When you are in search of the perfect place to settle down, it helps to have a few shortlisted places in mind. Michigan is an ideal state for most Americans who want to raise a family, educate their children well, and further their career. Young professionals and families in all stages are naturally attracted towards this state, so we should look at the best places to choose within its boundaries. Of all these, Oakland County should be one of the topmost choices.
Where is Oakland County?
If you are planning to live in Oakland County, the first order of business is to know its exact location and what it provides. Being a largish region in Southeast Michigan, Oakland County offers some amazing public schools, several beautiful cities, and a mostly family-friendly environment.
In a nutshell, people who live in Oakland County have access to excellent schools, jobs for young professionals, and a whole range of options for living environments. There are mobile home communities that offer a cheaper cost of living than the national average. If you can afford it, there are more luxurious and affluent choices as well.
Various Lifestyle Choices
It is possible to spend your entire life at ease in Oakland County, with bustling places such as Troy, affluent communities like West Bloomfield, and quieter towns by the beach such as the city of Keego Harbor. Farmington Hills is another excellent option with some amazing apartment complexes. These are just a few of the best places to live in Oakland County, MI. Whatever your needs are, however, there is a good chance that living in Oakland County is what’s best for you.
Living in Oakland County, Michigan
Are you in search of quiet coffee shops for your freelance work or amazing public schools for your kids? Perhaps, you are aiming to be a property owner or are looking forward to all the activities near the Detroit River. Whatever the case, it is possible to have it all when you live in Oakland County.
If you have still not decided on whether to live in Oakland County or not, make sure your research is complete. Here are just some reasons why Oakland County could be just the right place for your dream home:
1. High Expectation in Terms of Quality of Life
If you are looking to live your life to the fullest, there is probably no better place than Oakland County within the state of Michigan. There are a myriad of activities to do, events to attend, and places to see on any given day, so you are unlikely to feel bored. There are also all kinds of food options, healthy and otherwise. We have already mentioned the public schools; there are also many higher education opportunities for those who want to pursue them.
What is even better is that you can have a fairly luxurious and fulfilling lifestyle here without having untold wealth. While Oakland County is among the richest counties in the nation, it also includes some of the cheaper cities and offers a reasonable cost of living.
Of course, having a lot of money makes it easier to enjoy yourself in Oakland County. Even without that, however, one can start looking into managing communities with mobile homes, benefit from the well-funded city services, and be assured of an amazing schooling system. Oakland County’s cost of living might not be within reach of every regular person, but it is not exorbitant either.
2. Lots of Places to Visit
In Oakland County, it is pretty easy to have a fun, affordable, and memorable day out with friends or family. Places such as Cass Lake and Downtown Birmingham come with high recommendations. We have also heard a lot of great things about the top things to do in Keego Harbor in the fall. In addition to this, you can also check out the following:
- Swim sites on public beaches
- Several kinds of parks – for pets, nature, and so on
- More than one commercial center with several shopping spots
- Golf courses
- Festivals
- Natural spots (for specific details, check out these top five lakes in Oakland County, MI)
3. A Friendly Community
In most of the places within Oakland County, you are assured of a friendly, welcoming community. Farmington Hills is one of them, however there are several small suburban cities that have a close-knit system of life.
Perks of a Good Community
A good community means that even newcomers do not have to feel lost and alone when they are in the process of settling. Everyone is part of a family-friendly, eco-friendly, and hardworking neighborhood that sticks together through thick and thin. It is overall easy to connect, arrange, and generally get your life in order.
4. A Casual, Yet Progressive Environment
While people in Oakland County are usually friendly, this does not mean that they are nosy or interfering. There is also quite a bit of diversity here, which is excellent for a well-rounded upbringing for the kids. Overall, you can expect a laid-back and progressive atmosphere here that provides a thriving place for everyone. You are exposed to various cultures, different demographics, potential friends of all ages, and even a range of political affiliations to keep discussions interesting.
5. Safety and Security
With the sense of community and inclusivity, Oakland County also presents a somewhat safer atmosphere than many other counties in Michigan. It has some of the safest cities in the state, and low crime rates all across the board. It is well below the national average for violent, property, and non-violent crimes.
6. Convenient Way of Life
Convenience is a huge factor when you are deciding on any place to live, and Oakland County provides a lot of it. When it comes to shopping, for instance, you have your pick of shopping centers, grocery stores, tech shops, and so much more. Keego Harbor alone has some excellent spots for all kinds of shopping. For details on this, check out this discussion on the top places to shop in Keego Harbor.
Spots to Enjoy
If you want to enjoy yourself outside of home, there will probably be a few gyms, malls, lakes, and loads of outdoor spaces available during the day. The overall life is an exciting one., so we should not have much to complain about.
Public Transportations
Even though this is among the larger Michigan counties, Oakland County has an excellent system for public transport. The authorities here maintain the roadways and bike lanes very well. The neighborhoods all have decent sidewalks, so there should not be any need for a personal vehicle to travel around the towns.
Reasonable Commutes
Another convenient factor of Oakland County is that the work and school commutes here should be fairly doable. There are good schools in almost every vicinity, job opportunities near residential areas, and a great transportation system for traveling purposes. There are also some major multi-lane roads near this county, such as Orchard Lake, Telegraph, Woodward, etc.
Some Michigan freeways are also nearby, such as the I-75, I-96, M-5, and M-10. The proximity of roads like these makes all kinds of travel fairly easy – whether you want to commute to work or go on a fun road trip.
7. The Chance to Lead a Healthy Lifestyle
We are all now much more aware of the necessity of leading a healthy, active lifestyle. Unfortunately, not every place in the U.S. is conducive to such a way of living. Some towns may not have a lot of health food stores or restaurants that cater to such choices. Others may not have easy access to gyms or outdoor spaces for walks and exercise.
Healthy Eating Options in Oakland County
Fortunately, Oakland County is one of the most ideal places for building up a healthy way of life. There are several organic food stores, farmers’ markets, and vegan cafes that provide healthy options for all age groups. There is also a lot of local produce, so it is easy to get fresh fruits and veggies for those daily salads.
Lots of Spots for Exercises
With the nutrition part of health sorted, you now need places to exercise. This helps to keep digestion in order and the body toned, along with burning off extra fat and calories. When you live in Oakland County, there are a lot of outdoor places for recreation, exercise, and loads of healthy activities. You can go for a walk, a trek, a bike ride, join an outdoor yoga class, or simply take your exercises out in the fresh air.
If working out inside is more your jam, Oakland County has fitness studios offering spin cycling, pilates, yoga, jazzercise, and kickboxing classes. There are also physical therapy clinics, sports centers, and several recreational facilities indoors.
A Possible Downside
With so many perks to living in Oakland County, we should definitely look into this option before considering other places in Michigan. However, one should keep in mind that the weather in Michigan is not always pleasant. The cloudiness here is persistent almost throughout the year, while the winters are snowy and windy with freezing temperatures. On the bright side, the summers are pretty warm and the landscapes are gorgeous.
The Takeaway
Most folks who reside in Oakland County or lived there at some point have reported thoroughly enjoying the place. The excellent public schools, the clean air, various dining options, and shopping opportunities all come together for that peaceful, upscale suburban life. For more information, you might want to read our own blogs about living in Oakland County.
