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| What Ann Arbor is like for active adults |
One of America's most famous college towns is Ann Arbor, Michigan (population just over 115,000). It is home to the University of Michigan, whose 40,000 students dominate the town (in a nice way) culturally, economically, and demographically. The city has strict zoning regulations which make life difficult for developers but result in an extremely pleasant small town environment. Many alumni and midwesterners choose it to be their retirement community for these reasons.
The downtown is vital and varied. The downtown is widely used by surrounding communities as the center for dining out, entertainment, and artistic performances, There are music stores, sidewalk cafes, bars, bookstores, and shops. Sports fans can cheer the Big 10 sports events held in Ann Arbor. Its name supposedly comes from a combination of the wives of the city's founders (both named Ann), and for the many groves of trees throughout the city.
The housing choices for retirees are quite varied. Its residential neighborhoods have a range of architectural styles, from classic 19th and early 20th-century designs in the older parts of town to ranch style homes further out. There is a university related retirement community, University Commons, plus many other developments and assisted living facilities that retirees would find desirable.
The median price of homes in Ann Arbor are about the highest of anywhere in Michigan. According to Yahoo Real Estate the MLS median asking price of 2,255 Ann Arbor homes offered for sale in late 2007 was $249,900. There were 1061 homes in the classified listings with a median price of $274,500. |
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| What is special about this community |
| • “Tree Town” and 147 municipal parks
• Traditional college town integrating “gown and town”
• A variety of housing choices for retirees
• University of Michigan culture and Big 10 sports
• Multiple neighborhoods to live in |
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| What is not special about this community |
| Traffic and overdevelopment can be a problem. It gets cold in the winter |
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| What kinds of people like living here |
| Ann Arbor attracts a community of retirees who want to live in a university town with a thriving and livable downtown. |
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| Local economy is driven by |
| The economy is diverse, with the primary drivers being education, high-tech, health care, and biotechnology. The University employs about 30,000 people. Pfizer is the second largest employer, and many other nationally firms have their headquarters here. |
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| Physical environment |
| Ann Arbor is located in rolling hills on the Huron River. It is an agricultural and fruit growing region |
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| Cultural environment |
| The University has created a very liberal community with a thriving artistic, literary, musical, and intellectual scene. Performing arts groups include the Ann Arbor Civic Theatre; the Arbor Opera Theater; the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra; the Ann Arbor Ballet Theater; and the Ann Arbor Civic Ballet. The university offers museums. There are three theaters in town: the State Theatre, Hill Auditorium, and the Michigan Theatre (plays, films, and the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra). Ann Arbor ranks first in the U.S. in terms of books sold per capita. There are a number of festivals |
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| Medical facilities |
| St .Joseph Mercy Hospital. University of Michigan Health System |
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| Transportation |
| Willow Run Airport is 16 miles away in Detroit. Detroit Metropolitan Airport is 28 miles. Amtrak service |
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Active Adult Communities in Ann Arbor |
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| Ann Arbor Active Communities |
| Facts about ANN ARBOR | | State | : MI | | Environment | : College Town, | | City Population | : 100,001+ | | Median age of Population | : 25-44 | | Avg Jan Temperature | : 21-40 | | Median HH Income | : 41,001-60,000 | | Average Home Price (MLS) | : $200,001-$300,000 | | Annual Property Tax on a $200,000 house | : NA | | Total Crime Index | : <80 (Very low) | | Cost of Living Index | : 101-110 (slightly above average) | | Culture Index | : 111-120 (high) | | State Sales Tax | : | | State Income Tax | : | | Name of the Guide | : |
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Vote on the Ratings for Ann Arbor |
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Update Your Ratings |
Overall Retirement Ratings
1. Rating: 0.0/5 ( 0 votes cast)
Expense:
Inexpensive to Luxury
2. Rating: 0.0/5 ( 0 votes cast)
Taxes:
Inexpensive to Expensive
3. Rating: 0.0/5 ( 0 votes cast)
Culture:
None to Cosmopolitan
4. Rating: 0.0/5 ( 0 votes cast)
Recreation:
None to Summer camp
5. Rating: 0.0/5 ( 0 votes cast)
Transportation:
Boondocks to World Hub
6. Rating: 0.0/5 ( 0 votes cast)
Security:
Dangerous to Ft. Knox
7. Rating: 0.0/5 ( 0 votes cast)
Medical Facilities:
None to Excellent
8. Rating: 0.0/5 ( 0 votes cast)
Political Situation:
Conservative to Liberal
9. Rating: 0.0/5 ( 0 votes cast)
Environmental:
Oblivious to Ultra-Green
10. Rating: 0.0/5 ( 0 votes cast)
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