DETROIT - What are some good neighborhoods there?

Question

I may be moving to Detroit soon, and quite honestly I'm a little scared because of all the bad publicity it gets from its crime rate. Like any city, I know there are the good areas and the bad ones. I'm just worried I might accidentally end up in a bad one without meaning to!

Can someone please give me some pointers? I would be working with an airline...and need to be at the airport within an hour. What are the best neighborhoods within an hour of the airport?

Also, they need to be affordable. I can't handle a mansion ;)

Thanks!

Answer 1

You DO know that the Detroit Metro Airport is not in Detroit. don't you?

Metro Airport is in Romulus, Michigan.

Romulus is about 20-30 minutes, depending on traffic, away from Detroit.

Now, with that said, nice cities within an hour or Romulus, Michigan

- Ann Arbor, college town, hip

-Livonia, suburban splendor

-Plymouth, real life Mayberry

-New Boston, former farming community with some strip malls

... depending on your interests, Plymouth has a lot to offer. A real downtown with a village square and movie theater where they show Andy Hardy movies. True. Nice library, little cafes, coffee houses, a brew pub ... oh, low taxes, but the houses aren't cheap. Quaint.

Answer 2

It's not in Detroit, but is only a few minutes from it. I recommend Saint Clair Shores. I used to live there, great place to live. The school districts are all Blue Ribbons, little to no gangs spotted, quick and reliable police, and safe roads. The houses are affordable and you can probably find one quickly and stick with it.

Answer 3

I'd agree with bill s and cycle guy. No reason in the world to live in the city, you'd pay extra city taxes for crappy neighborhoods and no services. All the places north of the city are nice but I seriously doubt those drive times. Why live so far away from work??? I lived in Livonia for a while and it took 25 minutes to get there and Liviona area is much closer. Ann Arbor and surrounding area to the west is great. South and south-west is a little more rural, just north/north east is crappy as someone said. Don't know what anyone would have against Pylmouth, it's a small city where people hang out AT NIGHT in town, free concerts in the park all summer just wonderful.

You could live very close to the airport in many nice places that aren't too costly.  

Answer 4

Ally, I think you have gotten some great tips. I lived in Livonia (20 minutes from the airport).

Again the airport is not in the city.

I really like it. I live in San Diego now and really miss affordable housing. Livonia is a real family friendly working class sub. (in full disclosure I should mention that it is the "whitest city of 100,000 people in America. something most people in Livonia are not very proud of)

Having said that. You didn't mention kids so I assume you don't have any. But I would still check out http://www.greatschools.net/

Though I think the website judges some areas unfair taking away points for things like lack of parental college degrees. I think an area school tells you a lot about an area. Ethnic make-up, percentage of free lunches, test scores, and more.

I love Michigan. People are friendly. The economy is having a rough time right now but short of that it is a great place to live.

(I am visiting in 2 weeks I can't wait). Having said that. You should know that metro Detroit is the most segregated big city in the country. (A fact according to the US census)  So the majority of people in the city of Detroit are African American and the majority of those in the subs are white. Their is still some racial tension in the area due to the race riots of 69'. But Detroit is like any big city... good parts, bad parts, but Detroit was just named the poorest city in the nation. So when you talk to a white person "from Detroit" they are rarely really from Detroit.

Many African Americans now live outside the city too but many still do live inside the city.

Southwestern Michigan is this really cool melting pot. Dearborn Michigan has the largest percentage of Arabs living outside of the Middle East. And their are Mexican parts of town, Jewish parts, Polish parts.

Detroit is full of great things and great places. If my husband didn't have to take a job transfer I would still be there.

I wouldn't live a whole hour away. There isn't a need to. Check out where the other people who work for the airline live. That will give you a good idea. And even though the housing market has hit a crazy new low I would rent first so you can have an idea if you like it.

You didn't mention where you are from but I think you are going to like Michigan.

When you narrow it down check out Yahoo Real Estate to see the home prices in the area.(even though you won't be buying right away)

You should be able to rent an apartment or a house but the Real Estate websites should have info on the medium household income.

Good Luck. Lots of great ideas by others. When you narrow it then you should email back your choices and get some feed back. Check out the crime index for your area too.

http://livonia.areaconnect.com/crime/com...

I found a website that does that and did a quick Detroit vs Livonia search.

Good Luck. I know you will love it.  

Answer 5

An hour from Romulus?  Move to Clawson, Ferndale, Royal Oak.  They are all minutes from Detroit, but extremely safe with a lot of attractions and things to do.

If you want to move to the D itself, though, go far east as you can go near Grosse Point, MI.  Mack and Outer Drive area is relatively safe.

Answer 6

ok lets c.... away from ghetto, next to the police department and have a gated community  

Answer 7

Well if you want to live in the city of Detroit itself then crime will be an issue.  Right along the Detroit River is probably the safest area, where there are office buildings and restaurants.  Personally I would recommend living in Ferndale (9 mile and Woodward), Royal Oak (11 mile and Woodward) or Birmingham (15 mile and Woodward) where there are restaurants and night life, and it is a short commute to the city from there.

Answer 8

If you looking to live in the city good neighborhoods are Palmer Woods, Green Acres, Boston Edison, Rosedale Park, Woodbridge, East English Village, West Village, University District. If you want to live in the suburbs, but close to the city I would recommend Royal Oak, Ferndale, Dearborn, and Harper Woods. Royal Oak and Ferndale both and great night life and affordable housing and all those cities, including those neighborhoods of Detroit, are family friendly. The airport, Detroit Metro, is only about 20 minutes from the city, and about 30-40 minutes from those suburban cities. I would not recommend Livonia or Plymouth unless you want a white, suburban experience with little or no culture.  

Answer 9

Bill S is right. Living in Detroit isn't always ideal, if you can avoid it, especially since you will be working in an airport that isn't directly in Detroit. Livonia is a get place to start. Some very affordable housing, and has one of the best school districts in the area(I don't know your family situation so I am not sure this is relevant.) Livonia has also been named one of the safest cities in the county to raise a family, which means that it must be safe. Not a lot of crime, and still pretty close to the airport. Northville and Farmington Hills are very nice, but the housing will be a lot more for what you are getting. Plymouth and Canton are two other very good places I would recommend. I hope that this helps! If you have any moe questions just ask! Good Luck!

Answer 10

My wife worked at the airport and could be there in 35 minutes from St Clair Shores You can get a nice house for around 125 000 on average you are conveniant to all the amenities. The lake is right there, very little crime and good schools.You be downtown in 10 minutes. We lived there for 8 years , we got transfered last spring but would recommend the shores

Answer 11

I suggest you visit the area prior to deciding on what city or neighborhood to live in.  Your definition of nice may be different than mine.  The airport is in Romulus, so if you want a shorter commute I would look around there within 10 square miles or so.  Of course the closer you the more likely you are to hear planes buzzing by more than cities 30 minutes away.  The city is too large to tell you what is nice and what is not.  You will find that if you drive Detroit, there is a lot of spotty areas, but just too vast to make a decision on.  If you want affordable, then you may want to look in Downriver communities like Wyandotte or Allen Park etc.  

You need to talk to a relocation company or apartment finder.

Answer 12

Like Bill s wrote - the airport isn't that close to the city. You have your choice of many nice places within an hour. Plymouth/Canton area is very close. Liviona, Farmington, Northville, Novi and a 100 other places.

In general, south and west of the airport is pretty rural, north is suburbia, north-east is the only place I'd avoid - the Inkster area is pretty nasty.  

Answer 13

I would check out Oakland County.  Troy, Rochester, Royal Oak, Clawson, Madison Heights or Macomb County Sterling Heights, Clinton Township, Shelby Township. Most of these locales would be a 30-45min drive from Metro Airport.  It really depends on your salary.  There are lots of nice places to live in the Detroit area! If you contact a relocation specialist, they will help you find a house within your budget and in a nice area.  Good Luck!!