Moving to Ann Arbor puts a world-class university, great food, and beautiful conservation areas right in your backyard—but be prepared for higher costs of living and frigid winters.

European settlers first moved into the land that is now Ann Arbor after the Treaty of Detroit in 1807. By 1824, the land was purchased and named Ann Arbor, which pays homage to the wives of the city’s founders (both named Ann) and the abundant bur oak tree population.

Today, Ann Arbor is the home of the University of Michigan, numerous tech startups, some expensive real estate, and great coffee (among other things). To help you decide whether this central Michigan college town is your cup of joe,

Jerry

—the

trusted brokerage app

for renters and

home insurance

savings—is here to help you do that.

RECOMMENDED

Compare auto insurance policies

No spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms

ZIP Code

Find insurance savings

What you need to know about Ann Arbor before you move

Though not a small town by any means, Ann Arbor is a relatively compact city. Its roughly 121,000 residents are contained within 29.02 square miles.

With great K-12 schools, a world-famous university, gorgeous natural scenery, a massive arts and culture scene, and a laidback hippie vibe blanketing it all, Ann Arbor could make the perfect landing place for the right folks. Let’s get into what you should expect when you go.

1. It can get expensive

If you’re coming from cities like San Francisco, New York, or D.C., you may find it downright affordable here, but move in from a small town (or other areas of Michigan) and you’ll likely be a bit put off by your elevated monthly bills.

College students and “townies” compete for housing opportunities, which contributes to higher prices. The average rental rate for an Ann Arbor apartment is $1,865 a month—and that’s just an average of the whole city. If you’re considering a location like Downtown or Burns Park for your new home, you’ll likely be paying between $2,100 and $2,500 a month for your lodgings.

Your usual pint of beer at a local restaurant will run you about $5.00, your morning coffee will reach around $4.75, and that Sunday morning recovery Mcdonald's meal sits around $8.30.

And while these prices may seem a bit steep, the average annual salary in A2 is $54,730, or $26 per hour, which makes it easy for many residents to budget for needs and wants.

2. There are some major employers stationed in the area

Most of the job market in Ann Arbor revolves around education, tech and software, and healthcare. The University of Michigan—including its world-renowned hospital system—is the city’s largest employer, but you’ll also find major reach from companies like Duo Security, Barracuda Networks, and Google, which opened its A2 campus in 2017.

But tech and healthcare aren’t the only jobs for you here. Ann Arbor’s art and culture scene is massive and seemingly ever-expanding, so you could find employment in any number of artistic niches, too.

We should also mention that Ann Arbor makes the list of the US cities with the highest concentrations of PhD-educated people, so be prepared for some steep competition in some cases.

3. Fun for all ages abounds

Whether your family leans into the wonders of outdoor exploration, the potential of a science lab, or you just prefer a nice meal out, Ann Arbor has tons of things to do for all ages.

Take the curious little ones to the

Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum

or the

University of Michigan Museum of Natural History

. Prefer a leisurely stroll outside? Check out the

Matthaei Botanical Gardens

or explore one of the 162 park areas throughout the town.

Even just taking a walk through the city can lead to some excitement for your kids (and the young at heart)! Just be sure to keep your eyes peeled for the beautifully detailed

urban fairy doors

hidden in the most unsuspecting places.

4. Personal theft and assault rates are higher than average

As a relatively urban college town, Ann Arbor is only safer than 31% of US cities, per Neighborhood Scout. Most of the crime in the area is property crime, specifically personal theft, and it’s estimated that you’d have a 1-in-63 chance of falling victim to some sort of property crime.

Violent crime rates, specifically assault and rape, in Ann Arbor are also higher than average. Here, it’s estimated you’ll have a 1-in-344 chance of being a victim.

Keep in mind that crimes are typically limited to certain times and areas. You can prevent falling victim to a crime of opportunity by following best safety practices, like walking in groups after dark and not leaving for class with your sliding doors unlocked.

5. It’s walkable, bikeable, scooterable, busable, you name it

If you’re moving into Ann Arbor from another Michigan city, you probably already have a car. But Ann Arbor is one of the very few Michigan cities with a comprehensive public transportation system, so you don’t really need a personal vehicle.

First of all, Ann Arbor is very walkable—and it’s often easier to walk than drive due to areas with limited parking. The university campus seamlessly transitions into the downtown, which is somewhat of a rarity for college towns.

If you do need to go farther than you can walk, the Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority operates

TheRide

buses, which run through the city center and Downtown but also connect the surrounding communities. A one-way ticket will cost you $1.50, a day pass is $3.00, and a monthly riding pass is $45.00. (University students and employees can ride for free with their UM IDs.)

The University of Michigan also has its own

MagicBus system

that is open to students, employees, and visitors, and you can even move around between Ann Arbor and East Lansing via the

MichiganFlyer

. This service also offers routes to the Detroit Metro Airport, so your travel plans are covered.

Aside from buses, Ann Arbor has Amtrak, Greyhound, MegaBus, and People’s Express connectivity. Within the city, many folks walk, bike, longboard, or scooter to their occasions. If you’re looking for a place where you can ditch your car (and all those car-related expenses), A2 may be for you.

MORE: How bad is Ann Arbor traffic?

6. Winter, spring, summer, and fall

Michigan in general—and Ann Arbor in specific—sits in a climate zone that experiences a slice of all four seasons. Get ready for hot and relatively muggy summers and frigid winters, separated by the varying conditions of spring and fall.

In general, you’ll see the most precipitation between spring and early fall and drier conditions between late fall and late winter. Let it be known that between December and February, the city can see about six inches of snowfall a month, so you better make sure your snow gear is up to snuff.

7. It’s hip(pie). The hippies are everywhere.

Ann Arbor is known as a city in which you can choose or bounce between a wide range of lifestyles. That being said, it is generally blanketed in a mist of self-imposed Anti and Other, specializing in the art of the (often upper-middle class) hippie.

Vintage clothing stores and independent bookstores dot the landscape. You’ll find street art on every corner. Art films and Hollywood blockbusters alike play in historic theaters, and the coffee culture is taken quite seriously. Environmentalists thrive here. So don your Tevas and canvas tote bags and head out there to explore what the earth has to offer.

Does Ann Arbor live up to its stereotypes?

While there is certainly more to Ann Arbor than the above-mentioned details, A2 does have its stereotypes for a reason.

If the city’s tree-hugging and progressive population, walkability, and Big 10 sports events excite you, it may be time to pack your bags and hurry on over. But if a higher cost of living, high crime rates, or having to walk in freezing temperatures is a major turn-off, you may need to look elsewhere.

Key Takeaway Ann Arbor offers a variety of lifestyles and a generally liberal population paired with a high cost of living and sometimes brutal winters.

MORE:

Everything you need to know about Section 8 Housing in Ann Arbor

Finding a place to live in Ann Arbor

Thinking Ann Arbor is the right place for you? Well, first things first—you’ll need to find somewhere to stay.

The current housing market in Ann Arbor is leaning towards a seller’s market, meaning there are more folks searching for a home than there are homes available, so it may be a competitive hunt.

The average home sale price in 2022 is around $487,000. If that’s out of reach for you (and understandably so), you’ll probably be checking out rental options.

Ann Arbor apartment prices typically range between $1,250 a month for a studio to $3,800 a month for four bedrooms, but you may be faced with higher rent requests in the most expensive areas like Downtown and Burns Park.

Before you start your Ann Arbor housing hunt, it will help to create a budget. That way, you’ll have some parameters to work within and be able to narrow down your options right away. Then, you’ll want to consider what you’re looking for in a neighborhood. Is a vibrant nightlife scene a necessity or are you in search of the best hiking trails?

Keep these Ann Arbor neighborhoods in mind while looking for the place to plant your roots:

Most iconic neighborhoods: Kerrytown, Burns Park

Best neighborhoods if you’ve got kids: Foxfire, Haisley

Best neighborhoods for foodies: Downtown

Best neighborhoods for outdoorsy types: Lakewood, Eberwhite

Most affordable neighborhoods: Turnberry, Northside

Once you find a location that checks your boxes, plan a visit to see your desired areas in person (the Detroit airport is a pretty short drive away). It will give you a chance to scope the place out for things to do, walkability, and maybe even your new favorite coffee shop.

MORE: Cheap car insurance if you rent an apartment

Let Jerry find your price in only 45 seconds

No spam · No long forms · No fees

Find insurance savings

Moving to Ann Arbor checklist

Before making the leap to your new digs, jot down and follow these before and after your move checklists to make the process as easy as possible:

Before you go

Before you move, make sure to:

Research moving companies and pick one that can meet your packing and moving needs. Or look into U-Haul rentals if you plan to do the heavy lifting yourself.

Pack your belongings unless your moving company is going to take care of this step for you.

Send word to your landlord, employer, insurance provider, utility companies, and any mail-in subscriptions that you’ll be moving.

Figure out your vehicle plans. If you’re keeping your car, decide whether you’ll drive it or ship it to your new place.

Prep your vehicle for a road trip or book your plane tickets!

After you get there

Once you make it to your new home, follow up with these steps:

Get the proper

Michigan car insurance

and be sure to register your vehicle with the state ASAP.

Look into

Michigan renters insurance

home insurance

plans to protect yourself, your things, and your bank account.

File for a change of address to get your new voter registration and healthcare offers.

Take a spin around your new neighborhood to explore all it has to offer!

MORE:

Complete checklist for moving out of state

How to save on car, renters, and home insurance in Ann Arbor

No matter what your living or transportation arrangements are, you’ll want to make sure all your bases are covered by solid insurance policies.

Moving can be an overwhelming process that involves a lot of different aspects, and we know that shopping for car, renters, and home insurance can sound like an impossible task after you finally make it to your destination. So

Jerry

has made it easy for you.

Jerry contacts your insurance company to get the details of your current coverage so you don’t have to scale a mountain of questions. Then, they’ll use that information to find you the best deals so you can make sure you’re not overpaying for the coverage you need.

You get all the best prices and coverage with none of the legwork. Better yet, Jerry will help you bundle your home and auto insurance for even bigger savings and less paperwork.

“I love how easy it was for me, as someone who has an older beat-up truck, to get insurance without going through a lot of trouble. I would recommend anyone try
Jerry
, since it’s free!” —Melissa I.

RECOMMENDED

Jerry automatically checks if you are paying the lowest price for your insurance, for free.

Instantly compare top insurance companies

No spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms

What insurance do you want to compare?

Car

Car + Home

Car + Renters

Is it worth moving to Ann Arbor?

Ann Arbor might be worth moving to if you enjoy a widespread arts and culture scene, college football, public transportation, and all four seasons—and you don’t mind the higher cost of living, famously liberal population, and higher-than-average crime rates.

How much money do I need to move to Ann Arbor?

The actual move to Ann Arbor could cost you between $50 to a few thousand dollars depending on where you’re coming from and what your method of moving will be. Once in the city, a single adult would need about $3,200 a month to make ends meet.

Save an average of 18% by bundling your home and auto insurance

Bundle your home and auto insurance with Jerry and save!

Try Jerry