TROY, MICHIGAN: A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE

   According to Money magazine, Troy, Michigan is the 25th best place to live in America. Like many places near Detroit, Troy suffered during the recession, but good times seem to be back. Auto companies' profits are rising and formerly vacant office space in Troy is filling up. Detroit's woes mean housing in the area is a bargain: The median home price is just $166,000, and property taxes are ultralow. That's a pretty good deal for a city that's been rated the safest in Michigan for 10 of the past 14 years, has great schools and the best community sports program in the state.

Here are the numbers:

Males: 39,893 (49.3%) Females: 41,109  (50.7%) Median resident age:  41.8 years Michigan median age:  45.5 years Zip codes: 4800, 48083, 48084, 48098, 48099. Estimated median household income in 2012: $85,127 (it was $77,538 in 2000) Troy: $85,127  Michigan: $45,255 Estimated per capita income in 2012: $39,575 Troy city income, earnings, and wages dataEstimated median house or condo value in 2012: $231,000 (it was $217,800 in 2000) Troy: $231,000 Michigan: $132,200 Mean prices in 2012: All housing units: $300,012; Detached houses: $310,552; Townhouses or other attached units: $192,568; In 2-unit structures: $198,653; In 3-to-4-unit structures: $219,507; In 5-or-more-unit structures: $176,411; Mobile homes: $56,550Median gross rent in 2012: $1,065.