What's the Detroit MI area like?

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sound_envision

Having moved here from Long Island, NY a few years back, I think someone who isn't from here could have a more objective opinion.

I have grown quite fond of Metro Detroit. It is far more diverse than I ever imagined it would be. There is, however, a certain amount of segregation in Metro Detroit. Hamtramck, a city surrounded by Detroit has a large Polish and Russian population, as well as many others from central-eastern Europe, while Highland Park, another autonomous city inside Detroit is largely African American and Chaldean. Besides for African Americans, the largest groups of minorities seem to be of Middle Eastern and Asian descent. There seems to be a sort of racial divide between the city of Detroit proper and the suburbs. . I'm not familiar with Grosse Pointe really, but as for Royal Oak and the surrounding cities it is a particularly well integrated area.

The economy statewide, especially in the Detroit area, is definitely in a rut. All the automakers are based in this area, and as a result of the downturn in the auto industry many, many jobs have been lost.

The cost of living is a lot less expensive than New York, for sure, and I'm sure it's cheaper than Seattle. Taxes are lower, rent is reasonable. My fiancee and I currently live in a large one bedroom near downtown Royal Oak and we pay $655 a month with heat and water included.

The quality of life is decent here despite economic troubles. The whole metro area (which is quite large and consisting of upwards of four million people) has an oddly small town feel to it. I'll run into someone miles and miles away from here and then a few days later pass them on the street or in a store. People are very friendly for the most part. There are jerks everywhere, of course, but mostly people seem to be easy going and warm. It pleases me to see that people like to be themselves and are not afraid to be seen pursuing "geeky" hobbies... (astronomy, playing music on a street corner, collecting things, artists, bird watchers, trainspotters, etc...). The music scene is very good and a lot of important groups hailed from this area.

The weather... well, the weather really is great. That is, when it is not the middle of winter. Winter is occasionally brutal. Spring in Metro Detroit is almost awe inspiring. I love Summer and Fall (although, believe it or not, Summer here is VERY HOT). Other than that, I can't complain. I also find that my allergies are nowhere to be found since we've moved here.

Consider Detroit, really. I think it has received a far worse rap than it deserves. Sure it has its problems, but so does every city. Once the economic problems get better this place will have a renaissance.

Shizzle

yeah shitty economy but it's nice...just go to lots of red wings games!!!!!!!!!

G.Story

Man , Detroit is not a ghost town , or none of that . Its just as dirty as other big cities, and yes it has it's fair share of crime. But show me one large inner city that doesnt ? NYC has crime but does that take away from the city ? No it is still a great city. Alot of folks are scared of Detroit, because the black population. And you know what ? That is their fault cause they are just holding themselves back.

Now Wayne State is a great school, and in a great area . The Mid-town area which right now is in a renovation of somewhere in the billions, it's safe, and has it's own police force that works the area. Your not too far from downtown , and your really in the center of everything, and that is a very diverse community right there.

Grosse-pointe is nice, historical as stated in the 1st post, nice quality of life, it is a nice suburb , not too far from the city, but it does have racism , i mean one thing the poster above stated correctly is ; Yes Southeastern Michigan is segregated , but not in the sense of how people would have you think , but in the sense of whites stay in the suburbs and blacks in the city. Although it is alot of blacks throughout the area. Overall Detroit has alot to offer, but you have to be willing to go and discover the city and explore cause it has a rich history. We have our bad parts as well , name me one major city that doesnt ? Only bad thing is the weather, and the roads, worst roads in the world if you ask me.

Ashley B

i always go there to visit family and personally i think its a wonderful beautiful place, its not violent, cos that's DOWNTOWN detroit, but michigan is all families and quietness very good....

SadToday22

Detroit is in transition right now. Michigan is the poorest state in our country right now because of our auto industry is crumbling right before our eyes and the fact that the State's government funding has forgotten to invest in education.

MSU is located in East Lansing, which is a very nice area. Wayne State is also in an ok area, they've tried to make it that way to appeal to students more.

Diversity is pretty big in Michigan because in Detroit black is more popular than white, within the city limits.

Cost of living is ridiculous compared to the amount of wages earned, but it's not as bad as like California or NYC or anything like that, and actually right now you could get a house for WAY cheap because there are soooo many foreclosures.

Quality of life is what you make it. Detroit does have a lot to offer for entertainment.....lots of sports arenas close together (Joe Louis, Comerica Park, Ford Field, Cobo, etc) a ton of night clubs, it's a stone's throw to Winser, some awesome jazz/blues clubs, Greek Town is awesome, unfortunately there are also a ton of run-down, burnt down buildings that the city is trying to re-vamp. Detroit has recently had a huge scandal involving their major (Kwami Kilpatrick) that stemed from missing funds (he used city money to buy "hood rich" vehicles for himself and his family, crazy parties) that they estimate was over $1 million wasted, text messages involving an affair, and even a missing person (a stripper that all of a sudden doesn't exist.....) and cop-bribery, so they kicked him out of office. He dug Detroit in a deeper hole, he was a literal thug....very corrupt.

Weather is terrible in my opnion but I don't like snow or cold weather at all. Right now it is -15 out and w/ the wind chill it is actually -30 out. Yeah, that's COLD! We generally get a lot of snow. Our summers probably average 70-80 degree days and our rain varies. Some years are really dry (this last one was, BUT we got a lot of snow to make up for it) and others it rains a lot.

I personally don't see a lot of racism in Michigan. Michigan is very much a melting pot, pretty diverse and open minded for the most part.

I'd say people here are OK on nice-level. We are not super friendly and courtious like in the South. People down south open doors, say "Yes sir, No ma'am", etc.....we generally are not that nice, but if you've ever been to NY, we are WAY nicer than them!

Michigan will be a good thriving state in the near future, it's just very hard right now. Did you know 80% of college students and college grads between the ages of 18-26 leave this state? It's because there are not many jobs, but that is ever changing. I wish I would have left here but it's because I hate the weather. Most people don't mind it so bad, I just can't stand it. However, I do believe in this state and want to be part of making it a better place, so here I stay. I do like Detroit, it's a fun place to hang out, especially in the summer time. In fact, I may go there to the car show @ Cobo this weekend. Ann Arbor, K-zoo and Lansing are all fun college towns too. We are way different from West Coasters but I think in a good way ;-)

Princess Arwen

Sorry but i am not familiar with that area. As far as I have heard most of Detroit is very industrial. But surely there are areas that are an exception. I am in Florida and I like it here. :)

Dubya

Its lovely and historic. Nice people and its not racist whatsoever. Economy is shite because everywhere is life is nice there.
Just the Lions are a bit crap!! lol

Sanchan

I'm a lifetime Detroit Red Wings fan...but that's ALL I like regarding Michigan. I been thru the state and around. The Points area is nice. Royal Oak ain't so bad. St. Claire Shores is very nice (big bucks though). The economy ALL over the state sucks dogdicks! AVOID the U.P. ( Da Yoopee) at all costs unless you LOVE super cold weather, black flies, and tons of potholes. Alas, unless you have a death wish...AVOID DETROIT at all costs! I could not get out of that city faster than Superman could fly!!! Get used to words/phrases like: The Thumb, The Mitt, Trolls, Yoopers, The Big Mac (The Mackinac bridge), da place we go on vacation, and pasties. Good luck!

Sweet_Di

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grosse_Pointe,_Michigan

http://www.wunderground.com/US/MI/Grosse_Pointe.html

bleacherbrat34

the roads are really bad. The roads are filled with pot hole size of a small car.
The roads are not properly mark since most of the street signs are missing. The street lights do not work in most of the city.
those repairs will NOT be done since the state is lacking funding.

the Police do NOT show up when they are needed.
CAR thefts are the rise in the city and in the Gross Ponites,.

I say study someplace else due to the fact he cost of tuition has and still rising beyond the what the degree is worth.

Duchess of Grapes

Well, coming from a small town just north of Detroit (although I'm currently living in Chicago), I think I can give you a good idea. It is a good place to live if you are looking for an adventure. Detroit is basically a ghost town on it's way to the ground. It's dangerous, dirty, run down, segregated, and although it's cheap, the crime rate is way up. You'd be better off going to Michigan State. Lansing is small and there's isn't tons to do, but it's nice enough. It'll be a change from Seattle. People are going to be much more focused on the Blue Collar way of living, might not be as open-minded as you think they might be, but pretty much all us Mid-Westerners are really friendly people. I'd check out some of the North Eastern colleges. A little bit more expensive, but a much more advanced society. Good luck!

fireflykerry

Detroit is an unsafe place to be at.

Anywhere outside of Detroit is good though.

sexybichbigdick

wall lot better than SEATTLE a social city but still very bad it cold no jobs muggers, Dont walk in detroit that will rob you. grosse point is a very high end sub of detroit. Detroit dont go south of 8 mile unless you in points. all black south of 8 mile mostly white north of 8 mile. BUT don't every one has there one views on raceism. cost of living about average with the rest of US. Quality of life is what you make of it fallow the rules/ law . well it cold snow weather look on yahoo weather. they not as nice as PENN but ok . NO JOBS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

seattle would be like the same weather except i guess not as rainier. the economy is bad. its dirty but ok... lol people nice? all the crimnials live there because the thugs make it bad. i wish it was like a very clean, nice city if there werent thugs

Christopher B

Wouldn't live in Detroit at all nor it's suburbs. I find myself only living in Ann Arbor if I was attending University of Michigan- Ann Arbor. If your going to attend MSU I would recommand to stay in Lansing, or at least the area... on the plus side it seems like Lansing is making large improvements.

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