MI Town Among 50 Best Places To Live For Families, New Ranking Says

MICHIGAN — The best place in Michigan to plant roots for a lifetime is Ann Arbor, according to Fortune’s new ranking of the nation’s 50 Best Places to Live for Families.

In the analysis, Fortune said Ann Arbor, which has a population of 123,656 is one of the five best places to live across the nation. The town is best-known for the University of Michigan and Michigan Stadium, which was recently picked by ESPN as one of the best college football stadiums in the nation.

Ann Arbor is also known for its lively downtown area that features numerous annual events, such as the Ann Arbor Summer Festival and the Ann Arbor Art Fair. Fortune also noted Ann Arbor's diverse community and its thriving LGBTQ+ community.

Ann Arbor's downtown area also features more than 400 restaurants and an array of local farmers' markets, making it one of the best food towns across the nation as well, Fortune said.

Fortune said its list reflects qualities people look for when they decide where to raise families and retire.

“A great place to live not only supports families in the present but also serves them in the long term. With a growing portion of Americans caring for both children and aging parents, more people want to live where multigenerational families can thrive,” the news outlet said.

Fortune said it analyzed more than 2,000 cities and nearly 200 data categories, which included livability, financial health, resources for aging adults, education and wellness.

The cities chosen, one for each state, are sustainable for both their youngest and oldest residents and include fast-growing suburbs and edge cities that find creative ways to improve people’s well-being, Fortune said.