Start your search for Michigan apartments near you
Popular Cities in Michigan
Apartment Living in Michigan
When you ask a person from Michigan where they're from, they will mostly hold up their hand and point to a particular point on their palm. Often referred to as "The Mitten", Michigan was named after the Great Lake of Michigan. Its four shores include Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron and Lake Erie, giving Michigan the honor of having the longest freshwater shorelines in the world. Next to Alaska, Michigan has the most territorial water.
Lake Michigan divides the state into two peninsulas. The Lower peninsula, shaped like a mitten, is densely populated with bustling cities while the sometimes forgotten Upper peninsula is mostly populated with forestland and the oldest mountains in the North America, the Porcupine Mountains. Michigan has the largest state forest systems across the nation and this combined with its beautiful bodies of water makes this state a major destination for tourists, homeowners and apartment renters alike.
Around the turn of the 20th century, Michigan's economy changed significantly with the birth of the automobile. Today, at least 1/3 of the state's economy is based on manufacturing. Michigan and the cities of Detroit, Dearborn, Pontiac, Flint and Lansing are notorious for being major producers of automobiles and transportation equipment. The state ranks fourth in the nation with over a half a million jobs in the high-tech arena, which includes the automobile industry.
Detroit Apartments
Detroit, Michigan's largest city, is known for building some of the country's first, largest and most elaborate skyscrapers, which include the Fisher Building, Cadillac Place and Guardian Building. As a leader in automobile manufacturing, the city was nicknamed the "The Motor City". With a cost of living 2 percent below the average and a new revitalization program downtown, Detroit is trying to steer its new residents to look for an apartment or house in the inner city. Cultural venues like the Motown Museum, Detroit Institute of Arts and Detroit Historical Museum are making this urban community a more attractive area for future tenants with apartments starting as low as $400 or as high as $1000 a unit.
Grand Rapids Apartments
This land of a 1000 lakes draws in more and more homeowners and apartment leaseholders each year. It is the second largest city in the state with a population of nearly 200,000 and a greater area of nearly 800,000. Grand Rapids is said to be where "urban beat meets lakeside retreats." The walkable downtown, with its thriving riverwalks, unique architecture, and energetic nightlife, offers a lot of new apartment options. An efficiency in the Forest Hills area can go for as little as $460 while those in East Grand Rapids start in the $600 range.
Ann Arbor Apartments
While it is only the seventh largest city in Michigan, Ann Arbor is home to the nation's top-ranked university, The University of Michigan. This campus is rich in history and helps to establish this city as a major cultural haven. While the cost of living is nearly 25 percent higher in this city, the college-town state of mind, laid-back stores, causal cafes, galleries and sporting spirit makes spending more on everyday necessities worth it. The nice thing about Ann Arbor is that apartment prices are still within reason and can still be snapped up in the $700 range.
