Brookfield Residential at Cascades at Embrey Mill
Stafford, Virginia
Midland, Michigan
What It Is Like to Retire in Midland
Located in the middle of Michigan's Lower Peninsula, Midland is the county seat of Midland County, with a population of about 42,000. It has a lot to offer as a retirement town, and has been named as a Best Small City to Raise a Family by Forbes. Midland is Home to the Dow Chemical Company, which was founded here in 1897. It has played a major role in the development and growth of the community that began with the establishment of the Dow Gardens in 1899, and continues today through the The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation which provides grants to qualifying organizations for religious, charitable, scientific, literary or educational purposes.
The town's popular tourist attraction is the “Tridge” a three-way wooden foot bridge over the confluence of the Chippewa and Tittabawasse Rivers, that marks the beginning of the Pere Marquette Rail Trail, a Hall of Fame trail in Michigan. Dow Diamond, centrally located in downtown Midland, is a state-of-the-art facility that is home to the Great Lakes Loons, a Class A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Midland is also a college town as Davenport University, Delta College Midland Center, and Northwood University are located here, along with a Michigan State University research facility. Picture of Midland County Courthouse courtesy of Wikipedia and Calvin Beale (public domain); Photo of Dow Diamond home of the Single-A Great Lakes Loons of the Midwest League, courtesy of Wikipedia and Mgreason (public domain);
Watch this short Youtube video prepared by Midland Today
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Where to Retire in Midland and Home Prices
Zillow reports the median home value in Midland was $149,216 in early 2020.
What Is Special about Midland
The Dow Foundation has played a key role in the growth and amenities offered in Midland. The town boasts museums, an Arts Center, the Dow Diamond Ball Field, Chippewa Nature Center, several schools of higher education and outdoor activities for every season.
What Is Not Special about Midland
Midland has long winters with average temperatures in the 20's. It is not a walkable community.
Who Will Like Retirement in Midland
Midland has a low cost of living with housing costs well below the national average, and a low crime rate. Retirees will find a lot to do in Midland each season, with parks that offer an abundance of recreational opportunities, and many sporting events to attend as it has a Class A Dodger affilated baseball team, is a softball mecca, and the top-notch tennis center has several tournaments each year. The Midland Arts Center hosts many concerts, performances and events; the library is newly renovated and offers many activities and programs; there are also several colleges, community gardens, farmers markets and volunteer opportunities.
Local Economy Is Driven by
Manufacturing drives the economy, and the biggest employers are Dow Chemical and MidMichigan Health.
Climate and Physical Environment
January's average temperature is 25 and July's average is 70. Midland gets an annual snowfall of about 26 inches.
Restaurants & Cultural Scene
There are many restaurants from which to choose, and cultural opportunities include theaters, concerts and museums. The Midland Center for the Arts hosts performances by the Symphony Orchestra and the Center Stage Theatre. The Alden B. Dow Museum of Science and Art delivers hands-on exhibits in science, art, and technology, and The Grace A. Dow Memorial Library is an award-winning library that just underwent a $3 million renovation and offers classes and many activities.
Midland boasts several parks with over 3,000 acres. City Forest is the largest park and offers an array of year-round outdoor activities including biking, hiking, sledding, ice skating and cross county skiing. Midland is unofficially know as the “World Softball Capital” as it hosts state, national and international tournaments. Tennis is also very popular here and is home to the largest tennis center in the Midwest, and considered to be one of the top 25 in the country. The city also offers golf, community gardens, and farmers markets.
Crime
The crime rate here is very low.
Medical facilities
MidMichigan Medical Center is located in Midland, and is part of the University of Michigan Health System.
Transportation
The Jack Barstow Municipal Airport is operated by the city and is available for private planes; the closest large airport is in Flint, about 65 miles away.
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