Built on the banks of the Huron River, Ann Arbor is a cultural center within the Midwest basin. It offers a unique blend of city sophistication and small town charm that appeals to students and professionals, singles and families, newly born and newly retired alike. It is both ethnically diverse and culturally rich. Just one visit and you will quickly understand why Ann Arbor is consistently voted one of the best places to live in the United States.
The resources below provide a closer look at what Ann Arbor has to offer.
If you come to Ann Arbor, you'll find it's not only a great place to learn, it's a great place to play.
Find out what medical students and trainees think about living in Ann Arbor!
Like Food?
See 23 reasons why Ann Arbor is the BEST food town in all the land. From BiBimBop to locally brewed craft beer, Ann Arbor has it all.
Like Sports?
Big Ten football is at its best in the Big House, where 107,000 fans converge for each home game. The Tigers, the Lions, the Red Wings and the Pistons are just 30 minutes away in Detroit.
Forbes names Ann Arbor top college sports town
Ann Arbor tops the list of the best college sports towns, based on "its excellent mix of livability and sports," according to Forbes.com. In addition to sports, Forbes cites Ann Arbor's quality public schools, low crime rate, affordable housing, and its culture and cuisine.
Enjoy Music, Theater and Dance?
The University Musical Society presents more than 75 professional events each year, covering every genre. The unique Life Sciences Orchestra is a symphonic orchestra whose members are students, staff and faculty from the University's life sciences community (including many physicians from C.S. Mott Hospital). The LSO performs two concerts each year at Hill Auditorium with over 1,000 fans in attendance. Ann Arbor Summer Festival offers a variety of shows, concerts, activities, movies and food to welcome warm, casual summer nights. From orchestras to world music-you name it, the best come here. Recent performers include the Royal Shakespeare Company, Yo-Yo Ma, Norah Jones and Trevor Noah.
Like to run or just be outdoors?
The 700 acres of the Nichols Arboretum and Matthaei Botanical Gardens offer a gorgeous place to run, jog or picnic. Outdoor enthusiasts will appreciate the city's canoe liveries, outdoor pools and parks. And don't forget the golf courses and ice rinks.
Have a family?
The University of Michigan offers students, staff and faculty exceptional daycare as well as backup child care for emergencies. For older children, Ann Arbor offers an award winning public school system in addition to several private school options. Kid-friendly fun includes the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum, Domino's Petting Farm, plays at the historic Michigan Theater, youth programs at U-M museums and more.
Ann Arbor is a diverse, welcoming community that values sustainability, education, literature and the arts. It is a community that offers something for everyone. Our unique atmosphere attracts people from all parts of the globe. Ann Arbor is consistently ranked one of the most "livable" cities. It has been ranked one of Livability.com's Top 10 Best College Towns, Forbes magazine's No.1 Most Educated City (2014), one of Popular Science's magazines 50 Most Green Cities, and USA Today named it No. 6 among Best Cities for Well-Being.
Area Links
Want to know more about living in the area? Visit the following sites.
About U-M
About Ann Arbor
About the Surrounding Area
About Relocation
Getting Around Ann Arbor
How Ann Arbor Stacks Up
These are just some of the fabulous accolades Ann Arbor has received, but there’s plenty more.
2022
1. Convenient Access
2. Delicious Places
3. Entertaining Options
4. Beautiful Views
5. The Shops!
6. Museums and Sites to See
The resources below provide a closer look at what Ann Arbor has to offer.
If you come to Ann Arbor, you'll find it's not only a great place to learn, it's a great place to play.
Find out what medical students and trainees think about living in Ann Arbor!
Like Food?
See 23 reasons why Ann Arbor is the BEST food town in all the land. From BiBimBop to locally brewed craft beer, Ann Arbor has it all.
Like Sports?
Big Ten football is at its best in the Big House, where 107,000 fans converge for each home game. The Tigers, the Lions, the Red Wings and the Pistons are just 30 minutes away in Detroit.
Forbes names Ann Arbor top college sports town
Ann Arbor tops the list of the best college sports towns, based on "its excellent mix of livability and sports," according to Forbes.com. In addition to sports, Forbes cites Ann Arbor's quality public schools, low crime rate, affordable housing, and its culture and cuisine.
Enjoy Music, Theater and Dance?
The University Musical Society presents more than 75 professional events each year, covering every genre. The unique Life Sciences Orchestra is a symphonic orchestra whose members are students, staff and faculty from the University's life sciences community (including many physicians from C.S. Mott Hospital). The LSO performs two concerts each year at Hill Auditorium with over 1,000 fans in attendance. Ann Arbor Summer Festival offers a variety of shows, concerts, activities, movies and food to welcome warm, casual summer nights. From orchestras to world music-you name it, the best come here. Recent performers include the Royal Shakespeare Company, Yo-Yo Ma, Norah Jones and Trevor Noah.
Like to run or just be outdoors?
The 700 acres of the Nichols Arboretum and Matthaei Botanical Gardens offer a gorgeous place to run, jog or picnic. Outdoor enthusiasts will appreciate the city's canoe liveries, outdoor pools and parks. And don't forget the golf courses and ice rinks.
Have a family?
The University of Michigan offers students, staff and faculty exceptional daycare as well as backup child care for emergencies. For older children, Ann Arbor offers an award winning public school system in addition to several private school options. Kid-friendly fun includes the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum, Domino's Petting Farm, plays at the historic Michigan Theater, youth programs at U-M museums and more.
Ann Arbor is a diverse, welcoming community that values sustainability, education, literature and the arts. It is a community that offers something for everyone. Our unique atmosphere attracts people from all parts of the globe. Ann Arbor is consistently ranked one of the most "livable" cities. It has been ranked one of Livability.com's Top 10 Best College Towns, Forbes magazine's No.1 Most Educated City (2014), one of Popular Science's magazines 50 Most Green Cities, and USA Today named it No. 6 among Best Cities for Well-Being.
Area Links
Want to know more about living in the area? Visit the following sites.
About U-M
- University of Michigan gateway page - information on athletics, cultural attractions and more
- Uniquely Michigan - geared to U-M faculty and staff
- News Service - University Record faculty and staff newspaper, U-M events and other news
About Ann Arbor
- Yahoo - City Guides - Ann Arbor
- City of Ann Arbor's official website
- Ann Arbor Area Convention and Visitor's Bureau
- Arbor Web
- Ann Arbor Public Schools
- Ann Arbor Community Education and Recreation
- MLive - The Ann Arbor News
- Concentrate
About the Surrounding Area
- Chelsea Area Chamber of Commerce
- Things to do in Chelsea
- Village of Dexter
- City of Saline
- Saline Area Chamber of Commerce
- City of Ypsilanti
- Ypsilanti Chamber of Commerce
About Relocation
- The Ann Arbor Chamber of Commerce Visitors and Relocation site
- Arbor Web Houses and Apartments
- Moving Calculator - Estimate the cost of relocation
- Cost of Living Calculator - Estimate the cost of living in the Ann Arbor area
- Ann Arbor Living
- U-M Faculty and Staff Housing Resources
Getting Around Ann Arbor
- Ann Arbor Transportation Authority
- Maps of Ann Arbor and U-M Campuses
- U-M Parking and Transportation Services
How Ann Arbor Stacks Up
These are just some of the fabulous accolades Ann Arbor has received, but there’s plenty more.
2022
- Best Cities to Live in America, #6 Ann Arbor, Niche.com
- The Best U.S. Cities for Remote Workers, #3 Ann Arbor, Teamwork.com
- The Best Colleges in America, Ranked by Value, #1 University of Michigan, Money.com
- 2022 Cities with the Best Public Schools in America, #4 Ann Arbor, Niche.com
- 2021’s Best Places to Live, #2 Ann Arbor, Livability.com
- 2021’s Best College Towns & Cities in America, #1 Ann Arbor, WalletHub.com
- 2021 Cities with the Best Public Schools in America, #2 Ann Arbor, Niche.com
- The 10 Best Places to Live if You Work From Home, #4 Ann Arbor, Money.com
- 2021 Best Cities to Live in America, #6 Ann Arbor, Niche.com
- University of Michigan, U.S. News
- #3 Business Programs
- #6 Best Undergraduate Entrepreneurship Programs
- 2020’s Top Places to Live, #2 Ann Arbor, Livability.com
- 2020’s Most Educated Cities in America, #1 Ann Arbor, WalletHub.com
- America’s Best Small Cities, Ann Arbor #10, Best Cities
“One of the smartest small cities in the country is a bastion of employment security and safety.”
- 2020’s Best College Towns & Cities in America, WalletHub.com Small Cities, Ann Arbor #1
- Overall, Ann Arbor #5
- Lowest Brain Drain, Ypsilanti #1 (Tied with Isla Vista, CA)
- Up-and-Coming Small Cities Close to Major Metros, Ann Arbor #2, Livability
- University of Michigan ranks as top U.S. public university, QS World Rankings
- University of Michigan Graduate Programs Maintain top-15 rankings in the six areas, U.S. News & World Report’s 2021 edition of Best Graduate Schools. The College of Engineering ranked fourth.
- The School of Nursing master’s program ranked ninth, and its Doctor of Nursing Practice program ranked No. 13.
- The Law School ranked ninth.
- The Stephen M. Ross School of Business ranked No. 12.
- The School of Education ranked eighth.
- The Medical School’s research program ranked No. 15, and its primary-care program ranked fifth.
- Top New U.S. Tech Hubs (“Brain” Index), #3 Ann Arbor, Bloomberg
- Top 5 Car-Free Small Metros, #1 Ann Arbor, CityLab
- Top Public Universities in America, #1 University of Michigan, Niche.com
- 2019’s Most Educated Cities in America, #1 Ann Arbor, WalletHub.com
- Best Cities to Live in America, #2 Ann Arbor, Niche.com
- 2019’s Best College Towns & Cities in America, WalletHub.com
- Small Cities, Ann Arbor #1
- Overall, Ann Arbor #3
- The Most Innovative Metro Areas in the U.S., #9 Ann Arbor, Verizon
- Top cities for female founders raising their first round, #1 Ann Arbor, VentureBeat / Center for American Entrepreneurship
- The 25 Happiest Cities in America, #16 Ann Arbor, Forbes
1. Convenient Access
- Easy to get here…
- Detroit Metropolitan Airport, 30 minutes from downtown
- Amtrak Station, in downtown
- MegaBus to and from Chicago, starting at $10
- …and easy to get around
- You’re a short walk from everything!
- University of Michigan Bus System to get around campus
- Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority to get around the entire city
2. Delicious Places
- Zingerman’s Deli (“Some of the World’s Best Sandwiches,” USA Today)
- “The Best Food Town In All The Land,” Buzzfeed
- More than 200 restaurants
- 16 On-Campus Cafes and Markets
3. Entertaining Options
- Hands-On Museum (for kids of all ages)
- Canoeing on the Huron River
- Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase
- Ann Arbor Summer Festival
- Ann Arbor Art Fair
- Professional Sporting Events (Detroit Lions, Tigers, Redwings, Pistons)
- Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village
- Motown
4. Beautiful Views
- Huron River
- Matthaei Botanical Gardens
- Nichols Arboretum
- The Wave Field, North Campus
- Bluffs Nature Area
5. The Shops!
- Nickels Arcade
- Kerrytown Shops
- Briarwood Mall
- Main Street
6. Museums and Sites to See
- Cobblestone Farm
- Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
- University of Michigan
- Museum of Anthropology
- Kelsey Museum of Archaeology
- Museum of Art
- Detroit Observatory
- Planetarium
- Exhibit Museum of Natural History
- Planetarium
- Museum of Paleontology
- Museum of Zoology
