Ann Arbor, Michigan, is a scenic, bustling university town with a walkable downtown brimming with arts and culture. Founded in 1824, it lies west of Detroit across 29 square miles of hills and valleys. Its downtown streets are laid out on a grid, with major roads branching out to surrounding highways. Its median age is 27.5 (2022). The University of Michigan shapes much of the town’s economy, which also receives a boost from the tech sector.

There’s no place like Detroit: it’s the birthplace of Motown Records, and home of automakers Ford, General Motors and Stellanis North America (Chrysler). Situated on the Detroit River, “Motor City” was founded in 1701. Today, it spans 142.9 square miles and serves as a major port. Its median age is 34.6 (2022), and its main industries include manufacturing (particularly automotive), finance, technology, and healthcare.

In the late 1800s, Flint was home to a booming carriage-making industry, which some say was the biggest in the world. Flint, as a result, became known as “Vehicle City.” Located along the Flint River, it was founded in 1819. Today, it encompasses 34.1 square miles of flat terrain, and a median age of 36.3 (2022). Healthcare, educational services, social assistance, and manufacturing shape the backbone of its economy.

Grand Rapids, Michigan’s nicknames, “Furniture City” and “Beer City,” hint at the diversity in this 45.6 square-mile metropolis on the Grand River. The city is home to five of the world’s leading office furniture companies, and about 80 breweries. Founded in 1850, Grand Rapids now has a median age of 31.2 (2022), and an economy driven by healthcare, automotive, aviation, information technology, and consumer goods manufacturing.