubs. The city is filled with parks and running trails. When I lived there I thought it was very expensive but it isn't really that bad. When you compare it to New York or California, where you get a lot less for your Read More
myah  | Ann Arbor, MI | Reply | No Replies
Agree 20   Disagree 21
A beautiful but expensive place to live. - 2/27/2006
Ann Arbor, Michigan is a very beautiful but expensive place to Read More
Deborah | Ann Arbor, MI | Reply | No Replies
Agree 28   Disagree 29
Weather in Michigan - 2/25/2006
The weather is the biggest factor driving me to leave the state of Michigan. While the fall and summers here are breathtaking, they are a mere 4 months out of the year and the rest of the year seems to be dismally gray and bitterly Read More
leah | Ann Arbor, MI | Reply | No Replies
Agree 21   Disagree 18
Overview
Compare Ann Arbor, MI
cost of living
Compare food, housing, utilities, and more in Ann Arbor, Michigan to any other city in the US.


The premier source for comprehensive city data for over 30 years.

Privacy Policy  •  Terms of Use  •  Returns & Refunds
© Best Places. All rights reserved.