Get in touch with Jason (http://xxcmag.com/about xxcmag@gmail.com )
He moved from SE PA to near Midland a bit less than two years ago. He bikes, puts together the mag linked to and would be able to give you a perspective of someone who moved to Michigan and near Midland.

I'm a lifelong Michigan resident and there are some spectacular pluses to being here. Cost of living is reasonable compared to many parts of the country. Summer is great, spring and fall are superb and if you're into winter things it's another dimension. Corsair XC skiing isn't too far from Midland.
Good kayak/canoeing abounds. Plus from anywhere in Michigan, you're always close to one of the Great Lakes.

The area you're looking at has one large employer (Dow), some smaller ones. Not the vibe of Ann Arbor for sure but it's a much shorter drive to the upper half of the lower peninsula.

For road riding, 'tis true, it's pretty much a grid. If you're into riding gravel roads it can get pretty and interesting too. Low traffic for the most part.