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Although Michigan is still often thought of as the center of the U.S auto industry, the state is also among the nation's top leaders in a variety of industries including biotechnology and hi-tech, banking, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, foods & cereals.

Michigan's tourism industry is also fueled by four of the five Great Lakes, from which visitors and residents are never more than 85 miles away. Michigan beach resorts and boating docks dot the fresh water shoreline, the longest in the world, along wihich also lies Michigan's most expensive real estate.

Together with low taxes and generally affordable housing costs (perhaps the state's best kept secret) Michigan is primed for growth in the future despite the news coming from economically hard hit Detroit.

Although summers may provide endless opportunities for outdoor recreation, winters can be quite harsh - especially in northern Michigan due to lake effect snows. Yet residents may boast that even this is offset by some of the nation's most spectacular fall foliage rivaling even New England in sheer beauty.

Michigan quality-of-life statistics

Demographics : (Michigan Census Data)
Major cities: Lansing (capital), Detroit, Grand Rapids, Flint, Warren, Sterling Heights
Population : 10,095,643
White : 81.3%
Black, African American : 14.3%
Hispanic : 3.8%
High school graduates : 83.4%
Bachelor's degree or higher : 21.8%
Average household income: $44,409

Cost of Living: Sperling's Best Places - Michigan - Compared to the rest of the country, Michigan's cost of living is 16.63% lower than the U.S. average.

Property Taxes : Michigan Tax Climate - Combined state/local property tax collections are $1,186 per capita, ranking Michigan 15th highest nationally in property tax payments.

Housing & Real Estate Overview : also see Zillow - Michigan Real Estate
Home ownership rate : 73.8%
Average home price: $112,665
Average travel time to work : 24.1 minutes

Personal Income Taxes: Michigan imposes a flat rate of 4.35% of federal adjusted gross income, scheduled to decline gradually to 3.9% by 2015. Michigan residents are required to file income taxes using Form MI-1040 each year by April 15.

Schools : see Michigan Department of Education

Weather : While warmer in the southern and central parts of the Lower Peninsula, northern Michigan typically experiences milder summers and longer winters where lake effect snow is a very common winter weather phenomenon.

Crime : see Michigan State Police Crime Reporting

also see -> Michigan Eviction Laws | Michigan Taxes | Michigan Tourism

Michigan Shopping Outlets | Michigan Fall Foliage | Michigan Wineries

Christmas in Michigan | Michigan Kids Party Locations

More about relocating to Michigan around the Web:

About Michigan - The official Michigan State government site with helpful information on its economy, taxes, voter information, expanding or locating a business within the state, plus story features on Michigan history, fun facts & trivia.

DetroitYES - Online community hub including recent posts on city happenings & festivals, Detroit neighborhood guides, beaches & recreation, local sports teams, general news & information and complete virtual tour.

Flint - New Residents - The official Flint city Web site with facts & information on local utilities & phone service, voter registration, schools & libraries, entertainment & recreation, community resources.

A Community Profile of the Ann Arbor Region - Helpful overviews of neighborhoods and nearby towns, jobs & business opportunities, Ann Arbor leading area businesses, health care & hospitals, public schools, local transportation, entertainment & recreational facilities.

Michigan real estate, apartments & job classifieds:

Detroit : Free Press | News
Lansing : State Journal
Grand Rapids : Press
Flint : Journal