Michigan has something for everyone, from small-town living and thousands of miles of shoreline to groovin’ through urban streets and exciting community festivals. It’s not all sunshine and rainbows, though—you’ll also face unpredictable weather, some of the worst roads in the nation, and high insurance rates.

It’s worth taking some time to weigh the pros and cons of a place before you decide to move there, Michigan being no exception. This quintessential Midwestern state has heart, resiliency, and good humor and attracts a variety of lifestyles. However, not everyone will be charmed by all that the Mitten has to offer.

To help you decide if Michigan living is the move for you,

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Pro #1: Choose your own lifestyle

Life in the Mitten is widely varied, and you can just as easily settle your roots into a small, rural town as you can in a bustling city or a more mid-sized college town. And since four out of the five Great Lakes border this state, coastal regions and beaches abound.

If small, tight-knit rural is more your speed, head up to the Upper Peninsula (the “UP”). Towns like Copper Harbor have about 100 people each and are surrounded by gorgeous forests and mighty Lake Superior—though you may want to wait until late summer (or never) to actually swim in the chilliest and biggest Great Lake.

If your family is looking for a bustling suburb, join the four million residents of the Detroit Metropolitan area. Enjoy all the modern conveniences of the area including easy access to diverse food options, community experiences, shopping, museums, downtown apartments, and townhouses.

Many Michiganders love the midsize towns and college towns nestled in the central part of the state. These include Ann Arbor in the southeast, Kalamazoo in the west, and Grand Rapids, which is rapidly growing and gaining national attention.

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Con #1: Michigan drives…on horrible roads

If there is one top complaint across the state of Michigan, it just may be the roads. Potholes are a major problem between winter and spring as constant melting and refreezing causes ice to expand in the roads.

Ask any Michigan native about construction season (aka summertime), and you’ll likely be met with an exasperated sigh and stories of orange barrels as far as the eye can see.

And since there is a sorely lacking public transportation infrastructure, these bad roads are hard to avoid. Detroit was once the car manufacturing hub of the nation and as such, the Motor City and the rest of the state are heavily reliant on personal vehicles.

Michigan car insurance

prices are infamously high, costing consumers around $3,000 per year. Gas isn’t much better—the current average price for regular gasoline is about $0.11 higher than the national average.

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Pro #2: Affordable cost of living

Aside from the personal vehicle costs, the cost of living in Michigan is pretty affordable! Ranking as the 36th most expensive state (or 14th least expensive state), Michigan’s cost of living comes in at 91.3.

Compared to the national average (100) or other midwestern states like Wisconsin (96.4) and Minnesota (100), Michigan offers a relatively inexpensive life.

Healthcare is among the cheapest in the country, a two-bedroom apartment is about 20% cheaper than the national average, and the median home value nearly halves the rest of the US at $234,386.

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Con #2: Michigan weather can’t make up its mind

A running joke among Michiganders is that you could be wearing shorts and sandals for the first half of the day and then need to switch to a winter coat and long johns during the back half of the day. All that to say—Michigan weather is unpredictable.

Hail storms in July, 60°F on Christmas Day, snowstorms extending well into April, summer temps until late October, and the whiplash of significant daily temperature fluctuation are all common experiences. The state also suffers from relatively high humidity.

It’s also worth noting that winters can be quite harsh, especially on the west side of the state and the UP where they experience a lot of lake effect snow from Lake Michigan and Lake Superior.

That said, if you’re not a winter person or you’re looking to retire in a mild climate, Michigan may not be the place for you.

MORE: Does car insurance cover weather damage?

Pro #3: The Water Winter Wonderland is real

Don’t let the promise of inconsistent weather scare you away just yet. Many Michigan residents relish the state for its solid stay in all four seasons.

Though winter may feel like it stretches forever, you’ll also enjoy a few months each in the blooming spring, warming summer, and—sorry, New Englanders—the unmatched majesty of a Michigan autumn.

And there are outdoorsy things to do all year long! In summer, trek the

Sleeping Bear Dunes

before taking a refreshing dip in Lake Michigan or kayak along Lake Superior’s shoreline to get an up-close look at the

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Michigan has a ton of public golf courses, so take advantage of the cooler temperatures and ample natural beauty of the spring and fall to play a few rounds.

Finally, Michigan may not have mountains, but it does have a variety of big ski resorts and cross-country trails for snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, tubing, and more.

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Con #3: Travel times aren’t ideal

And when we say travel times, we’re not talking about your daily commute, which most people can do in about 25 minutes.

Instead, we’re talking about travel times throughout the state. Michigan offers a lot in ways of vacation destinations and sightseeing, but you’ll likely be spending a lot of time in the car if you want to see it all.

A drive from the southern part of the lower peninsula to the western tip of the upper peninsula has a drive time in the double-digit hours.

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Pro #4: Underrated foodie scene

There is so much good food throughout Michigan—and it doesn’t typically get a lot of national buzz, so you won’t have to fight through hordes of tourists to reach your meal.

Detroit Style pizza, the age-old divisive debate between the directly neighboring Lafayette and American Coney Islands, Polish Paczkis, Faygo, Vernors, Better Made chips…the list of Detroit delicacies goes on and on. But Detroit doesn’t have a monopoly on good food!

Since 1946, the UP’s

Lawry’s

has been cooking up traditional pasties, meat hand pies introduced by Cornish immigrants and a staple UP food ever since. Grand Rapids works closely with local farmers to produce fresh farm-to-table plates unmatched in the modern food scene.

Plus, you can go almost anywhere in Michigan in the fall time to get your hands on house-pressed apple cider and freshly baked donuts. Eat away, foodies!

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Midwest Foodie road trip

Con #4: Higher than average violent crime

Violent crime rates in Michigan are higher than the national average. Michigan has 4.73 violent crimes per 1,000 residents, while the national average is 4 per 1,000.

It is important to keep in mind that violent crime is more prevalent at certain times and in certain areas. Cities that experience the most crime in Michigan include Jackson, Muskegon Heights, Detroit, and Saginaw.

Check out the crime rate statistics for the specific communities you’re considering to see if you’ll be comfortable there.

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The best vehicle anti-theft devices to keep your car safe

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Pro #5: Festivals galore!

There is never a shortage of festivals, concerts, or community events happening around The Mitten. Michigan produces over 75% of the nation’s tart cherries, and to celebrate those mouthwatering morsels, we’ve seen 96 years of the

Traverse City Cherry Festival

! Try cherry barbeque sauce, hot cherry salsa, cherry sausage, or even cherry coffee.

Head to Holland in the spring for the

Tulip Time Festival

and see hundreds of thousands of tulips in bloom.

Pop over to Grand Rapids in late summer to early autumn to enjoy the international art competition of

ArtPrize

. Frankenmuth holds the

Zehnder’s Snowfest

each winter for snow and ice carving, fireworks, and more family activities.

If you like groovin’ and shakin’, you’ll have plenty of options there too. Detroit has the MoPop Music Festival,

Detroit Jazz Festival

, and

Dally in the Alley

. Get lost in never-ending canopies of lights and non-stop electronic music and jam bands at

Electric Forest

in Rothbury.

And hit the Michigan sports circuit at any time of year with four major league sports teams and plenty of spirit for collegiate sports as well!

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Con #5: Extra pricey tuition payments

All that school spirit might be halted here. While Michigan has excellent and varied opportunities for higher education, families are paying more in tuition than most of the rest of the country. In-state tuition in Michigan is among the highest in the US.

Average tuition costs easily exceed $6,500 per year, with many of the major universities charging nearly double that. If you’re not in school and don’t have any college-aged kids, this may not be an issue for you. On the other hand, if you will be dealing with tuition payments, you’ll likely see higher tuition costs and higher student debt in the end.

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How to bundle home and auto insurance to save money

Is Michigan a good state to live in?

All in all, Michigan is a great state to live in—but it’s not without its drawbacks. You may be very happy here if any of the following lands in your dream destination must-haves:

Ample natural beauty and outdoor recreation

Lifestyle variety

Affordable cost of living

Tons of festivals and community events

Good food

However, the Great Lakes State also has some of the highest car insurance rates in the nation paired with some of the worst roads. The weather can be harsh, tuition payments are high, and there is an above-average violent crime rate.

Thoroughly compare all of these pros and cons to decide if Michigan living is for you.

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How to find temporary car insurance in Michigan

How to upgrade your car insurance in Michigan

Are you reading this and thinking that everything in Michigan sounds great—except for the grossly high car insurance rates? Don’t let that scare you off!

Jerry

is here to make insurance payments more affordable no matter which state you call home.

Jerry is an insurance comparison app that shops for low prices with dozens of different insurance companies for free. You will get quotes in seconds, can make changes at any time, and if you ever have any questions, agents are just a text away!

“I was struggling to find an affordable deal in Detroit, MI because insurance here is so expensive. Working with
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FAQs

Does Michigan have a tornado season?

Yes, Michigan’s tornado season is between April and August and averages about 16 tornadoes per year.

Is Michigan racially diverse?

It depends on where you live. The state as a whole is 77.56% white, but you’ll find the most diversity in cities including Detroit, Southfield, Farmington, Grand Rapids, Battle Creek, and Dearborn.

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