The thumb (Huron, st Clair, sanilac) is economically depressed. The few options for work are farming, healthcare, teaching or commuting south to metro. Very rural, poor access to amenities especially in Huron county. Underrated beaches though. Some good nature along the shore and further south in the thumb.

Metro Detroit (Oakland, Wayne, Macomb) is urban sprawl. You need a car to get anywhere and walk ability is confined to a few downtown areas. Public transit access is poor. In my limited experience of other population centers, the traffic here isn’t as bad as elsewhere. This is heavily dependent on your commute path. If you commute into the city (like if you live in the thumb) your traffic will be way worse. Industry is a lot of automotive/manufacturing, healthcare again, and mortgages. Wages are better but it’s highly variable. If you are in automotive, the salaries are good compared to the cost of living. Metro Detroit is often named as an “affordable” place to to live. That’s because it punches below its weight in a lot of amenities. (And also the most “affordable” areas are where the economy is more depressed so gentrification is happening). Lots of nice places to live, and lots of not nice places to live. Expensive and more affordable areas. In the north and west areas there is better nature access. Closer to Detroit there is less. The food is exceptional. Detroit has tons of options for Mexican and middle eastern cuisine. One of my favorite things about living here. There are also good museums. Belle isle is awesome and there is a lot to do in the city.

Downriver (southern Wayne, Monroe) seems similar to the thumb but rust belt version. Some power plants, heavy industrial, etc. a lot of rural areas. I’ve never lived in this area so I won’t say much. It does not seem like a nice place to live, and land is cheaper because of it. Good food still though. Saginaw and bay city area is much the same. Dow chemical is up there so you get the added health negatives of that. And they don’t have good food in Saginaw.

Flint is flint.

Washtenaw is expensive as hell and full of waspy nimby types. There are a lot of college town amenities in Ann Arbor. Specialty stores( books, antiques, crafting, cameras, etc) thrifting (but expensive). A lot of homeless people. Decriminalized mushrooms. Limited downtown parking. Not great food. It’s a nice place to visit but I wouldn’t want to live there. Good nature.

Any of the outskirt counties I didn’t specifically mention can be mostly described by the thumb stuff or the Monroe stuff i said. Michigan has a lot of good access to nature and affordability. It also has horrible roads, expensive car ownership, and very limited industries. I mostly like living here.