I live in this area, and feel qualified to comment.
> climate change refuge
Not totally sure what that means, but we get anywhere between 2-4 weeks of (usually non-consecutive) high heat (90F plus) per summer and 7 months of cold, as judged by whether or not I ride my motorcycle. If you mean will you have to swim through your house after the polar ice caps melt, no, I don't believe so.
> Continuing education opportunities
You're in luck, there two major universities, a community college, and branch locations for other universities and colleges, all within probably 10 minutes of each other.
> A good public / uni library system
The AADL and Ypsilanti libraries are amazing. Thanks to Melcat, you can borrow any book at any other Michigan library.
> Walkable density
As long as you're okay renting. Ann Arbor property values and property taxes are reasonably ridiculous and Ypsi is getting there. That said, I live in a suburb north of Ypsi and there are enough sidewalks and trails here to keep me happy. (But I do have to drive for all of my errands.)
> Reasonable cost of living
I consider AA/Ypsi to be on the low end of medium COL. Everyday living stuff (groceries, gas) is pretty typical compared to other places around the state but housing and entertainment are higher. As an upside, there is no local income tax, only federal and state.
> As long as you're okay renting. Ann Arbor property values and property taxes are reasonably ridiculous and Ypsi is getting there.
In fact, A2 housing prices are simply insane. Even a 1000 sq ft hovel without garage sells for upward of $500k; I kid you not. Nowhere in MI is the housing market more expensive, even the tonier resort spots like Charlevoix. A2 prices rival upscale neighborhoods just outside large US cities, but the houses in A2 are smaller and relatively downscale.
In the past couple years the fraction of A2 homes bought with cash is very high, so there seems to be an influx of emigre coastal urbanites driving the demand.
> climate change refuge
Not totally sure what that means, but we get anywhere between 2-4 weeks of (usually non-consecutive) high heat (90F plus) per summer and 7 months of cold, as judged by whether or not I ride my motorcycle. If you mean will you have to swim through your house after the polar ice caps melt, no, I don't believe so.
> Continuing education opportunities
You're in luck, there two major universities, a community college, and branch locations for other universities and colleges, all within probably 10 minutes of each other.
> A good public / uni library system
The AADL and Ypsilanti libraries are amazing. Thanks to Melcat, you can borrow any book at any other Michigan library.
> Walkable density
As long as you're okay renting. Ann Arbor property values and property taxes are reasonably ridiculous and Ypsi is getting there. That said, I live in a suburb north of Ypsi and there are enough sidewalks and trails here to keep me happy. (But I do have to drive for all of my errands.)
> Reasonable cost of living
I consider AA/Ypsi to be on the low end of medium COL. Everyday living stuff (groceries, gas) is pretty typical compared to other places around the state but housing and entertainment are higher. As an upside, there is no local income tax, only federal and state.