THESE 3 MICHIGAN CITIES ARE AMONG 50 BEST PLACES TO LIVE IN US, ACCORDING TO MONEY

In a country full of shining cities, soulful suburbs and up-and-coming boomtowns and cultural hubs, Michigan has three of the best, according to Money, a personal finance website.

Money listed Detroit and Kalamazoo as two of the 50 Best Places to Live in the U.S. in 2024, with a special mention to Ferndale as a suburb worthy of recognition.

For the past 30 years, Money has been evaluating the best cities in the U.S. based off of data alone, but this year, other criteria, like thoughtful policy, civic engagement, and community spirit, were taken into account.

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"This year’s Best Places to Live isn’t just about numbers. We chose 50 cities and towns that offer affordability, good schools, and strong job markets. But more than that, these are places with a palpable spirit, nurtured and sustained by engaged citizens and receptive public officials," the article states.

More: Michigan city is No. 4 in best places to live in US, according to Fortune

Here's why Money chose Detroit, Kalamazoo, and Ferndale as three of the best cities to live in the U.S. in 2024.

Detroit is an unexpected boomtown

Detroit was a symbol of urban decay for decades, but as Money states: "The city has mounted one of the most successful comeback stories we’ve seen in the last quarter of a century."

Despite the city declaring bankruptcy in 2013, Detroit's 620,376 residents are predicted to see higher wages and lower unemployment in the coming years, according to economic predictions by the University of Michigan. Detroit's unemployment rate is already at 2.6%, lower than Michigan's average, according to Money. And between Detroit's new Down Payment Assistance Program and the popular 0% Interest Home Repair Loan Program, the city has helped to make housing — which Money says is at a relatively cheap average of $85,000 — even more affordable for low-income residents.

Detroit has also worked on several projects to rebuild and revitalize the city, such as the bike-friendly Joe Louis Greenway, the riverfront Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Centennial Park coming in 2025, and the incoming Hudson's Site retail space, where the old Hudson Building used to tower above downtown. The city is also investing to improve its Paradise Valley cultural district and reinvigorate the historically Black neighborhood, according to Money, with new focuses on Black music and arts.

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Combined with some beloved Detroit classics, like the Motown Museum, Detroit Institute of Arts, and the Eastern Market, the city has become a hub of activity, culture, and community.

Kalamazoo is a city with arts and crafts galore

Money characterizes Kalamazoo with an "eclectic, quirky vibe," due mostly to the wide range of crafty activities that can be found across the city.

Classic American art and sculpture are held in the Kalamazoo Institute of Art, while other unique art forms are taught at places like the Book Arts Center, which teaches papermaking, calligraphy, and letterpress, and Glass Art Kalamazoo, which teaches glassblowing. Once a month from May through October, Vintage in the Zoo brings artisan creators and lovers to hunt for the perfect handmade good to add to their collection — or an eye-catching vintage piece, of course. Several breweries, like Bell's Brewery, Brewery Outré, and Brite Eyes Brewing Co., complement the city's artsy energy with crafty beers.

Just north of the city, the Kalamazoo Nature Center provides a good place for all those artists to get out of the studio and into nature, complete with a 1,100-acre forest and wetlands area, interactive science displays, and a butterfly garden.

On the more practical side of things, "KZoo" also has a relatively inexpensive cost of living and decent, affordable, uncrowded housing, according to Money, with a median home price of $235,000 and an unemployment rate of 3.20%. Kalamazoo is also working to tackle real community issues, with the nationally recognized Kalamazoo Promise that covers the college tuitions of students who graduate from any Kalamazoo public schools — a first-of-its-kind program that began in 2005.

More: Kalamazoo moms can apply to get $7,500 next year. What to know.

Another is the Northside Association for Community Development, described by Money as an advocacy group trying to repair the lingering effects of racially discriminatory housing policies and other long-standing inequities in one of Kalamazoo’s majority Black neighborhoods. The Northside Association owns several blocks of city property and is currently developing them into affordable rental and single-family housing while hosting other community enrichment events.

Ferndale is a suburb with soul

As a bonus, Money also lists Ferndale as a "hip enclave" a straight shot up Woodward Avenue from downtown Detroit.

Even when the annual DIY Street Fair and Ferndale Pride Festival — which counts itself as the largest LGBT+ event in the state — aren't in town, Ferndale is known for its chic scene packed with all-things-artisan, from the clothes to the art to the beers. The Rust Belt Market, the Vogue Vintage Shop, and Found Sound records stick out as some of Ferndale's most notable shops, scattered within walking distance of other restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and theaters.

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Additionally, affordable housing is Ferndale's "cherry on top," according to Money; while not quite as cheap as Detroit, the Ferndale's median home price is $240,000, well below the national average and most other cities that made Money's Best Places to Live 2024 list.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: These 3 Michigan cities are among 50 Best Places to Live in US, according to Money

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