i live 5 minutes away from pontiac.. pontiac is ok, less violent than it used to be, a poor city with a lot of abandonment (some local businesses do thrive!), but an excellent place for community and volunteering opportunities. the people are very nice and friendly. pontiac is also popular place for clubbing and concerts where you'll find a lot of college students and highscoolers (crofoot ballroom and clutch cargo come to mind).. so if you are into going to shows you'll be happy here. its also really really closeby to the palace of auburn hills and other entertainment areas. also, pontiac is at the northern end of Woodward avenue, which is one of the oldest roads, stretching from detroit to pontiac (and st joe's is right on woodward). woodward ave is a landmark in itself. just take a drive up and down it to see an important cultural center full of local businesses and good places to eat or shop. its a unique place. royal oak and ferndale are nearby, and the more upscale birmingham downtown. a lot of med students prefer living in royal oak, which is kinda the college "scene" around here, but i like more of a small town atmosphere.
st joe's is one of the most reputable hospitals in this area. it is at the border of bloomfield hills, the richest city of michigan so it caters to the suburban and urban populations. nearby is oakland university. the best place to live would be in the city of auburn hills. auburn hills is nearby everything (particularly the highways.. try to be close to those), affordable, and safe! you'll be able to find MANY cheap apartments in auburn hills. if you want more info about the suburbs surrounding pontiac, stuff to do or places to eat, PM me! i live only about 2 miles away from st. joe's, and i love living here 🙂
