Ann Arbor MI

In Ann Arbor, the rent-to-income burden runs around 24% — refreshingly manageable by national standards. Median income sits at $82,212 and median rent is $1,649/month. A staggering 57% of renters here are housing-cost-burdened — spending 30% or more of their income just to keep a roof overhead. Median home value: $453,400 — that's 5.5× the median income. 78% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher — a highly educated workforce that drives (and inflates) this local economy. With a median age of 28, this is a young city — high energy, high turnover, and a lot of people figuring out adulthood simultaneously. Employment picture: 3.95% unemployment — a healthy job market. Poverty rate: 23.8% — well above the national average. The headline economic numbers hide a bifurcated city. Average commute: 20 minutes — mercifully short. Ann Arbor was founded in 1824 — that's 202 years of history baked into the streets. The city covers 29.0 sq miles at 4,215 people/sq mile — moderately dense. Elevation: 840 ft — modest elevation. Ann Arbor has 6 sister cities — cosmopolitan on paper, at least. RoastMyCity overall score: 66/100 — It Depends.