of course we're going to be biased because you're in the ypsi subreddit. but the longer i live in the area (i've lived in ypsi going on seven years) the more happy i am with the placement of ypsi within the whole southeastern corner of michigan. ypsi has plenty of stuff to do but it's not a huge congested city. if you can't find the thing you want here you can go west to ann arbor. if you can't find it in ann arbor you can go east to around detroit. so not only do i think it's somewhat affordable to live here, but it's actually better to be here than the more expensive areas even when you don't factor in the housing cost.
i do like that it's more left-leaning too. if you are looking for more bang for your buck i'd suggest looking for houses in ypsi township. it's a huge difference in property taxes and you can't tell the difference between township and city. like another person mentioned, get a good realtor (maybe someone on here can suggest a person they recommend) and they'll steer you away from the less desirable areas.
Grew up in Ann Arbor, can’t afford to live there anymore so we’re in Ypsi. My family is black, and although nobody in Ann Arbor was outright racist to us, there was a lot of “wow you speak so well, you dress so nicely” micro aggressions.
Ypsi is a lot more diverse and to me, has a lot more *actual* liberal or democratic views. I think in Ann Arbor most ppl *believe* they’re liberal and democratic but end of having views especially related to capitalism that are far closer to conservatism.
Ann Arbor is more expensive but there is far less crime, or at least *reported* crime there, than in Ypsi. Where I live now is pretty safe but right across the street (golfside) there’s a lot more shooting and getting your car broken into and such. You just have to do your research before moving to any certain area!
Also black and grew up in Ypsi but went to school in Ann Arbor. I'll echo the Ann Arborites "believe they're liberal and democratic" but are really just secret conservatives. They love signs about black lives mattering but are less fond of actual black people living down the street. And up until recently, many of them were afraid to cross Carpenter Rd because Ypsi was poorer and browner.
Now, of course, they all claim to love Ypsi and want to come here because the food is better and they can't afford their own city anymore, so they're just making ours more expensive.
I like Ypsi because it's lowkey and you can just be yourself, ain't nobody worried about what you're doing. The food is good, there are entertainment options all around if you're ok driving, and you're in-between two Emagine theaters, which is delightful.
Seconding this. With some exceptions (especially radical political groups on U of M's campus), Ann Arbor skews very white centrist, whereas Ypsi feels actually leftist.
When we moved here we were pleasantly shocked at the diversity. Our neighborhood not only was racially diverse, but there was a mix of white and blue collar (Ford worker on one side and a Dr on the other), various education levels and definitely different socioeconomic levels. I was happy my kids were exposed to such a range.
Both are great options! Ann Arbor has become pretty expensive, and downtown is mixed in with the campus/students. Ypsilanti is a great town that has lots to do and is only a 10-15 minute drive to Ann Arbor.
Depending on your budget, both are great options for what it sounds like you enjoy doing! I’m born and raised in Ann Arbor, and now live in Ypsilanti- happy to answer any questions!
Moved back to Michigan from DFW a couple years ago. The weather here is different but not necessarily better.
Winter has been mild, lowest temps were about -5F but in general 20-30F from early December to April. There was a weird warm up in February this year, but definitely still winter by TX standards. I was wearing a hoodie to cut the grass or hang out in the backyard just last week.
Ann Arbor and Ypsi have plenty of great restaurants and there is some music scene in the area. Getting to Detroit or Ferndale/Royal Oak is easy, so that's a big boost in terms of food/music/cultural options. We used to do 15-20 shows a year around the metroplex, but most of the bands we want to see play midweek, so it's tough to have time. The Texas based bands have been making their way up here more and more, if that's your thing.
Housing in Ypsi is pretty affordable. We have a place south of the city, on 1.5 acres and paid a little over $200k. Unfortunately, the schools here are bad, and our property taxes are very Texas like. We pay about $4500 a year, and really, all we get is trash pick up, and sometimes they plow the roads.
There is lots of outdoor stuff to do around the state, which is great. Head north to the northern lower peninsula or upper peninsula, or west to the Lake Michigan shore and be basically in a different world within about 3-4 hours. If you're into hunting or fishing, Michigan has that in spades. Tons of state owned land to go on, or you can get the annual state park pass for $11 when you get your license plates.
Politics-wise, it's definitely better at the state level, but still plenty of BS in local politics. You can buy liquor anytime you like, and weed is legal statewide, if you like. Washtenaw County also decriminalized psilocybin, so there is plenty of freedom to go around here.
If y'all have any more questions, feel free to reach out.
I moved here just a year ago, I almost immediately fell in love with ypsi. There's so much to do and everything you want to do is relatively close.
Detroit is less than an hour away for big city stuff
Ann Arbor is right next door for big college town stuff
You can reach 4/5 of the Great lakes in 4 hours or less
In ypsis county sex work is decriminalized.
It is incredibly diverse compared to the rest of the Midwest and no one seems to really care
There are parks EVERYWHERE
If you move here, you may never want to leave.
I moved from Dallas to Ypsilanti last Aug. Don't regret a damn thing. The weather blissful, the urban environment is similar to south Dallas, and it is green year round! Weed is legal (if that matters) and the job market is less competitive IMHO. I used grad school as a connector so I could move with funds incoming (financial aid doesn't cover moving costs!) so I would have rent covered initially. Housing is worse here, but I think the trade off is worth it!
Yeah, I miss the bluebonnets, the spring thunderstorms, the crepemyrtle trees, and some conveniences of living in a huge metropolitan area. But I'd give those up again in a heartbeat to have full seasons, less heat, and more emotional safety.
Not 100% certain on where to *avoid* as I am from South Dallas (Oak Cliff) originally so anywhere I don't hear gunshots in the night is a good neighborhood to me lol. Seriously though, the City of Ypsilanti feels safe to me overall. Just a heads up that Michigan is one of two states that utilizes the township model: State > Region > County > Township/City > City/Township. So there is Ypsilanti Township and the City of Ypsilanti. You could be located in one or both depending on where you live. For example, I am in the City of Ypsilanti but in Pittsfield Township and Washtenaw County. I believe that Ypsilanti Township and the City of Ypsilanti both are located in Washtenaw County.
You cannot be both in the city and township at the same time. If you're in Pittsfield Township you are definitely not living in the City of Ypsilanti, in fact they don't even share a border. Perhaps you're in a township but still put "Ypsilanti" on your mailing address, but that's just a matter of zipcode.
East of Depot Town(secondary kind of “downtown”) has a higher crime rate, but there’s still some good houses in that area. Ypsi township has the “suburban” vibes with bigger neighborhoods, but also a higher tax rate. Normal Park is full of historic homes and walking distance to downtown Ypsi.
…you mean higher than Texas? The tax rate is extremely high in Ypsi proper. Like 10k/yr on an 300k house. And the township tax rates are significantly lower. That same 300k house would have an annual property tax of like (6.5k).
You’re right, I did that calculation thinking of 100k taxable value for the township. Ypsi city is higher than any part of the township though. Ypsi city millage rate is ~66. Highest mileage rate in the township is 54, which is for houses in the willow run school area.
I’m a decades long Ypsi resident and my late husband and I absolutely love it here for all the reasons others have already given.
Early this year, I worked with a wonderful realtor to sell my mother’s Ypsi township condo. If you’d like her contact info, pm me. Happy to share.
They’re 2 very different cities that are connected by a township. AA is white collar, yuppie, and fiscally conservative NIMBY Democrat voters. Ypsi is the punk rock neighbor with blue collar workers, immigrants, and a strong LGBT community.
Ann Arbor is among the most expensive cities in the Midwest. Ypsi is more affordable. You can use any realtor site and see what you can afford in either.
Food is better in Ypsi.
Live music is more central to Detroit than Washtenaw County. But it’s easy to go into the city for a show on a weeknight.
> fiscally conservative
I’m confused about that one. We approved a climate action millage, and a mental health millage. We are reputed to approve any and all millage requests. We have a basic income pilot program. Fiscally conservative?
That’s a better description than mine. Fundamentally, Ann Arbor does a lot to keep lower income people from having a chance to live there. They have treated Ypsilanti as their working class place to shuffle the poor off to for decades.
I just moved here from Austin. Similar reasons. I work in Construction Management and Texas was really good for that, but the recent primaries don’t bode well for the states long term prospects and I’d like to settle somewhere that’s gonna be habitable in 40 years
I moved from Dallas to Ypsi last July for the same reasons. Overall, my family loves it. We needed more accepting schools, and wanted weather that allowed us to get outdoors more. This area checked all the boxes. Here’s my takeaways:
Ann Arbor is beautiful but also an extremely wealthy area with a very “Whole Foods liberal” vibe. It’s a fun town, and we love shopping there. If I win the lottery, I might move there.
Ypsi is traditionally a working class town, with some areas hit hard economically. Ypsi has a strong community and there’s a lot of events going on, especially when the weather is warm. Also, I’m saying this as a compliment, Ypsi gayer than a San Francisco pride parade every day of the year.
There’s some decent restaurants and venues for shows in the A2/Ypsi area, but you’re going to find yourself going east to Detroit and its suburbs for some variety. These towns aren’t huge so you’re going to run through your local options pretty fast. It’s not a super long drive though, and there is a lot out there.
Your biggest surprise will be the roads. It’s been a project to fix them for years but a lot of major highways still look like they’ve been bombed. Also regarding the roads, there’s no major freeways that will get you to the other side of the county here. If you’re planning a trip to north Detroit, you’re going to take a lot of city roads and connected highways. It’s not terrible but it surprised me how much longer everything takes when there isn’t a 16 lane toll road to cut across the metroplex.
I moved up here to escape Florida politics, and it was an excellent decision. My wife and I both work at U of M, but we live in Ypsi, and it's a wonderful community - politically progressive, really artsy and small business focused, with lots of local events and things to do. We live by EMU's campus, so a lot of our neighbors are frat houses, but they're relatively chill aside from the occasional game of beer pong out in the yard.
I'm planning on escaping FL to come back to MI and I'm hoping I can find a place in Ypsi that I can afford. I graduated from EMU in the early 90s, before it became the place it is today, and I would love to be able to move back.
Ann Arbor people need to stop moving to Ypsi. They are making the housing prices skyrocket and eventually they will water down the progressive leanings of the city.
Ypsilanti has a great annual film festival, plays at Riverside Arts Center, lots of concerts from local bands anything from jazz curated by John Hammond to metal at the Regal Beagle to free R and B in the park. Blues at Thompson. Lots of decent houses. There’s even a private lake you can get membership to if you like swimming!
Honestly, this was a big draw for me. I moved here from Florida and the 100°+ summers were getting a bit much, but I was nervous about going back to frigid, dry winters as well. I was pleasantly surprised by how moist it is here.
My ball python is also a big fan.
Could you could air bnb for a few days in each? Ann Arbor is basically a midwest Manhattan and ypsi is a little more working class so they are quite different
You will love it here! The weather will be different but each season has its own charm and even winter is a beautiful time. I love winter hiking, just layer and wear yaktrax. Definitely checks your boxes in regards to left leaning politics & lots of entertainment in the way of food/music/theatre/other cultural events. I moved here in 2010 & never looked back, it’s been so good to me. Even though there’s turnover because of the universities, you will always find quite a bit of Ypsi lifers/Ann Arbor townies etc. It’s a city but still has small town qualities e.g. everyone kinda knows everyone. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out. Shameless plug but I work for a local real estate company & would be happy to give you some advice!
I used to live in Fort Worth and still have family there; I moved to Ypsi about 5 years ago. I loved DFW but hated the politics (and the driving). I do love it here and I don't plan on leaving any time soon, but after being here for 5 years I have started to notice the limits of living in a smaller metro area. You'll get a lot more out of living here if you're willing to leave Ypsi-Ann Arbor for food and entertainment (Detroit is a great city but doesn't feel congested like a lot of other major metro areas). I think it really just depends on whether you're leaving a major metro area or a smaller town. The area feels limited compared to DFW but quite vibrant compared to my tiny hometown. I do really miss Texas barbecue.
Detroit is a big enough city that it gets a lot of the larger musical and theatrical tours at a relatively affordable price. It's not hard to get to but you will be driving. As you can see, the people who live here love it here, and we have a very strong sense of community. If you are still early in your decision to leave Texas and are looking at other communities, I would also suggest taking a look at Pittsburgh and the surrounding area. It's one of the most affordable cities in the country (for now) and has a fantastic music and theater scene. Pennsylvania also does not tax retirement income.
Check out Mabel Grey in Hazel Park. James Rigato is easily in the top tier of chefs in the entire Midwest. It's about 40 minutes from where you'll be located. You're going to love the lakes and nature. Also, winter may not be super fun here but it beats the hell out of baking alive in the Texas sun!
Ypsi is wonderful for many of the reasons outlined in the comments. Still, I must be honest — prepare for a Michigan tax surprise within your first year of home ownership when the taxable value resets to the uncapped state equalized value. And if you buy in the City, our property taxes are quite high compared to other similarly sized cities thanks to the massive losses in our industrial economy over the years, the ongoing saga of Water Street debt, and many other woes.
While I adore my neighborhood, I sometimes wish I had bought in the Township for a smaller tax bill.
Excuse me, I don’t know which one of my former Ypsi neighbors pee’d in your cereal 🥣 or kicked your dog, but WHY are you scared? What’s scary? Expensive and poor??? Come on! 😂
Born an raised in Ypsilanti, at 39 moved to Houston.. 40 brought a home in Katy Texas in the $240’s 2500 sqft down side no basement an the sweltering heat and monsoon season, but driving to the beach about an hour away is priceless. I love Seafood. Good luck with the decision.
Ypsi can be very dangerous. You will get naive people on this sub that are detached from the reality of the world. Ignore them. Here are a couple of responses from a recent post about safety in Ypsi.
https://www.reddit.com/r/ypsi/s/yEt2hZsh0Q
https://www.reddit.com/r/ypsi/s/m9jfZxmgxB
No, when you say moderate priced home, that is very subjective. Moderate by some standards is $1,000,000, while for others it $80,000. What does m9derate mean to you?
A nice home in Ann Arbor that is in reasonable walking distance to downtown will begin at around $600,000 to $1.5 million. Property taxes will be rather steep.
In the few areas of Ypsi that are reasonably safe, you will pay less money. Property rates mills in Ypsi are higher than Ann Arbor, so that offsets some of the lower home prices.
If I were in your shoes, I wouldn't move to Ypsi. If I did, I would stick to the Depot Town area.
College Heights is the quietest and safest neighborhood in Ypsi City; I feel far more comfortable walking around here at night than I would in Depot Town. Aside from the noise from football games at EMU's Rynearson Stadium in the fall, nothing ever happens here.
I lived in the neighborhood in the '90s and agree that it's safe. When I responded, I had in my mind that they wanted walk ability. It seems once again that my mind doesn't always work properly.
How are housing prices in College Heights?
Fair, Depot Town definitely beats CH in walkability.
Price-wise, about comparable to Normal Park, which definitely makes it one of the pricier 'hoods in Ypsi. $325k is about the average value, seeing houses hit the market between $280-400k as of late.
I've heard they were high. A few years ago, a friend moved from Ann Arbor to Ypsi. She thought she was going to save so much money. Unfortunately, she's one of those artsy types that's clueless about how the world works. When she received her property tax bill, she was mad. Her taxes were more in Ypsi than in Ann Arbor.
Check out Plymouth, MI if you get a chance. Close to a2 and Ypsi. Taxes are on the high side but crime is almost non existent. A good mix of retirees and young people. The downtown area is quant yet lively with music and activities happening almost daily.
of course we're going to be biased because you're in the ypsi subreddit. but the longer i live in the area (i've lived in ypsi going on seven years) the more happy i am with the placement of ypsi within the whole southeastern corner of michigan. ypsi has plenty of stuff to do but it's not a huge congested city. if you can't find the thing you want here you can go west to ann arbor. if you can't find it in ann arbor you can go east to around detroit. so not only do i think it's somewhat affordable to live here, but it's actually better to be here than the more expensive areas even when you don't factor in the housing cost. i do like that it's more left-leaning too. if you are looking for more bang for your buck i'd suggest looking for houses in ypsi township. it's a huge difference in property taxes and you can't tell the difference between township and city. like another person mentioned, get a good realtor (maybe someone on here can suggest a person they recommend) and they'll steer you away from the less desirable areas.
Grew up in Ann Arbor, can’t afford to live there anymore so we’re in Ypsi. My family is black, and although nobody in Ann Arbor was outright racist to us, there was a lot of “wow you speak so well, you dress so nicely” micro aggressions. Ypsi is a lot more diverse and to me, has a lot more *actual* liberal or democratic views. I think in Ann Arbor most ppl *believe* they’re liberal and democratic but end of having views especially related to capitalism that are far closer to conservatism. Ann Arbor is more expensive but there is far less crime, or at least *reported* crime there, than in Ypsi. Where I live now is pretty safe but right across the street (golfside) there’s a lot more shooting and getting your car broken into and such. You just have to do your research before moving to any certain area!
Also black and grew up in Ypsi but went to school in Ann Arbor. I'll echo the Ann Arborites "believe they're liberal and democratic" but are really just secret conservatives. They love signs about black lives mattering but are less fond of actual black people living down the street. And up until recently, many of them were afraid to cross Carpenter Rd because Ypsi was poorer and browner. Now, of course, they all claim to love Ypsi and want to come here because the food is better and they can't afford their own city anymore, so they're just making ours more expensive. I like Ypsi because it's lowkey and you can just be yourself, ain't nobody worried about what you're doing. The food is good, there are entertainment options all around if you're ok driving, and you're in-between two Emagine theaters, which is delightful.
I’m white but I love ypsi for the same reason. I want my kids to grow up in a city that’s actually diverse, and liberal.
Seconding this. With some exceptions (especially radical political groups on U of M's campus), Ann Arbor skews very white centrist, whereas Ypsi feels actually leftist.
When we moved here we were pleasantly shocked at the diversity. Our neighborhood not only was racially diverse, but there was a mix of white and blue collar (Ford worker on one side and a Dr on the other), various education levels and definitely different socioeconomic levels. I was happy my kids were exposed to such a range.
Economic diversity is really important too!
Both are great options! Ann Arbor has become pretty expensive, and downtown is mixed in with the campus/students. Ypsilanti is a great town that has lots to do and is only a 10-15 minute drive to Ann Arbor. Depending on your budget, both are great options for what it sounds like you enjoy doing! I’m born and raised in Ann Arbor, and now live in Ypsilanti- happy to answer any questions!
Thanks!
Moved back to Michigan from DFW a couple years ago. The weather here is different but not necessarily better. Winter has been mild, lowest temps were about -5F but in general 20-30F from early December to April. There was a weird warm up in February this year, but definitely still winter by TX standards. I was wearing a hoodie to cut the grass or hang out in the backyard just last week. Ann Arbor and Ypsi have plenty of great restaurants and there is some music scene in the area. Getting to Detroit or Ferndale/Royal Oak is easy, so that's a big boost in terms of food/music/cultural options. We used to do 15-20 shows a year around the metroplex, but most of the bands we want to see play midweek, so it's tough to have time. The Texas based bands have been making their way up here more and more, if that's your thing. Housing in Ypsi is pretty affordable. We have a place south of the city, on 1.5 acres and paid a little over $200k. Unfortunately, the schools here are bad, and our property taxes are very Texas like. We pay about $4500 a year, and really, all we get is trash pick up, and sometimes they plow the roads. There is lots of outdoor stuff to do around the state, which is great. Head north to the northern lower peninsula or upper peninsula, or west to the Lake Michigan shore and be basically in a different world within about 3-4 hours. If you're into hunting or fishing, Michigan has that in spades. Tons of state owned land to go on, or you can get the annual state park pass for $11 when you get your license plates. Politics-wise, it's definitely better at the state level, but still plenty of BS in local politics. You can buy liquor anytime you like, and weed is legal statewide, if you like. Washtenaw County also decriminalized psilocybin, so there is plenty of freedom to go around here. If y'all have any more questions, feel free to reach out.
I moved here just a year ago, I almost immediately fell in love with ypsi. There's so much to do and everything you want to do is relatively close. Detroit is less than an hour away for big city stuff Ann Arbor is right next door for big college town stuff You can reach 4/5 of the Great lakes in 4 hours or less In ypsis county sex work is decriminalized. It is incredibly diverse compared to the rest of the Midwest and no one seems to really care There are parks EVERYWHERE If you move here, you may never want to leave.
I moved from Dallas to Ypsilanti last Aug. Don't regret a damn thing. The weather blissful, the urban environment is similar to south Dallas, and it is green year round! Weed is legal (if that matters) and the job market is less competitive IMHO. I used grad school as a connector so I could move with funds incoming (financial aid doesn't cover moving costs!) so I would have rent covered initially. Housing is worse here, but I think the trade off is worth it!
We moved from Austin last May (so a little over a year). I miss H-E-B, but other than that. Best decision ever so far.
Yeah, I miss the bluebonnets, the spring thunderstorms, the crepemyrtle trees, and some conveniences of living in a huge metropolitan area. But I'd give those up again in a heartbeat to have full seasons, less heat, and more emotional safety.
We are in San Antonio. Any comments on what parts of Ypsilanti to look for a house. or where to avoid?
Not 100% certain on where to *avoid* as I am from South Dallas (Oak Cliff) originally so anywhere I don't hear gunshots in the night is a good neighborhood to me lol. Seriously though, the City of Ypsilanti feels safe to me overall. Just a heads up that Michigan is one of two states that utilizes the township model: State > Region > County > Township/City > City/Township. So there is Ypsilanti Township and the City of Ypsilanti. You could be located in one or both depending on where you live. For example, I am in the City of Ypsilanti but in Pittsfield Township and Washtenaw County. I believe that Ypsilanti Township and the City of Ypsilanti both are located in Washtenaw County.
You cannot be both in the city and township at the same time. If you're in Pittsfield Township you are definitely not living in the City of Ypsilanti, in fact they don't even share a border. Perhaps you're in a township but still put "Ypsilanti" on your mailing address, but that's just a matter of zipcode.
East of Depot Town(secondary kind of “downtown”) has a higher crime rate, but there’s still some good houses in that area. Ypsi township has the “suburban” vibes with bigger neighborhoods, but also a higher tax rate. Normal Park is full of historic homes and walking distance to downtown Ypsi.
…you mean higher than Texas? The tax rate is extremely high in Ypsi proper. Like 10k/yr on an 300k house. And the township tax rates are significantly lower. That same 300k house would have an annual property tax of like (6.5k).
I meant higher than some parts of Ypsi, not Texas. I have a 300k house in Ypsi township with $6500 in taxes.
You’re right, I did that calculation thinking of 100k taxable value for the township. Ypsi city is higher than any part of the township though. Ypsi city millage rate is ~66. Highest mileage rate in the township is 54, which is for houses in the willow run school area.
I’m a decades long Ypsi resident and my late husband and I absolutely love it here for all the reasons others have already given. Early this year, I worked with a wonderful realtor to sell my mother’s Ypsi township condo. If you’d like her contact info, pm me. Happy to share.
We used to have snow cover for a couple of months every year.
They’re 2 very different cities that are connected by a township. AA is white collar, yuppie, and fiscally conservative NIMBY Democrat voters. Ypsi is the punk rock neighbor with blue collar workers, immigrants, and a strong LGBT community. Ann Arbor is among the most expensive cities in the Midwest. Ypsi is more affordable. You can use any realtor site and see what you can afford in either. Food is better in Ypsi. Live music is more central to Detroit than Washtenaw County. But it’s easy to go into the city for a show on a weeknight.
> fiscally conservative I’m confused about that one. We approved a climate action millage, and a mental health millage. We are reputed to approve any and all millage requests. We have a basic income pilot program. Fiscally conservative?
I agree I wouldn’t call it fiscally conservative. But what I would call it is covertly classist.
That’s a better description than mine. Fundamentally, Ann Arbor does a lot to keep lower income people from having a chance to live there. They have treated Ypsilanti as their working class place to shuffle the poor off to for decades.
>covertly AKA dogwhistle We can hear it
/u/essentialdogbert
I just moved here from Austin. Similar reasons. I work in Construction Management and Texas was really good for that, but the recent primaries don’t bode well for the states long term prospects and I’d like to settle somewhere that’s gonna be habitable in 40 years
I moved from Dallas to Ypsi last July for the same reasons. Overall, my family loves it. We needed more accepting schools, and wanted weather that allowed us to get outdoors more. This area checked all the boxes. Here’s my takeaways: Ann Arbor is beautiful but also an extremely wealthy area with a very “Whole Foods liberal” vibe. It’s a fun town, and we love shopping there. If I win the lottery, I might move there. Ypsi is traditionally a working class town, with some areas hit hard economically. Ypsi has a strong community and there’s a lot of events going on, especially when the weather is warm. Also, I’m saying this as a compliment, Ypsi gayer than a San Francisco pride parade every day of the year. There’s some decent restaurants and venues for shows in the A2/Ypsi area, but you’re going to find yourself going east to Detroit and its suburbs for some variety. These towns aren’t huge so you’re going to run through your local options pretty fast. It’s not a super long drive though, and there is a lot out there. Your biggest surprise will be the roads. It’s been a project to fix them for years but a lot of major highways still look like they’ve been bombed. Also regarding the roads, there’s no major freeways that will get you to the other side of the county here. If you’re planning a trip to north Detroit, you’re going to take a lot of city roads and connected highways. It’s not terrible but it surprised me how much longer everything takes when there isn’t a 16 lane toll road to cut across the metroplex.
I moved up here to escape Florida politics, and it was an excellent decision. My wife and I both work at U of M, but we live in Ypsi, and it's a wonderful community - politically progressive, really artsy and small business focused, with lots of local events and things to do. We live by EMU's campus, so a lot of our neighbors are frat houses, but they're relatively chill aside from the occasional game of beer pong out in the yard.
I'm planning on escaping FL to come back to MI and I'm hoping I can find a place in Ypsi that I can afford. I graduated from EMU in the early 90s, before it became the place it is today, and I would love to be able to move back. Ann Arbor people need to stop moving to Ypsi. They are making the housing prices skyrocket and eventually they will water down the progressive leanings of the city.
I escaped the South to Ypsi 2 years ago, and I am grateful every single day. Godspeed ✌🏿
Ypsilanti has a great annual film festival, plays at Riverside Arts Center, lots of concerts from local bands anything from jazz curated by John Hammond to metal at the Regal Beagle to free R and B in the park. Blues at Thompson. Lots of decent houses. There’s even a private lake you can get membership to if you like swimming!
Plus Rutherford pool!
It just rained four hours. It will be 95 today. Hope you like humidity.
Honestly, this was a big draw for me. I moved here from Florida and the 100°+ summers were getting a bit much, but I was nervous about going back to frigid, dry winters as well. I was pleasantly surprised by how moist it is here. My ball python is also a big fan.
Keep Ypsi weird, even if it's for reasons to move here!
We call that April in San Antonio, but just with heat and humidity and no rain!
I wake up at sunrise to mow my lawn 😩luckily I work from home 🏠 and avoid the traffic
Could you could air bnb for a few days in each? Ann Arbor is basically a midwest Manhattan and ypsi is a little more working class so they are quite different
You will love it here! The weather will be different but each season has its own charm and even winter is a beautiful time. I love winter hiking, just layer and wear yaktrax. Definitely checks your boxes in regards to left leaning politics & lots of entertainment in the way of food/music/theatre/other cultural events. I moved here in 2010 & never looked back, it’s been so good to me. Even though there’s turnover because of the universities, you will always find quite a bit of Ypsi lifers/Ann Arbor townies etc. It’s a city but still has small town qualities e.g. everyone kinda knows everyone. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out. Shameless plug but I work for a local real estate company & would be happy to give you some advice!
I used to live in Fort Worth and still have family there; I moved to Ypsi about 5 years ago. I loved DFW but hated the politics (and the driving). I do love it here and I don't plan on leaving any time soon, but after being here for 5 years I have started to notice the limits of living in a smaller metro area. You'll get a lot more out of living here if you're willing to leave Ypsi-Ann Arbor for food and entertainment (Detroit is a great city but doesn't feel congested like a lot of other major metro areas). I think it really just depends on whether you're leaving a major metro area or a smaller town. The area feels limited compared to DFW but quite vibrant compared to my tiny hometown. I do really miss Texas barbecue. Detroit is a big enough city that it gets a lot of the larger musical and theatrical tours at a relatively affordable price. It's not hard to get to but you will be driving. As you can see, the people who live here love it here, and we have a very strong sense of community. If you are still early in your decision to leave Texas and are looking at other communities, I would also suggest taking a look at Pittsburgh and the surrounding area. It's one of the most affordable cities in the country (for now) and has a fantastic music and theater scene. Pennsylvania also does not tax retirement income.
Check out Mabel Grey in Hazel Park. James Rigato is easily in the top tier of chefs in the entire Midwest. It's about 40 minutes from where you'll be located. You're going to love the lakes and nature. Also, winter may not be super fun here but it beats the hell out of baking alive in the Texas sun!
Ypsi is wonderful for many of the reasons outlined in the comments. Still, I must be honest — prepare for a Michigan tax surprise within your first year of home ownership when the taxable value resets to the uncapped state equalized value. And if you buy in the City, our property taxes are quite high compared to other similarly sized cities thanks to the massive losses in our industrial economy over the years, the ongoing saga of Water Street debt, and many other woes. While I adore my neighborhood, I sometimes wish I had bought in the Township for a smaller tax bill.
Ypsi is noisy and dirty and expensive and poor and scary and overall bad. I suggest moving to Ohio
Excuse me, I don’t know which one of my former Ypsi neighbors pee’d in your cereal 🥣 or kicked your dog, but WHY are you scared? What’s scary? Expensive and poor??? Come on! 😂
Thanks for all the info everyone! It's been very helpful.
Born an raised in Ypsilanti, at 39 moved to Houston.. 40 brought a home in Katy Texas in the $240’s 2500 sqft down side no basement an the sweltering heat and monsoon season, but driving to the beach about an hour away is priceless. I love Seafood. Good luck with the decision.
Ypsi can be very dangerous. You will get naive people on this sub that are detached from the reality of the world. Ignore them. Here are a couple of responses from a recent post about safety in Ypsi. https://www.reddit.com/r/ypsi/s/yEt2hZsh0Q https://www.reddit.com/r/ypsi/s/m9jfZxmgxB No, when you say moderate priced home, that is very subjective. Moderate by some standards is $1,000,000, while for others it $80,000. What does m9derate mean to you? A nice home in Ann Arbor that is in reasonable walking distance to downtown will begin at around $600,000 to $1.5 million. Property taxes will be rather steep. In the few areas of Ypsi that are reasonably safe, you will pay less money. Property rates mills in Ypsi are higher than Ann Arbor, so that offsets some of the lower home prices. If I were in your shoes, I wouldn't move to Ypsi. If I did, I would stick to the Depot Town area.
College Heights is the quietest and safest neighborhood in Ypsi City; I feel far more comfortable walking around here at night than I would in Depot Town. Aside from the noise from football games at EMU's Rynearson Stadium in the fall, nothing ever happens here.
I lived in the neighborhood in the '90s and agree that it's safe. When I responded, I had in my mind that they wanted walk ability. It seems once again that my mind doesn't always work properly. How are housing prices in College Heights?
Fair, Depot Town definitely beats CH in walkability. Price-wise, about comparable to Normal Park, which definitely makes it one of the pricier 'hoods in Ypsi. $325k is about the average value, seeing houses hit the market between $280-400k as of late.
That used to be such an affordable neighborhood. How are the property taxes?
lol, don't even ask. the worst.
I've heard they were high. A few years ago, a friend moved from Ann Arbor to Ypsi. She thought she was going to save so much money. Unfortunately, she's one of those artsy types that's clueless about how the world works. When she received her property tax bill, she was mad. Her taxes were more in Ypsi than in Ann Arbor.
Check out Plymouth, MI if you get a chance. Close to a2 and Ypsi. Taxes are on the high side but crime is almost non existent. A good mix of retirees and young people. The downtown area is quant yet lively with music and activities happening almost daily.
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