A city in Michigan, and the county seat of Washtenaw County, Ann Harbor is shaped by the University of Michigan that contributes to the workforce of medicine, technology and development. Founded in 1825, the city was named for the wives of two of the village’s founders, who were both named… you guessed it – Ann! During the 60s and 70s, the city also was a center for left-wing politics with political activism and support for legalizing cannabis. If you’re looking for rooms for rent in Ann Arbor, we cover everything about the city, the average rent in Ann Arbor, and much more in this article! Read on.
Getting to know Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, or ‘Tree Town’ gets its nickname from the dense forestation of parks and residential areas. So when looking for rooms for rent in Ann Arbor, expect a LOT of greenery around, with more than 50,000 trees along the streets and even more in the parks! And, thanks to its location on the Huron River, the city has an abundance of fresh agricultural produce to offer its residents as well.
Finding rooms for rent in Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor is full of hills and valleys, with steeper terrain near the Huron River. The neighborhoods display architectural styles ranging from classic 19th and early 20th century designs to ranch-style houses.
Among these homes are a number of kit houses built in the early 20th century, as well as contemporary-style houses dotted around the city. History and architecture students and enthusiasts will be delighted to see 19th-century buildings and streetscapes of the Old West Side neighborhood that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places too.
Related: Is It Time For You To Move To Another City?
Top neighborhoods in Ann Arbor
Eberwhite: If you want to be surrounded by trees in tree town, Eberwhite is where you should find rooms for rent in Ann Arbor. A huge range of parks, outdoor spaces and the Eberwhite Woods make this a beautiful neighborhood to call home.
Angell: This neighborhood, home to mostly students for the University of Michigan, is rightly named after a previous school president. It is also home to some of the largest and most expensive mansions in the city.
Lowertown: North of the Huron River, Lowertown has some of the oldest homes in the city, which are mostly occupied by young college students who go to the U of M.
Average rent in Ann Arbor
| Room For Rent In Ann Arbor | Average Rent |
|---|---|
| 1 Bedroom Apartment For Rent In Ann Arbor | $794 |
| 2 Bedroom Apartment For Rent In Ann Arbor | $1,257 |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment For Rent In Ann Arbor | $1,950 |
University life in Ann Arbor
As Redditor bbbliss mentions, the essentials for university life on a budget in Michigan are as follows:
- Go to https://www.myunidays.com/ for student discounts on a ton of stores.
- Go to ragstock for pieces of your Halloween costume(s).
- If you’re a girl, join the Ladies of U of M Facebook group to buy/sell gently used clothes.
- Split a Chegg account with your friends if you really need one.
- Hookd (Free iorios gelato! Discounts on half the restaurants in the area at specific times! https://hooked.app.link/agG8zimWIW)
- Sizzl – 10% off certain restaurants, (takes forever to load though)
- Pocket points for discounts on food/clothing/services like Insomnia Cookies, the Michigan Theater, and 7/11 (code CT1Wg)
- If you like meditation, you can get a year of headspace for $10
And here are the best universities in Ann Arbor if you are still deciding on which college you should attend:
- University of Michigan
- Ross School of Business
- Concordia University
- A. Alfred Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning
- Washtenaw Community College
How transit friendly is Ann Arbor?
Roads
Conforming to a grid pattern, downtown Ann Arbor branches out to the highways surrounding the city.
There are three freeways that service Ann Arbor, namely:
- I-94, which runs along the southern and western portion of the city.
- U.S. Highway 23 (US 23), which primarily runs along the eastern edge of Ann Arbor.
- M-14, which runs along the northern edge of the city.
Other nearby highways include US 12 (Michigan Ave.), M-17 (Washtenaw Ave.), and M-153 (Ford Rd.).
Walkability & cycling
The city has a system of bike routes and paths, which includes the nearly complete Washtenaw County Border-to-Border Trail. The many trees that line the trails make it an even more beautiful ride or walk.
Related: Creative Ways To Store A Bike In An Apartment
Bus service
- The Ride, or the Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority (AAATA) operates public bus services throughout the city and nearby Ypsilanti.
- The AirRide or Route 98 connects to Detroit Metro Airport a dozen times a day.
- There are also limited-stop bus services between Ann Arbor and Chelsea and Canton. The two routes, 91 and 92 respectively, are known as the ExpressRide.
- Greyhound Lines provide intercity bus service.
- The Michigan Flyer, a service operated by Indian Trails, cooperates with AAATA for their AirRide and additionally offers bus service to East Lansing.
- Megabus has direct service to Chicago, Illinois, while a bus service is provided by Amtrak for rail passengers making connections to services in East Lansing and Toledo, Ohio.
Airports
- Ann Arbor Municipal Airport is a small, city-run general aviation airport.
- Detroit Metropolitan Airport, the area’s large international airport is located in Romulus.
- Willow Run Airport near Ypsilanti serves freight, corporate, and general aviation clients.
Railway
Amtrak, which provides service to the city at the Ann Arbor Train Station, operates the Wolverine train between Chicago and Pontiac, via Detroit.
Cultural activities in Ann Arbor
University of Michigan Museum of Art
Built as a war memorial in 1909, the University of Michigan Museum of Art (UMMA) is one of the largest university art museums in the US.
Head over to view a comprehensive collection of more than 19,000 works that span an array of periods, cultures and forms of media, from works by Pablo Picasso and Franz Kline to Claude Monet, Randolph Rogers and Kara Walker.
There are also a variety of educational programs, workshops, and classes for both students and visitors, along with art events throughout the year for visitors.
Michigan Stadium
Sports lovers don’t need an introduction to this stadium. But for those of us who don’t know, ‘The Big House’, or the Michigan Stadium is the largest stadium in the United States and the second-largest in the world, seating crowds of up to 115,000 people. You can catch all sorts of sports events here, from college football and hockey to the U of M’s graduation ceremonies.
State Street District
Shoppers, head straight to the State Street District when in Ann Arbor. Known for its stores, restaurants and public events including fairs and festivals, this cool spot is also home to works of art by over 300 artists.
Historical spots in Ann Arbor
Kempf House
Kempf House, designed by local master Arden Ballard is a Greek Revival Style House that had been the residence of the Kempf family from 1888 to 1953. Now it’s a house museum furnished with antique Victorian pieces and Kempf family belongings. It is also home to the city’s first grand piano of 1877!
Burton Memorial Tower
The Burton Memorial Tower is a clock tower located on Central Campus at the University of Michigan. The tower was built in 1936 as a memorial for University President Marion Leroy Burton. The grand carillon contains 55 bells and is the world’s fourth heaviest carillon, weighing a total of 43 tons.
Hill Auditorium
The Hill Auditorium, opened in 1913, is named after Arthur Hill (1847-1909). Arthur Hill served as a regent of the university from 1901 to 1909. You can head here for beautiful music concerts owing to its incredible acoustics.
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