Exploring Metro Detroit: A Neighborhood-by-Neighborhood Rental Guide

I'm Tim, your ApartmentHomeLiving.com Local Expert for Metro Detroit. As covered in other articles, the City of Detroit has much to offer to renters. Still, you can find many other great options in surrounding communities that balance affordability, space, and accessibility.

About 5.8 million people live in metro Detroit, including Windsor, Ontario, and its suburbs. As with any metro area of that size, you will find many surrounding communities with rental apartments and homes. The city near Detroit that works best for you likely comes down to your budget, desired commute, and lifestyle preferences, including its schools, shopping, and recreational opportunities.

Current Rental Pricing for Apartments in Detroit

In this review, I'll suggest several clusters of communities offering many rental opportunities and diverse budgets and lifestyles within 30 miles of downtown Detroit. In addition, I'll suggest a handful of outer-ring communities located up to 45 miles from downtown.

The clusters and communities I'll cover include:

• Woodward Corridor: Royal Oak, Berkley, and Birmingham
• Northwestern Highway Corridor: Southfield, Farmington Hills, and West Bloomfield
• Downriver and Near West: Dearborn, Allen Park, and Livonia
• Outer Ring: Rochester, Clarkston, and Brighton

Woodward Corridor

The Woodward Corridor is defined by Woodward Avenue, which travels north from downtown Detroit to Pontiac. A portion of Woodward Avenue in the City of Detroit was the world's first concrete highway, which contributed to Woodward's long history as a major commuting artery in the area. Several communities grew up along Woodward Avenue over the years, which has remained a significant commercial hub ever since. The Woodward Corridor is best suited for those who prefer a central location and an older, dense suburban feel.

Royal Oak

Most of Royal Oak contains pre-1950s single-family housing and apartments. On the other hand, downtown Royal Oak has seen a surge of multi-story condos and apartments in recent years, many of which are pricier. Its central location and access to I-75, I-696, and Woodward Avenue make it easy to get to anywhere in the metro area.

Royal Oak is home to the Detroit Zoo and is a top nightlife destination, with restaurants, concert venues, and many other establishments. With its schools rated in the top 25% of the metro area, Royal Oak housing can be relatively expensive. Still, the community's pleasant surroundings and central location make it an attractive option for many.

Berkley

Berkley sits further north along Woodward Avenue than Royal Oak (about 26 miles from downtown Detroit), though downtown Berkley is along 12 Mile Road. Laid out in a grid pattern, with much of its housing dating from shortly after WWII, the city is very walkable and a popular location for starter homes and apartments that are less expensive than in Royal Oak or Birmingham. Known for its excellent school system, it's a hidden gem with more than a dozen parks and a handful of top-notch neighborhood restaurants, such as Vinsetta Garage, a solid burger joint housed in a former auto repair garage on Woodward.

Birmingham

Birmingham is the next stop north along Woodward Avenue and is the Detroit area's most prestigious community. Its downtown area, which sits along Woodward, has numerous office buildings, high-end restaurants, and boutiques. Most of the community is densely packed with luxurious single-family homes, and there are luxury apartment and condo complexes in the downtown area. Here and there, you can find more traditional two-story apartment blocks, but they are relatively pricey as well.

Birmingham schools are consistently among the state's best, and with most of Birmingham being quite walkable, the available apartments are highly sought after.

Northwestern Highway Corridor

This corridor, named for Northwestern Highway, extends from the Lodge Freeway (M-10), which travels from downtown Detroit toward the Lakes Area to Detroit's northwest. It is like the Woodward Corridor in some respects, though most housing is from the 1950s through the 1990s, is less dense, and offers a larger and more diverse selection of apartments.

Southfield

Southfield is a suburban community with many apartments, especially near the numerous high-rise office buildings and other businesses along Northwestern Highway.

Southfield may have the most diverse mix of apartments in the metro area, ranging from 1960s-era high-rise apartments to garden-style, two-story complexes with lawns and pools. Many Southfield apartments cost slightly less than the metro average, though the high-rise apartments and townhouses closest to the office complex can be much pricier.

Southfield lacks a formal downtown, though it has many shops and restaurants located along its major commercial roads, most of which follow a grid pattern. It is not a highly walkable community, and its schools are considered average compared to the rest of the state.

Farmington Hills

Farmington Hills adjoins Southfield to the west, and its apartments are somewhat higher-priced than Southfield's. Most apartments in Farmington Hills are in garden-style complexes with green space, fitness centers, and the like built from the 1970s to 1990s. Rents vary by location and level of renovation.

Farmington Hills is also not highly walkable, though some portions near the original downtown area are denser. Three school districts serve the city, so your exact address is important for determining which school system you are in. All three systems are very solid, but not elite.

West Bloomfield

West Bloomfield is immediately north of Farmington Hills and covers the southeastern portion of the Lakes Area, dotted with numerous spring- and river-fed lakes. About 12% of the township is covered by water, allowing some garden-style apartment complexes to have lake access. Other apartments are newer, multi-story buildings located along Orchard Lake Road, the township's primary commercial area.

Like other communities in the Northwestern Highway Corridor, West Bloomfield is not very walkable, despite numerous walking trails that allow for exercise. (They do not help commuting or shopping.) Like Farmington Hills, multiple school districts serve the township. The West Bloomfield school system covers most of the township, and is well above average, but not elite.

Downriver and Near West

Downriver is the local nickname for Detroit's south side, where some communities border the Detroit River as it flows south from Detroit toward Lake Erie. Downriver communities range from heavily industrialized to more rural, and everything in between. I can only cover a few, including Dearborn, Allen Park, and Livonia, the latter being more western than downriver, but it is also part of Wayne County.

Dearborn

Dearborn borders the City of Detroit to the south and west, about 12 miles from downtown Detroit. It is home to Ford's headquarters, numerous other Ford facilities, and historical and entertainment sites, including the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village. It has many green spaces with pathways for running, walking, or biking. Besides the Ford facilities, it is recognized for being home to America's largest mosque, the Arab American National Museum, and numerous Middle Eastern restaurants. I-94 and a major state highway (M-39) bisect Dearborn, so the community has easy access to anywhere in the metro area.

With a population of more than 100,000 in an inner-ring suburb, Dearborn has many single-family homes on smaller lots, along with apartment complexes ranging from 100-year-old structures to newly built complexes located near the University of Michigan-Dearborn. Dearborn also has more duplexes than is typical among the communities cited here.

Allen Park

Situated on Dearborn's southern border, Allen Park is home to single-family homes on tree-lined streets. However, two- and three-story apartment complexes built in the 1950s to 1970s are available in several locations and are generally less expensive than other communities. Renting single-family homes is also common in Allen Park.

Like other Downriver cities, Ford Motor Company is prominent in Allen Park, and the community is also home to the Detroit Lions' practice facility. I-75 and I-94 pass through Allen Park, providing easy access to all Detroit metro locations.

Livonia

Livonia is in Wayne County, though it sits west and north of Dearborn. It has a sizable number of apartments that are generally less expensive than those in Oakland County. Most are in garden-style complexes built in the 1950s to 1990s, many of which are close to I-275 near 6 and 7 Mile Roads, so they have easy access to the metro area by car.

Livonia has a clear suburban feel. It's quiet, with limited nightlife, but it has very strong schools, so it is a great choice for anyone with children. Laurel Park Place and the major roadways that intersect throughout Livonia are the primary locations for commercial and entertainment options.

Outer Ring Cities

The Detroit area has numerous outer-ring cities with some rental opportunities, though generally not in large numbers. Whereas the communities described in the Northwestern Highway Corridor resulted from suburban sprawl and retained little of their original downtowns, each of the outer-ring suburbs has a solid downtown area with older homes that give each community a unique identity. Besides their downtown areas, each consists largely of subdivisions that have grown around the original settlements.

Rochester and Clarkston are north of Detroit, while Brighton lies to the Northwest. If you find outer-ring communities with downtown areas appealing, consider Plymouth, Northville, and Ann Arbor as well.

Rochester

Rochester is an old mill town that boasts a downtown hub with shops, restaurants, and several restored factory buildings. The downtown area sits immediately north of the Clinton River, with much of the river lined with parkland. Bloomer Park offers substantial green space and wetlands, along with a sledding hill and cricket grounds.

Downtown Rochester has an upscale feel with restaurants, charming boutiques, and some offices, and hosts various festivals throughout the year. Most apartments are garden-style, though some lofts, townhouses, and condos are also available, most of which are more expensive than is typical in the metro area. Also, the school system is among the highest rated in the state, so you can't go wrong living in the area.

Clarkston

Clarkston sits northwest of Rochester along I-75. Its historic district features buildings dating back to the 1830s and an old mill pond. Clarkston's downtown offers a small-town ambiance amid a broader, leafy suburban landscape.

Clarkston's apartments are limited in number and tend to be garden-style and townhouse-oriented, with most built before 2000. Some new apartment complexes and rental homes are also available. Clarkston's school system is very good to excellent.

Brighton

Brighton is 45 miles from downtown Detroit along Grand River Avenue, which travels all the way to Lansing. Sitting in Livingston County in an area with numerous lakes and sizable metroparks nearby, it feels less Detroit-oriented than the other communities reviewed here. It is the sleepiest of the communities, but it has a vibrant downtown with shops, restaurants with street-side dining, and limited nightlife.

Like Clarkston, the number of apartments is limited, and the units are garden-style. It has an excellent school system that carries a less competitive feel than many in Oakland County.

Summing It Up

You have many choices when looking for an apartment or another rental in the Detroit metro area. The area offers ample opportunity for different styles of living, locations, and price points.

Each of the four clusters has some variation among its communities, but several rules of thumb may help your search:

• Woodward Corridor: Older, denser, and highly walkable in a central location. Excellent to elite schools
• Northwestern Highway Corridor: Newer than Woodward, with more green space, but also less walkable. Average to excellent schools
• Downriver and Near West: Dearborn and Allen Park offer less expensive rental options in established, denser neighborhoods. Livonia has more garden-style apartments with a more suburban feel.
• Outer Ring: Noted for their downtown areas that unite their communities, Rochester, Clarkston, and Brighton offer a small-town feel in otherwise suburban spaces.

Finally, while I have summarized the apartment rental opportunities and overall sense of 12 communities, there are always exceptions. Your search may reveal an apartment that is less expensive or situated in a neighborhood that is different than each community's norm, so if you find a community or two that you particularly like, focus on that city and find a hidden gem. If you find one, consider yourself lucky and enjoy your time in your new home.