Petoskey : Michigan

Petoskey is a beautiful little town on Little Traverse Bay of Lake Michigan, in the northern part of the state. The downtown is exceptionally pretty, situated on hills overlooking the Bay. There are interesting shops and restaurants plus a nice park. It is definitely a resort town and a place where snowbirds come for the summer. The population is just under 6,000 and growing. The town seems larger than that. Nearby Harbor Springs is also beautiful and considered part of the "Metro".

There are many choices for baby boomers looking to retire in Petoskey or nearby Harbor Springs (which is even more affluent). You can live in a single family home in a nice neighborhood and walk to town. There are active communities located to the north, many of which offer golf, tennis, even skiing. The same goes for south of town along the Bay.  In the spring of 2017 the Zillow Home Value Index was $214,800, up 8% from the previous year and slightly higher than the national Index.

Its setting along the lake and high on a hill is spectacular. The downtown is exceptionally nice. So are the many communities or neighborhoods you can live in. The boating, the biking (there is a 28 mile trail along the Bay), the golf and other activiites are excellent.  This part of Michigan is really nice and unspoiled.

Winters are cold and summers short. It is a long drive to bigger towns in southern Michigan.

At least a third of Petoskey homes are occupied by snowbirds or used as second homes. People from all over the country come here for the lifestyle, which is very active. The county voted Republican in the 2016 election.

Tourism and retirement drives the economy.

Petoskey is the east side of Lake Michigan near its top.  The average Jan temp is 20F. and the average Jul temp is in the high 60s. Saginaw (MI) is 140 miles away.

There are a number of restaurants and coffee shops in the downtown area.  The library is well-funded with an annual budget of $1.1 million. North Central Michigan College is located here.