Parks, walking trails, and low noise levels: this American city is one of the calmest places in the USA
Michigan is an excellent destination for nature enthusiasts. The state is also home to one of the most peaceful cities in the country. The financial website Insider Monkey assessed the average noise level in cities across America and evaluated the ease of access to nearby parks to compile a list of the 25 quietest places in the country.
While the top two spots are occupied by small towns in Colorado (Fort Collins and Boulder), the third spot goes to Ann Arbor, Michigan, making it the quietest place to live in America. According to Insider Monkey, the average noise level in the city is 39.13 decibels, with an impressive 92 percent access to green spaces, as reported by Travel+Leisure.
The Huron River is one of the natural reserves in Ann Arbor. The city fosters an outdoor lifestyle within a close-knit community. Located in Michigan's Lower Peninsula, just 40 miles west of Detroit, Ann Arbor stretches along both banks of the Huron River, a popular spot for locals to engage in water sports. The river boasts a 104-mile inland paddling route, easily navigated by kayak or canoe.
Ann Arbor stands out for providing its residents with all the benefits of an active university town lifestyle, coupled with an abundance of green spaces, hiking trails, and biking paths, offering residents peace and tranquility.
Michigan's third-largest state park, the Waterloo Recreation Area, spanning 20,000 acres of woods and featuring 11 lakes, lies 25 miles west of the city. Aptly nicknamed the "City of Trees," Ann Arbor also boasts numerous offerings within its city limits. With 159 parks, including small green spaces, playgrounds, and the 69-acre Gallup Park along the Huron River, residents have ample serene places to unwind and relax.
However, living in a peaceful environment has other benefits. Insider Monkey notes that noise pollution significantly impacts quality of life, leading to sleep disturbances, stress, and reduced productivity. Conversely, individuals living near green spaces and parks tend to have better cardiovascular health. According to a 2020 report from the State of Michigan, in Washington County, where Ann Arbor is located, only 15.3 percent of people are physically inactive, more than 20 percentage points lower than the Michigan average, and the obesity rate is 24.4 percent, significantly lower than both the state (56.1 percent) and national (39.6 percent) averages.