Michigan 55+ Retirement Communities

Michigan, located in the Great Lakes region, offers an attractive location for active adults considering a home purchase in a 55+ community. The state boasts a diverse range of outdoor activities, including hiking, fishing, and exploring its picturesque landscapes and lakeshores. Michigan is known for its rich automotive heritage and hosts various cultural events and festivals year-round. Its reasonable cost of living and central Midwest location make it an appealing destination for those seeking a retirement lifestyle with plenty of recreational opportunities to enjoy.

Climate & Geography

Michigan is the ninth most populous state in the United States. It is located in the Great Lakes Region and is bordered by Wisconsin, Canada, Ohio and Indiana, as well as by four of the five Great Lakes. Michigan has a continental climate with well-defined seasons. It is divided into Upper and Lower Peninsulas by the Straits of Mackinac. The southern and central parts of the Lower Peninsula have a warmer climate with hot summers and cold winters. While the northern part of the Lower Peninsula and the whole Upper Peninsula have a more severe climate with short, warm summers and long, cold winters. There is an average of 30-40 inches of rain and about 30 days of thunderstorms per year.

Recreation, Culture & Entertainment

Michigan is more colorful than most may think and people visit for the activities, water, culture and compassionate people. Active adults love that the state offers small-town charm, rural camaraderie and strong pride.

Michigan is known primarily for its car industry but they are also a leader in many other industrial and processing lines such as prepared cereals, machine tools, airplane parts, refrigerators, hardware and furniture. Michigan produces large amounts of iron, copper, iodine, gypsum, bromine, salt, lime, gravel and cement. Michigan has many forests, which has helped boost the economy resulting in many jobs in wood production, tourism and recreational industries.

Outdoor recreation is popular in the state with activities such as boating, fishing, snowmobiling, hunting, camping and golf. Michigan is home to more than 36,000 miles of streams, 11,000 inland lakes and borders four of the five Great Lakes. Some popular points of interest among active adults and retirees include Sleeping Bear Dunes, Traverse City, Ludington, Bay View, lighthouses, Mackinac Island, Motown Historic Museum, The Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village.

Cost of Living & Taxes

You may be amazed to find out that Michigan has one of the best tax deals in the United States for retired people. This is largely due to Michigan's state income tax exemption of private pension income that is $45,120 for singles and $90,240 for those filing a joint return. The overall cost of living is lower in Michigan with a flat rate of 4.35% income tax. The state sales tax is 6% and there is no local or city sales tax. Property tax is appraised at 50% of its true cash value and there is no inheritance tax but there is an estate tax.

Healthcare

Michigan's active adults have access to five hospitals that are nationally ranked and 34 other hospitals that met the criteria for strong performance within the state. The state is ranked 36th for overall health.