In 2024, the college town of Ann Arbor took the number one spot on U.S. News & World Report’s Best Places to Live for Quality of Life. Just beyond the outskirts of busy Detroit, this eclectic Midwestern community has around 120,000 residents. Though the city is known for artsy festivals, outdoor recreation and a walkable downtown, the core of Ann Arbor's identity comes from the University of Michigan. The city's large student population means the median age is 28, one of the youngest among major U.S. cities, according to the World Population Review. Ann Arbor was also named the number one Most Educated City in America by WalletHub. Almost half of Ann Arbor residents have a graduate degree, and roughly 75% hold a bachelor’s degree.
“Ann Arbor is a unicorn,” says David Anderson, a Realtor with Howard Hanna who has over 14 years of experience in the city. “Between the university and its hospital, money just funnels into the city — which is rare. The problem is that there’s a limited amount of space, and it’s already full. From here on out, Ann Arbor is going to be growing vertically up.” As an influx of high-rise developments changes the city skyline, Ann Arbor is starting to leave its small-town feel in the past. Increased demand has led to Ann Arbor becoming one of the most expensive cities in Michigan. However, it remains a popular place to raise a family, with highly rated schools and relatively low crime rates. According to the FBI Crime Data Explorer, Ann Arbor’s violent crime rate is 14% less than the national average, and its property crime rate is 5% less than the national average.
Ann Arbor is a growing city, including downtown growing vertically.
Ann Arbor hosts numerous annual events such as the Art Fair.
Residents can enjoy many murals in and around Ann Arbor.
The U of M is the largest employer in Ann Arobr.
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A highly competitive housing market with low inventory
The average home price in Ann Arbor is just around $560,000. Prices and property taxes are significantly higher than both national and state averages. Houses spend an average of 24 days on the market, and it’s extremely competitive to snag a property. “The lower end of the price spectrum in Ann Arbor is $400,000 to $500,000, and those homes move quickly,” Anderson says. “I see a lot of buyers who have piles of cash, so they are usually going to win the offer against a buyer with a large loan.”
Mary Vandewiele, a Realtor with Reinhart Realtors with over 14 years of experience in the area, says, “You can't expect to find a house that's a bargain if you're in Ann Arbor city limits. And part of that comes from the high taxes.” To meet the growing demand for housing, the city is constructing an increasing number of apartments and condo complexes all over the city—some of which have low-income restrictions to make the city more accessible.
In general, homes get older and more expensive the closer they are to downtown Ann Arbor. Homebuyers looking for historic charm often turn to the Old West Side, which has restrictions in place to preserve its late 1800s architecture. Communities around elementary schools, notably Burns Park, are popular choices for families. North of the Huron River, neighborhoods tend to be quieter and a bit more affordable. And the sprawling Ann Arbor Hills has some of the city’s biggest homes, typically exceeding $1 million.
Homes neatly line the streets of Ann Arbor.
Some homes have the University of Michigan spirit.
Ranches are another common home style found in Ann Arbor.
Stunning architecturally designed homes can be found in Ann Arbor.
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The parks and outdoor attractions of “Tree Town”
According to the Trust for Public Land, 90% of Ann Arbor locals live within walking distance of a park. With 162 parks, including 15 indoor facilities and 1,200 acres of preserved natural land, Ann Arbor lives up to its nickname “Tree Town.” Gallup Park offers trails that crisscross along the Huron River, and Veteran’s Memorial Park has a summertime swimming pool and wintertime ice rink. The University of Michigan maintains the Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum, which draws crowds in the spring for its peonies. One of the largest upcoming developments is Broadway Park West, a $20 million project to add a pedestrian bridge over the Huron River and new outdoor event space just north of downtown.
Ann Arbor experiences four distinct seasons, influenced by the Great Lakes climate system, which causes increased cloudiness during fall and winter. Snowfall averages around 57 inches. Despite the cold and cloudy winters, Ann Arbor is an active community all year round. It won a gold award from the national organization Walk Friendly Communities, and the Ann Arbor Rec & Ed has a variety of fitness classes and sports leagues. “There’s a lot of biking, walking and running groups that go out no matter the weather,” Vandewiele says. “We have a triathlon and the Ann Arbor-Dexter half marathon. It’s definitely a healthy sort of community.”
Take a walk around the two mile trail at Gallup Park.
Watch the crew in action on the Huron River in Ann Arbor.
The Ann Arbor skate park is a local hot spot for bikers.
Ann Arbor is home to a free-span conservatory known as the Matthaei Botanical Gardens.
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Ann Arbor Public Schools earns an A-plus
Ann Arbor Public Schools scores an A-plus on Niche and the site ranks it the top district in Washtenaw County. The district serves 12,000 students, and the city plans to renovate or rebuild every elementary school by 2030. Standout schools include King Elementary, which was named a National Blue Ribbons School in 2021. Community High School also won that distinction in 2019 and is known for its student-led curriculum and top-rated college preparatory programs. Though there is neighborhood zoning, a district-wide lottery system allows students to apply to schools of their choosing.
Welcome to Community High School in Ann Arbor.
Students can easily walk or bike to Pioneer High School.
The Slauson Middle School offers programs that challenge the students academically.
Bach Elementary School challenges students by offering an all-encompassing curriculum.
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Artsy festivals and game days at The Big House
The Ann Arbor Art Fair is the largest juried art fair in the country, drawing in over 500,000 visitors and showcasing nearly 1,000 artists. The Ann Arbor Film Festival is over 100 years old and happens at the historic Michigan Theater. In January, Ann Arbor Restaurant Week shows off the city’s diverse cuisine with pre-fixed menus, live demonstrations and discounted prices. Some of the quirkier events include FoolMoon, a late-night, light-up block party, and HashBash, an annual university event that started as a countercultural movement to protest against the criminalization of marijuana in the 1970s. The city also has a year-round farmers market, regular summer concerts and holiday celebrations. It’s not hard to find something to do, even if there isn’t an official event going on. “There’s a lot of culture here,” Vandewiele says. “We have our own symphony, several theaters and plenty of museums. You can even audit classes at the university.”
Another of the city’s most beloved traditions is celebrating Michigan’s football team. On home game Saturdays, Wolverines fans funnel into the city to fill more than 100,000 seats in The Big House. There’s such a high level of visitors that Ann Arbor-Saline Road turns into a one-way street — going into the city in the morning and out of the city in the evening. “The streets can get totally gridlocked, but once the game starts, that’s the time to go out and do your shopping,” Anderson says. “It’s like the eye of the hurricane, so you have to keep listening to the score on the radio to make sure you get back home in time.”
Public transportation and new developments
Improving transportation is a priority for Ann Arbor. The city’s Vision Zero Transportation Plan aims to increase pedestrian and cyclist safety, as well as reach carbon neutrality in public transportation by 2030. The city also introduced updated bus routes in 2024, including a commuter bus to Ypsilanti. “The city really wants downtown to be bus-friendly,” Vandewiele says. “I think public transportation has been lagging a bit, and we are more of a walking community. It’s something they're really working on because all the new high-rises and condos going in have eaten up the downtown parking spaces.”
Interstate 94 and Highway 23 are the city’s main transit corridors, forming a wide circle around the region. “You’re probably going to hear some traffic in Ann Arbor because you're either near downtown or out near the beltways that go all around the city,” Anderson says. The city has an Amtrak station for direct train rides to Detroit or Chicago. Detroit is 45 miles away, and Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport is about a 30-mile trip. The major airport services 128 non-stop destinations across the world.
Eclectic eateries in an artsy, walkable downtown
Ann Arbor’s walkable downtown covers several city blocks and is lined with clothing boutiques, independent bookstores and eclectic gift shops. Restaurants cater to a large crowd, ranging from college dives to upscale cuisine. Miss Kim’s Korean food and Spencer’s locally sourced menu both earned a James Beard nomination in 2024. Perhaps the best-known restaurant in Ann Arbor is Zingerman’s Deli, a community staple for its specialty sandwiches and deli offerings, which they now sell around the country. “Zingerman’s started because two guys from New York City attended college here and missed their hometown delis,” says Andy LeBarre, the Executive Vice President of the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Chamber of Commerce. “And now they have expanded into this delicious empire. You hear a lot of stories like that. People come here for Michigan and decide this is the place to live out their dreams."
The city's south side has more traditional big-box stores. The Briarwood Mall still has over 80 shops, but its occupancy has declined recently. In 2024, construction began to turn part of the mall into a mixed-use development, including apartment units, corporate office space and a new grocery store.
Spencers in Ann Arbor is another restaurant that has been a James Beard semifianlist.
Miss Kim was named to the semifinalist list for 2023 James Beard Awards.
Ann Arbors Zingerman's Delis Reuben continually makes the "best sandwich in America" list.
Ann Arbors downtown offers a variety of locally owned shops.
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The economy is led by the University of Michigan
Ranked among the world’s top colleges, the University of Michigan placed third in the country in U.S. News & World Report’s Top Public Schools category. The Michigan Wolverines football team plays at the NCAA Division I level and boasts the most all-time wins in college football history. Michigan Stadium, which locals call “The Big House,” is the largest football stadium in North America.
About 40% of the city’s population attends the university, and the college employs over 30,000 people, including employees at the school’s hospital. It’s the largest employer in Washtenaw County and the third largest in Michigan. “I’ve heard it called the Ivy League of the Midwest,” Anderson says. “And because people are always going to want to go to school here and people always need healthcare, Ann Arbor’s economy is incredibly secure.” In addition, the nearby Trinity Health Hospital and the Ann Arbor public school system are other major employers. Washtenaw County is known for its automotive manufacturing companies, and Ann Arbor has a growing tech sector that includes markets like biotechnology and clean energy.
The University of Michigan football stadium is a iconic spot in Ann Arbor.
The University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor is the top ranked hospital in the state.
There are numerous auto businesses in Ann Arbor.
Ann Arbor has many iconic locations, including the famous Domino's Farms Office Park.
On average, homes in Ann Arbor, MI sell after 28 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Ann Arbor, MI over the last 12 months is $493,000, up 2% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$500,000
Median Sale Price
$493,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$524,775
Median Townhouse Sale Price
$549,000
Median 2 Bedroom Sale Price
$300,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
0%
Last 12 months Home Sales
2,056
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
$2
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$327
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes for Sale
237
Months of Supply
1.40
Cost of Living Comparison
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Top Schools in Ann Arbor, MI
Source:
Best Public Elementary Schools
#1 Ann Arbor Open at Mack School
A
Niche
10
GreatSchools
#2 Angell School
A+
Niche
9
GreatSchools
#3 Lawton Elementary School
A
Niche
9
GreatSchools
#4 Wines Elementary School
A
Niche
8
GreatSchools
#5 Bryant Elementary School
A-
Niche
#6 Dicken Elementary School
A
Niche
8
GreatSchools
#7 Logan Elementary School
A
Niche
8
GreatSchools
#8 Martin Luther King Elementary School
A
Niche
8
GreatSchools
#9 Thurston Elementary School
A
Niche
8
GreatSchools
Best Public Middle Schools
#1 Ann Arbor Open at Mack School
A
Niche
10
GreatSchools
#2 Clague Middle School
A
Niche
8
GreatSchools
#3 Slauson Middle School
A
Niche
7
GreatSchools
#4 Ann Arbor STEAM at Northside
A
Niche
7
GreatSchools
#5 Forsythe Middle School
A
Niche
7
GreatSchools
#6 Tappan Middle School
A
Niche
6
GreatSchools
#7 Scarlett Middle School
B
Niche
5
GreatSchools
#8 High Point School
#9 Washtenaw County Youth Center - Educational Progra
Best Public High Schools
#1 Community High School
A+
Niche
10
GreatSchools
#2 Huron High School
A+
Niche
8
GreatSchools
#3 Pioneer High School
A+
Niche
8
GreatSchools
#4 Skyline High School
A+
Niche
8
GreatSchools
#5 Pathways to Success Academic Campus
C-
Niche
3
GreatSchools
#6 High Point School
#7 Washtenaw County Youth Center - Educational Progra
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
