Reviews & Comments
Cadillac, MI
Cadillac Has Gone Downhill... -
8/14/2008I grew up in Cadillac. It used to be a decent, if uncultured, place to live. The public schools were safe, you could actually leave your cars unlocked, and homes were affordable. Children could really play outside without being abducted or learning about sex and drugs from their peers.
These days, home prices are bordering on rediculous, violent crime is escalating, and anything not chained down or protected with an alarm system is likely to disappear. Recently, my family and I lived in the city of Cadillac for almost two years. Anything left outside was stolen, my car (with an alarm system) was vandalized, and our charming neighbor boy, age 8, took an ax to our front porch and our mailbox. His mother was constantly waking our children by knocking on our door at midnight to ask for a ride to the liquor store. Welcome to Cadillac!
Unfortunately, it does not seem to matter which part of the city you call home; the situation is similar. We have family who live in the city's most expensive area (highest home values, highest taxes). The street is replete with potholes, it is not plowed very much in the winter, and their vehicles have been egged with some regularity.
There are three distinct groups of people in Cadillac; one group is comprised of redneck locals who collect disability, spend all their money at the topless bar or the night club, and go home to the trailer park. The other major group is comprised of executives and retirees who came to the area for the "quaint atmosphere," go to work and/or to the country club, and return to their posh homes on the lakes. The third, most insidious, group is comprised of SUV-driving tourists who cannot seem to find M-115, assume pedestrians have the right of way, and remark on how gloriously cheap everything is as they break out their credit cards. There is a fourth group: those poor souls who are stuck in the middle, who go to work, go to church, mow their lawns, and try to be decent citizens. Unfortunately, they are being slowly weeded out by the other groups, and they are learning to live with the chaos or to leave the area.
Perhaps Cadillac could be a great place to live again. Unfortunately, the middle class is disappearing. Unemployment is currently 10 percent.
Marion, MI
Good Town For Retirees? -
7/22/2008This is a good town for retirees and others without dependent children who have plenty of free time and a financially independent lifestyle.
The local fairgrounds include a system of paved bike/walking paths that follow the river. There is very little traffic on these paths, for the most part. On the other side of town, there is a decent pond/lake with a dam; beware, the locals usually congregate here on hot days.
Local establishments include 2 bars, a grocery store, 2 gas stations,a hardware store, a very decent clothing shop, a video store, a newspaper office, a library, a corner diner, and a wonderful and inexpensive ice cream stand.
Unfortunately, the locals in general leave much to be desired. There is almost no economy in Marion, and Meth labs abound. We learned not to leave our trash at the curb overnight, as it was regularly compromised. Some shredded checks were stolen from our trash and were actually accepted at a local business. Granted, there are very wonderful, respectable people in Marion, but they are often overshadowed by the other sort of people. It may be a good idea to live a little way outside the village limits.
There is a large Amish population, which adds to the country charm, provided you are in no hurry on the roads.
If you are working-age, keep in mind that the average daily commute is 30 miles each way...which is also the distance to the closest "big box" store (e.g., Wal-Mart, Meijer).
McBain, MI
Old-Fashioned Small Town Atmosphere -
2/7/2008McBain is an extremely conservative agricultural community. While there has been some influx of new residents in recent years, the population is still largely descended from Dutch settlers who arrived in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Naturally, family and/or business networking is recommended for social and financial success.
Pros: beautiful countryside, terrific soil for gardening (anything will grow there!), well-maintained houses and yards (much better than surrounding communities of similar size), safe/secure environment for raising children; local convenience store sells general merchandise, groceries, tobacco, pkg. liquor, and provides movie rentals; city has bank, pharmacy, coffee shop, and 2 very decent restaurants.
Cons: nearly all businesses closed Sundays and evenings; some people may be uncomfortable with lack of personal privacy inherent in small town; commuting out of town for work necessary for most people; city lacks dedicated grocery store; prevalence of dairy farming leads to unsavory air quality; travel delays likely [due to farm equipment on main roads].