I just visited the Ford School this week as part of another U Mich school admit day (I am interested in a dual degree) and left with a good sense from both the Ford students, speaking to the strengths of the program, and Ann Arbor, which has a fairly vibrant culture. Sure, it's no DC, Boston, or Berkeley, but it does have a lot of both wrapped into a Midwestern hamlet of liberal affluence. I forgot I was in the mid-west, which in my book is a good thing.
While i haven't decided on Michigan, I was impressed by the caliber of students and attracted to the cross-disciplinary opportunities among the professional schools. I am interested in a dual MPP/MS, but I met a lot of students who were pursuing dual degrees across Business, Law, Health, Natural Resources, Public Policy, etc. The school makes that easy. And, even if you don't want to graduate with a dual degree, the other professional school courses are open to you. I see this level of institutionally supported interdisciplinary opportunities as one of the biggest strengths of Michigan.