Is Michigan a Good State to Decompress and Get ‘Off the Grid?’

If you're the kind of person that wants to get away from all the hectic aspects of life and "live off the grind" and decompress, then don't live in New Jersey. But, what about Michigan?

The folks at LawnStarter have ranked 2023's best, and worst, states to "live off the grind," and New Jersey was at the bottom. In the study, "We compared the 50 states based on 23 key factors, such as the cost of farmland, legality of self-generated utilities, and availability of renewable energy. We also considered indicators like climate, phone connectivity, and access to rural hospitals."

According to the study, Iowa has your "best chance of surviving on your lonesome in the wilderness." It's the No. 1 state for living off the grid in LawnStarter's third annual ranking. No. 2 is Texas, followed by Kenntucky, Minnesota and Oklahoma. The bottom five are Massachusetts, Maryland, Connecticut, Rhode Island and, at the very bottom of the tally, New Jersey. So, where is Michigan? It's No. 37 on the list, making the Mitten one of the not-so-great states to "live off the grind."

According to the study, "While living off-grid might make you feel isolated, you certainly wouldn’t be alone. Over 250,000 people already live off the grid in the U.S, and more will join. By some estimates, as many as 12% of all Americans will be off-grid by 2035." View the full ranking and analysis here.

Michigan has plenty of great colleges and universities, and now, a new study says that the Mitten has the No. 1 best small college town in America. We shouldn't be surprised, because it seems as if Michigan always tops these lists of the best colleges and college towns. I especially agree with these findings, because I graduated from a university here in Michigan and couldn't have been happier with my personal experience.

The folks at Preply.com have put together a list of the 10 Best Small College Towns in the USA. They note the charm and benefits of a smaller school, stating, "In a world where 'bigger' is often seen as 'better,' small towns can easily get overlooked. When choosing a university, though, good things often come in small packages." They add some benefits of small town life include that, "Small college towns are often safer and more affordable than big cities. Their populations can be surprisingly varied, yet their smaller sizes make them easier for newcomers to navigate. 'Town and gown' relationships — that is, the interactions between small town residents and university students — can be much closer than those in a major metropolis."

Preply.com has used plenty of statistics to find the top small college towns the USA has to offer. Some of the statistics they highlight include rent, average salary, the cost of beer (yes, they actually made this a factor), the number of parks, the crime rate and more. So, what Michigan small town was named the No. 1 in America to go to college? It's a perennial favorite, as we see this city on a lot of "best-of" lists, especially when it comes to education. Read on for the full list of the 10 best small college towns in the USA via Preply.com. Find more information on each of the college towns here.

https://www.auburnalabama.org/

https://www.exploreasheville.com/

https://www.westlafayette.in.gov/

http://www.clemson.edu/

https://www.rochestermn.gov/

https://www.grandforksgov.com/

https://www.cityoflacrosse.org/

https://newarkde.gov/

https://www.stcharlescitymo.gov/

https://www.michigan.org/city/ann-arbor

This list is via Preply.com.