Detroit, Michigan. Also known as Motor City, the home of the Lions, and one of the best downtown transformation narratives ever experienced by an American city.
Detroit has worked hard to come back from industrial decline, and while work remains, the city has experienced a resurgence of sorts thanks to new construction projects and efforts to overhaul the negative reputation. Business has picked up and headed in new directions, making Detroit an exciting destination that maintains its old roots while working towards something new. The art and architecture remain, as does the city’s soul, and that makes Detroit an exciting place to be.
Living in Detroit
Living in Detroit used to mean being obsessed with cars, soul food, and the Motown Museum. These days, it’s also about a thriving Middle Eastern community, the city’s reputation as a major border city thanks to its location and the Ambassador Bridge (it’s possible to see Canada from downtown Detroit. Really.), and the efforts to remake the city after years of economic struggle.
But New Center Eatery is still there, so don’t forget the chicken and waffles.
Weather Conditions to Consider Before Moving to Detroit
Detroit’s climate gets classified as a humid continental climate that features cold winters marked with moderate snowfall that give way to hot and sunny summers. However, it should be noted that while the summer temperature can climb up to the low 90s, it’s not unreasonable to experience summer lows in the 50s. The humidity can get very heavy, and while rain does fall in Detroit throughout the year, it falls the most in the summer months. Winter, on the other hand, can be very cold. Like biting cold and grey cold, and the humidity stays for the duration. From December through March, the weather will feature cold nights and strong winds.
The chief thing to keep in mind about the weather when relocating to Detroit, however, would be the weather’s unpredictable nature. While winter weather conditions generally stay in the December to March barrier, it’s not uncommon for the cold weather to arrive in October and hang around until April. That doesn’t mean the winter months will feature nothing but snow and wind, however; sometimes the winter weather climbs up to the 60s and features sunshine. So while anyone relocating to Detroit from another cold climate should not donate their winter coats, it’s acceptable to keep your shorts and sandals.
Also, learn about shrink wrapping the windows during the winter. Your electric bill will thank you.
Working in Detroit
According to the Census ACS 1-year survey, the median household income for the Detroit-Warren-Livonia Michigan metro area was $58,411 in 2017, placing the Detroit median household income at $3,502 higher than the median Michigan household income and $1,925 less than the US median household income. The data also showed the median family income for Detroit was $75,060 in 2017, making the median family income $5,396 higher than the median Michigan family income.
Detroit has also been experiencing a startup renaissance in the last few years, meaning anyone looking for work should find diverse job opportunities, especially since the city also enjoys a reputation for being one of the most innovative cities in the U.S.
Normally, job hunters preferring to work closer to home either had to hope the company was within a quick trip from the home or capable of offering remote work options. However, Detroit also sports a public transit system, ride sharing, and protected bicycle lanes, making personal transportation a more nuanced task.
Those transportation options seem especially ironic and optimistic for a place called Motor City.
Things to Do Once You’ve Moved to Detroit
One of the advantages of moving to Detroit? The flat geography, especially if you enjoy playing outdoors. Anyone that’s ever tried to run a 5K through a mountain range will appreciate the flat terrain offered by Detroit, which proves inviting to runners, bicyclists, motorcyclists, and anyone that’s experienced the joys of having to switch gears suddenly at a sharp downward angle.
But if you’d rather watch people engage in physical activity, Detroit offers NFL action with the Lions, NBA plays with the Pistons, hockey chaos with the Red Wings, and the opening day glories of the MLB with the Tigers. And where there’s sports, there’s tailgating.
If you’re coming from a hillier city, you’ll appreciate how easy it is to bike around a flat city like Detroit. There are dozens of cycling events in the city that can be as competitive or as leisurely as you like. Every Monday night, hundreds of cyclists take a slow-paced tour of the city during Slow Roll, an event organized by Detroit Bike City.
Feel like shopping? The Eastern Market provides an indoor/outdoor farmers market that operates throughout the year and offers residents access to fresh fruits and vegetable, not to mention the food trucks and flower vendors. Oh, and the live music.
The Culture of Detroit
The debate about whether soda should be called “soda” or “pop” has long been debated, but in Detroit, the debate ended on “pop,” so that’s the end of the discussion. However, new Detroit residents can have a true Detroit experience by trying a Faygo soda or a Vernors ginger ale. Have a slice of Detroit-style pizza while you’re at it, which straddles the line between the New York thin slice and Chicago deep-dish by being a square pizza with a thick crust. It’s wonderful stuff.
It will be vitality important to learn the Mile Roads, both for culture and for location. The mile roads run east to west and create a horizontal grid from downtown Detroit to north counties Macomb and Oakland. The Mile Roads get intersected by cross streets that run north to south. Get that system down, and you’ll be able to navigate the city just fine.
And remember Detroit serves as a boarder city, so get a passport and take a trip to Canada at least once.
Call Colonial And Get To Motown
Sports, culture, and a big outdoor market? Sounds awesome, and since you can find all three in Detroit, why not consider a move?
Because it sounds like too much work and stress, you say? Never fear; we’re here to help.
At Colonial Van Lines, we get that moving down the street can be stressful, and moving to a new state can be downright horrifying. But that’s all right because we have the experience and the expertise to make sure your moving experience will be straight forward and stress-free.
Call a Colonial Van Lines professional and find out how to start your journey to Detroit.