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Beautiful Lakeside Setting, Six
Million Tulips and a Delightful Touch of the Netherlands Bring
Retirees to Safe, Picturesque Holland, Michigan
Cost of Living: Below the National Average
| Cozy Holland is a delightful small city
(population 34,000) located on Lake Macatawa and Lake
Michigan, in the southwestern section of Michigan.
Settled by Dutch Calvin separatists in 1847, Holland is
a conservative place and has a strong religious
identity. It was once was known as the City of
Churches, and today it boasts 170 churches, many of them
associated with the Reformed Church in America (which
was once the North American branch of the Dutch Reformed
Church). The town's Dutch roots run deep and are
reflected in its traditional Dutch architecture and in
the colorful, annual Tulip Time Festival held each May,
a time when six million tulips bloom throughout
the city. Perhaps this is why Holland has been
named the second happiest place in the U.S. by the
Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index. Of the
population, 16% is age 45 to 64, and 14% is age 65 or
better.
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The cost of living is approximately
18% below the national average, and the median home
price is roughly $125,000, also well below the national
average. Home styles are varied and include
Cape Cods, brick ranch-styles, standard bi-levels,
cottages, Victorians, early 20th-century bungalows and
modern vinyl and brick 2-story homes.
Comfortable three bedroom, two bath homes with 1,200 to
1,500 square feet can easily be found in the low
$100,000s (and some needing a little fixing up can be
found for less than $100,000). The median home
price of $125,000 and up to $200,000 will fetch a pretty
new home with upgrades or an older home with renovations
(which may include hardwood floors, cathedral ceilings
and a Jacuzzi), two or four bedrooms, two baths, a large
lot, a garage and mature trees. Condominiums
overlooking the lake can be found for less than
$100,000. Some of Holland's most
expensive homes are found on the south shore of Lake
Macatawa where residences can reach 10,000 square feet
and cost in the millions of dollars.
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The average apartment rent in Holland is around $550
per month for a two bedroom, one bath unit, and availability seems
good There are also fourteen mobile home communities, a
handful of which are age-restricted. Prices start at around
$30,000.
Holland has two historic districts with more than 350
properties listed, most dating from the mid- to late-1800s.
Classic, well-kept homes in these areas range from stately Queen Anne
Victorians to Tudors to American Foursquares. A few smaller
homes start in the mid-$200,000s, but $325,000 and higher seems closer
to the average as most of these houses are fairly large (3,500 square
feet is not unusual). Exterior renovations to
residences in the historic sections must meet certain city-issued
guidelines, and homes here are often featured on the Holland Historic
Home Tour.
This is an
interactive map. Click on the arrows in the upper left hand
corner to move the map to the East, West, North or South, and click on the +/- signs
(more than once if necessary) to zoom in
and out.
Property taxes are assessed at 50% of a home's value multiplied by
the millage rate of 25 to 28 per $1,000. The annual taxes on a
$150,000 home would be $1,916 to $2,160, depending on the school
district in which the home is located. The sales tax rate is 6%
(food and prescription drugs are exempt). State income tax rate
is 4.35% and is dropping. Social Security, military, federal,
and state/local government pensions are exempt from taxation.
Holland's recently restored Victorian-themed downtown, called
Streetscape, adds to the town's considerable charm; there are
excellent restaurants, quaint shops, cozy cafes and touristy boutiques
dotting eight square blocks. Streets and sidewalks
are thoughtfully heated through a series of underground pipes known as
the Snowmelt Project, keeping snow and ice at bay and making getting
around that much easier during winter months. Big box
stores are also scattered around town, so shopping is more than
adequate, and Grand Rapids is only half an hour away for shopping and
entertainment thirsts that can not be quenched locally. Retirees
will also be glad to know that Holland's crime rate is below the
national average.
During the spring and summer, Holland comes to life. Farmers'
markets pop up; the beaches fill up and one million tourists descend
for parades, Dutch dances, costumed entertainers, Dutch food, concerts
and more during the famous, fragrant Tulip Time Festival. The
community Holland Civic Theatre lets residents participate in live
theater. Windmill Island Gardens is home to 248 year old
"De Zwaan," the only authentic working Dutch windmill in the
U.S. Surrounded by 36 acres and 150,000 tulips, it is a colorful
trip to the Netherlands without ever leaving Michigan.
Sailing, canoeing and fishing will keep many a retiree busy as lake
recreation is in abundance. There are also nine golf courses in
town, and parks and walking paths are in good supply. During the
winter, thoughts turn to snow shoeing, cross country skiing and ice
skating, and Holland transforms into a winter wonderland.
The Holland Museum manages a number of historical
sites, including the Cappon House (1873), an Italianate-style
residence designed by a Dutch immigrant architect for Holland's first
mayor and tannery owner, Isaac Cappon. The new Dutch Galleries
is "a growing collection of 17th to 19th century paintings and
decorative arts" and has also just opened at the Museum.
Hope College is a small private school that adds culture and energy to
the community. The Herrick District Library is well-funded
and houses more than 217,000 volumes.
Evergreen Commons is the local senior center.
Its mission is to "contribute
to the social, physical, emotional, spiritual and intellectual quality
of life for adults age 50 and older, their families and caregivers,
within the context of Judeo-Christian values." The Center
offers classes (language, dance, computer, crafts, etc.), has a number
of clubs (singles, stamps, photography, bowling, etc.) and activities
(music groups, card games, etc.), a fitness center, in-home services,
adult day care and offers nearby excursions (Detroit Tigers' baseball
games, shopping outings, etc.) and trips to other parts of the county.
Senior Times is a monthly publication that covers local events.
Holland Hospital is a 205-bed, private, non-profit hospital that
has been serving the area since 1917. It has been named a 100
Top Hospital for four yeas in a row (only 40 other hospitals in the
U.S. have achieved this) and offers a full range of inpatient services
including surgery, cardiology, intensive care, behavioral health and
24-hour emergency care. Outpatient services include a walk-in
urgent care clinic, pain clinic, ortho/rehabilitation, sleep disorders
lab, mammography center, and home care program, as well as community
health ministry and school nursing programs.
Macatawa Area Express (MAX) is the public bus system and operates
six days a week. Adults ride for $1.00, and anyone age 65 or
better rides for free. Holland has two small airports but no
commercial air service.
Summers are
beautiful but a bit on the cool side, with an average July high
temperature of just 82 degrees. Winters can get cold with
temperatures dipping into the teens on a fairly regular basis.
Humidity is high, and the area can see significant snowfall (15-25
inches per month from December through March). There are
just 165 sunny days a year, but sunsets on Lake Michigan are
spectacular.
Holland has some
drawbacks. Family roots here are deep, and long-time
residents may be slow in welcoming newcomers. Michigan's
dismal economic climate can be felt here, but Holland has an eye on
the future and has been working to transform itself into a high-tech
hub. Still, the unemployment rate is above the national
average. The city has seen a large influx of Hispanics
recently, and not all residents have welcomed them, leading to some
cultural tensions. Holland is also losing population, roughly 2%
in the last decade, but this is common in many northern mid-western
towns and cities.
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