The rest of the world is taking notice of something we’ve known for a very long time: Ann Arbor is one of the best places to live in the country.

That’s right: Tree Town recently appeared towards the very top of Niche’s list of The Best Cities to Live in America in 2022. The city came in sixth place, only behind Overland Park, Kansas (#5), Arlington, Virginia (#4), Naperville, Illinois (#3), Cambridge, Massachusetts (#2), and The Woodlands, Texas (#1). The ranking specifically looked at major cities with populations above 100,000.

Surprisingly (but perhaps not so surprisingly), many of the top-ranking cities were also some of the lesser-known cities in the country, with more widely known cities, such as Seattle, San Francisco, and Pittsburgh, appearing a bit lower on the list.

Niche used a number of different factors to determine the ranking, pulling in data from the U.S. Department of Education, the Census Bureau, the FBI, and public-sentiment polling. Factors included education, the cost of living, crime rates, and the overall satisfaction from current residents.

Ann Arbor scored highly in all categories, especially when looking at public schools, affordable home prices, and the city’s high employment rate. Let’s see just how well Ann Arbor fared in each of the major categories!

Education

When you think “education” in Ann Arbor, the University of Michigan is probably top of mind. And while our university culture landed us at the top of WalletHub’s list of the Best College Towns & Cities in America, it’s our excellent public schools that gave Ann Arbor high marks this time around. In fcct, Ann Arbor is at the #4 spot on another Niche list, Cities With the Best Public Schools in America.

Ann Arbor schools that received the coveted “A+” ranking include Pioneer High School (9-12), Huron High School (9-12), Skyline High School (9-12), Community High School (9-12), Clague Middle School (6-8), Angell Elementary School (K-5), Martin Luther King Elementary School (K-5), and Wines Elementary School (K-5). These high-ranking elementary, middle and high schools make Ann Arbor an excellent place to raise a family. In fact, the city ranks as one of the Best Cities to Raise a Family in America too!

Cost of Living

According to Salary.com, the cost of living in Ann Arbor is 6.7% higher than the national average. The city came in lower than the national average in costs related to energy, food, and transportation, and was above average in housing.

According to PayScale, the median home price in Ann Arbor is $407,378 and median rent is $1,276/month. While Ann Arbor is not the most affordable city in the country, it is certainly less expensive than some other major cities throughout the country, including San Francisco, Washington, D.C., Miami, Chicago, Boston, and New York.

Plus, higher costs are offset by a competitive and thriving job market. Within the last year, the job market has increased by 1.3% and Ann Arbor’s unemployment rate is currently 3.7% (February 2022), which is below the national average of 3.8%. But perhaps most importantly, Ann Arbor’s job market is expected to increase by 38.1% over the next 10 years, compared to the projected U.S. average of 33.5%.

Crime Rates

The status of crime and safety plays an important role when determining a city’s livability. In all categories, Ann Arbor reported lower instances of both violent and property crimes than the national average. The number of assault, murder and robbery crimes were well below half the national average, and burglary, theft, and motor vehicle theft also occur way less often in Ann Arbor, compared to the national average.

Overall Satisfaction

Statistics aside, sometimes it’s the residents’ own lived experiences that are the most compelling. And if Ann Arbor was a restaurant or hotel, it is nearly five stars! Out of the 533 reviews Niche collected, 231 were Excellent (five stars) and 223 were Very Good (four stars).

Our agents agree! Take a look at just a handful of the many reasons our agents love living in Ann Arbor. There’s so much to love about the city, from its artsy culture to family-friendliness and access to outdoor recreation to the variety of restaurant options.

Other Factors

In addition to the major categories mentioned above, Niche also looked at local commutes, which includes the length and access to public transportation, the diversity of the population, the health and fitness of its residents, the job opportunities, and housing costs. Ann Arbor performed well in all categories, which helped the city secure the #6 spot on the list!

Looking to Move to This Top-Ranking City?

We don’t blame you! Our agents are extremely knowledgeable about the Ann Arbor area and can help you navigate the homebuying process every step of the way. Contact us to get connected to one of our agents.

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