Michigan
This Michigan city is No. 4 in best places to live in US, according to Fortune
Rent or buy: Which option is best for your city?
If you’re trying to determine if renting or buying is better for you, the best option for your wallet might depend on where you live.
Ann Arbor, the heart of Washtenaw County and the home of the Wolverine dream team, has a new achievement on the city’s repertoire.
Fortune Well, a subsidiary of Fortune Magazine, ranked Ann Arbor as No. 4 on its third annual list of the 50 Best Places to Live for Families.
In an analysis of over 2,000 cities across the U.S., Fortune Well chose the best city in each state for multiple generations to live happily and healthily, based on data relating to five main categories: general wellness, livability, education, financial health and resources for aging adults.
Here’s why Ann Arbor placed as the No. 4 best city for families to live in the U.S.
More in Ann Arbor: Ann Arbor’s ‘Salvation Armani’ thrift store known for its luxury finds, quirky treasures
Is it affordable to live in Ann Arbor?
Ann Arbor scored 62 out of 100 on Sharecare’s financial well-being index, which measures stress based on economic life and financial security.
According to Fortune, Ann Arbor households have a median income of $95,884, while single family residences had a median sale point of $485,792 as of 2022. Between the university, the Michigan Medicine system and other career tracks in the tech and auto industries, Ann Arbor is ripe with job opportunities.
How are Ann Arbor schools?
Ann Arbor Public Schools educates more than 17,000 students spread across 21 elementary schools, seven middle schools and six high schools. According to the U.S. News & World Report, 73% of elementary students and 81% of middle school students in the district tested at or above the proficient level for reading, and 66% of elementary students and 67% of middle school students tested at or above the proficient level for math. According to Fortune, the district has a high school graduation rate of 91.54%.
More: University of Michigan ranks among the Top 10 most picturesque colleges in America
Is Ann Arbor good for seniors?
Ann Arbor has 29 above-average nursing homes within 50 miles, per 100,000 households. There are also 11 hospitals within 25 miles of Ann Arbor that are recommended by over 50% of patients.
What is there to do in Ann Arbor?
While the city is more diverse than its neighborhoods, downtown Ann Arbor is a hub of activity for all ages.
The calendar is packed with events, including the Ann Arbor Summer Festival, complete with concerts, film screenings, and a circus, the Ann Arbor Art Fair that amasses 30 blocks of the city and the annual LGBTQ+ Pride weekend. The streets are lined with a diverse array of over 400 restaurants, with plenty of international options as well as a big farm-to-table movement thanks to local farms and farmers markets.
There are 162 parks scattered throughout the city, including the Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum, and there’s numerous other opportunities for outdoor recreation, such as canoeing and stand-up paddleboarding on Huron River and mountain-biking in the 20,000-acre Waterloo Recreation Area.
Ann Arbor scored a 73 out of 100 on Sharecare’s community well-being index, which measures the number of people that like where they live and take pride in their community.
Top 10 cities on Fortune Well’s 2024 list:
- Silver Spring, Maryland
- Upper Merion, Pennsylvania
- Chantilly, Virginia
- Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Mason, Ohio
- Franklin, Tennessee
- Lafayette, Colorado
- Overland Park, Kansas
- Morristown, New Jersey
- Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Saturday, July 11, 2026 2:48PM
CHICAGO (WLS) — Sailors are making their way from Chicago to Mackinac Island on Saturday morning.
The racing division of the Race to Mackinac took off from Monroe Harbor. The first sailors began their journey at 9 a.m.
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The race, spanning over 300 miles into Michigan, brings sailors from all over the world to compete. The event is considered the longest annual freshwater sailing race in the world.
The Race to Mackinac is now on its 117th year and is the Chicago Yacht Club’s signature sailing event. This year, there are 2,000 sailors competing on 252 boats total.
The race’s unpredictable weather and shifting winds on Lake Michigan serve as a challenge for sailors. The event goes on, rain or shine.
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ROTHBURY, Mich. — Michigan State Police (MSP) detectives shared some more information Friday about their investigation of the infant death at this year’s Electric Forest music festival in Rothbury.
Troopers recently received a tip about a Muskegon woman who was said to have information about the incident, but after interviewing her and completing other necessary investigative steps, MSP said they ruled her out as a suspect.
A restroom vending company employee at the festival found the body of a neonate, a newborn infant who is four weeks old or younger, in a portable restroom in the festival camping area on June 28, according to troopers.
The festival is hosted at the Double JJ Resort, which was locked down to anyone entering the following day as police surrounded the scene.
Troopers are asking for tips from the public at michigan.gov/michtip.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Harmful algal blooms have been reported on two notable lakes in West Michigan: Gun Lake and Muskegon Lake.
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy says cyanobacteria was reported on Muskegon Lake July 3, but no tests have confirmed it.
The Barry-Eaton District Health Department says a harmful algal bloom was confirmed Thursday on Gun Lake. The lake remains open, but the BEDHD is encouraging visitors to use caution and avoid water that has “visible algae.”
Visitors are encouraged to avoid any contact with water that appears bright green, blue-green, brown or red or has “floating mats of scum.”
Pets should also avoid the water. If they come into contact with the algae, pets should be rinsed off as soon as possible with clean, fresh water.
Exposure to algae can cause a rash or irritation to the skin, eyes, nose and throat. It can also cause stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, fever and trouble breathing.
“If you become sick, contact your healthcare provider. Seek medical care right away if you have trouble breathing, severe vomiting, or other serious symptoms,” the BEDHD said in a statement. “If your pet was exposed, rinse them well with clean water and do not let them lick their fur until they have been washed. Contact your veterinarian right away if your pet has vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, trouble walking, excessive drooling, shaking, or seizures.”
Harmful algal blooms are powered by the sudden growth of cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae. Cyanobacteria occur naturally in lakes, rivers and ponds but is often boosted by a sudden excess of nutrients, often caused by fertilizer runoff from farms or failed septic systems.
They can last for several days and sometimes even months. The water will look “scummy” or like “spilled paint or pea soup.” They are typically found in the summer and fall — usually peaking in August or September and dying off by the end of October.
You can report a suspected harmful algal bloom to EGLE at AlgaeBloom@Michigan.gov or 1.800.662.9278.
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