Relocate to Detroit: Top Neighborhoods and Apartment Options Near Major Area Employers

The auto industry remains the largest employment sector in the Motor City and surrounding communities, though the metro area has a significant presence in other sectors, including medical and financial services. I'll cover neighborhoods near five major employers, starting with the Big Three auto manufacturers (General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis). I'll focus on neighborhoods near the headquarters locations, but each firm has a mix of manufacturing, engineering, financing, marketing, and other operations spread across the metro area.

The Rocket Companies (Rocket Mortgage, Quicken Loans) is Detroit's most significant player in the financial sector. At the same time, major employers in the medical field include Henry Ford Health System, Detroit Medical Center, and Corewell Health. For the health sector, I'll explore housing opportunities near Corewell Health's flagship hospital. Its inner suburban setting differs from Henry Ford Health System and Detroit Medical Center (DMC), both of which are in or near downtown Detroit. Neighborhoods near DMC and Henry Ford largely overlap with those recommended for General Motors and the Rock Companies.

Of course, you should balance your housing choice based on proximity to work, along with the lifestyle and cultural options available further from work, so you should familiarize yourself with all the neighborhoods covered. Whether you want a neighborhood near work or more distant, you can easily commute from any Detroit area community that fits your lifestyle choices.

Current Rental Pricing for Apartments in the Detroit Metro Area

Downtown Neighborhoods Near General Motors

General Motors's global headquarters is in the Renaissance Center (the RenCen), a complex of seven skyscrapers sitting along the Detroit River. Windsor, Ontario, is on the opposite side of the river. The RenCen's location makes it easily accessible to the many housing options in Detroit's downtown and Midtown areas, as well as Rivertown and other neighborhoods found in the Jefferson Corridor.

The QLine, a 3.3-mile-long trolley system, runs along Woodward Avenue, downtown's primary artery, from close to the river, through Midtown, and out to the New Center. The QLine makes many neighborhoods easily accessible to the RenCen and the Campus Martius area, which includes the Rocket Companies.

Rivertown

The Rivertown or Warehouse District runs along the Detroit River immediately northeast of the RenCen. The area boasts former warehouses converted into lofts, with many nightlife options available to residents and visitors. Outdoor recreation abounds with the Dequindre Cut Greenway, a retired railway converted into a biking and walking path. However, the biggest draw is the Riverwalk, which follows along the river for miles from downtown and through William G. Milliken State Park. Apartments and condos are available in buildings built from the 1920s to the 2020s that meet a range of budgets.

Midtown

"Midtown" is often used generically to describe the Wayne State University area. In addition, the Midtown neighborhood is immediately south of Wayne State's main campus. Bordered by Woodward, Mack, and Warren Avenues, plus the Lodge Freeway (M10), the area includes a mix of restaurants and shops with a younger vibe. Like the neighborhoods around Midtown, there are apartments in older buildings – some rehabbed and others not - plus high-rise buildings and apartments in new townhouses. Older homes are available for rent as well.

Cass Corridor

The Cass Corridor is named for Cass Avenue, which is west of and parallel to Woodward Avenue. The neighborhood is bordered by I-94 to the north, I-75 to the south, Woodward Avenue to the east, and Grand River Avenue to the west. It was among the first areas in the downtown area to undergo revitalization. The Detroit Red Wings and Pistons play in Little Caesar's Arena, which opened in 2017 and lies within the Cass Corridor. Many businesses have grown in the surrounding area, and additional construction continues. The area has a significant student presence and businesses that cater to their needs. Housing options range from newly built or renovated luxury and near-luxury apartments to older apartment buildings and townhouses.

Downtown Neighborhoods Near Rock Financial

Rock Financial's headquarters and other locations are mainly in the Campus Martius area of downtown Detroit. Dan Gilbert, the company's founder, has been a significant force in the redevelopment of downtown Detroit, buying and renovating many properties that have returned a vibrancy to the city center that went missing for decades.

Brush Park

Brush Park is another Midtown Detroit neighborhood, though it is closer to downtown. The area includes streets filled with elegant older homes, many of which have been restored as residences or for commercial purposes. Recent construction has brought many condominium and apartment buildings into the neighborhood. Whereas some areas in Midtown, especially those close to Wayne State, primarily appeal to students, Brush Park is more upscale, and its appealing location results in more expensive housing that appeals to young professionals and others.

New Center

Several miles west of downtown along Woodward Avenue are several neighborhoods that have undergone or are actively redeveloping, including the New Center and Milwaukee Junction neighborhoods. Besides Woodward Avenue, the New Center neighborhood boundaries are Lothrop and Baltimore Streets and The Lodge (M10). New Center is home to the Center for Creative Studies' Taubman Center, a significant art and design college, and the Fisher Building, a landmark Art Deco building completed in 1928. The area includes elements of the Henry Ford Health System and Hitsville U.S.A., the original home of Motown Records. Various forms of housing are available in New Center, and its several QLine stops provide easy access to much of central Detroit.

Milwaukee Junction

Milwaukee Junction lies to the east of the New Center neighborhoods and is quickly developing. Ford's Piquette plant, which built the first Model T, remains in the area and contributes to the area being considered the cradle of the American auto industry. Apartments, condominiums, and office space have been created in former automotive and other factories, transforming the area into one of the central city's hottest neighborhoods. Although the area currently lacks some amenities, those businesses will soon fill in due to the redevelopment process.

Neighborhoods Near Corewell Health

Corewell Health's William Beaumont University Hospital is in Royal Oak, a suburban community about 17 miles northwest of downtown Detroit. The hospital sits along Woodward Avenue, which is a major thoroughfare and commercial center for the area.

Royal Oak Downtown

Royal Oak has substantial single-family housing stock from the first half of the 20th century. However, a variety of new multi-story condos and apartments have popped up in downtown Royal Oak in recent years. Downtown Royal Oak is a top nightlife destination for the northern suburban area, with restaurants, concert venues, and many other establishments. Housing can be more expensive than downtown neighborhoods, but Royal Oak's pleasant surroundings and central location make it an attractive option for many.

Berkley

Berkley is northwest of Royal Oak along the Woodward Corridor. Woodward Avenue is the community's central commercial hub, though downtown Berkley is along 12 Mile Road. Berkley is a highly walkable, grid-pattern community typical of those built in the 1920s. Popular with young couples seeking starter homes, it also has new multi-story apartment buildings, though most apartments are in older, two-story units.

Southfield

Southfield is a quiet suburban community without a formal downtown. However, it has a variety of shops and restaurants on its commercial roads and in several high-rise office tower complexes along The Lodge (M10). Apartments are available in two-story apartment complexes that have lawns and green space. Luxury High-rise apartments are also available in the area.

Neighborhoods Near Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company headquarters are in Dearborn, which borders Detroit to the south and west, and is about 12 miles from downtown Detroit. Besides Ford's headquarters, Dearborn hosts numerous other Ford facilities, in addition to historical and entertainment sites such as the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village. These properties and the University of Michigan – Dearborn give Dearborn many green spaces with extensive pathways for running, walking, or biking.

More than 40% of Dearborn residents are of Arab descent. Dearborn is home to America's largest mosque, the Arab American National Museum, and many Middle Eastern restaurants. I-94 bisects Dearborn, and a major state highway (M39) runs through Dearborn from north to south, so Dearborn offers easy access to anywhere in the metro area.

Dearborn

Dearborn, with a population exceeding 100,000, covers 24 square miles. The city offers many housing options. As an older, inner-ring suburb, it offers single-family homes on smaller lots in many price ranges. Apartments range from those that are 100 years old to newly built complexes, as well as some high-rise apartment buildings.

Allen Park

Located immediately south of Dearborn, Allen Park is filled with single-family homes on tree-lined streets, though two- and three-story apartment complexes are available in several locations. As with other Downriver communities, Ford Motor Company has a significant presence in Allen Park, which is also home to the Detroit Lions' practice facility. Both I-75 and I-94 pass through Allen Park, providing easy access to any metro area location. Many commercial, shopping, and entertainment options call Allen Park home, plus those available in nearby communities.

Corktown

Unlike the other Ford neighborhood recommendations that are in the Dearborn area, Corktown is a residential and commercial area several miles west of downtown Detroit. It is the home to the Michigan Central Station, formerly Detroit's main railroad station, which Ford renovated in recent years as its hub for innovation and mobility. Michigan Avenue, which runs from downtown through Corktown, is its commercial center. The neighborhood also has easy access to I-75. Corktown, which was once home to Tiger Stadium, is filled with trendy restaurants and shops. A mix of older single-family homes, newly built condos, and apartments abounds.

Neighborhoods Near Stellantis

Stellantis North America headquarters and technical center is a 5,400,000-square-foot facility, making it the third-largest building in the world. Located along I-75 in suburban Auburn Hills, there are numerous community and housing options in all directions. Downtown Pontiac is minutes away, but most surrounding communities are leafy suburbs with most housing being post-war or considerably newer.

Rochester

Rochester, located directly east of Stellantis, is a former satellite city that boasts a downtown hub with many shops, restaurants, and restored former factory buildings. Detroit's urban sprawl engulfed Rochester over the years, so it is now filled with subdivisions, though apartment complexes of all sorts are in the area. Bloomer Park provides substantial green space and wetlands to the southeast of downtown Rochester.

Troy

Troy is a suburb lying southeast of Stellantis and has a sizable business community along I-75 and at the upscale shopping mall, the Somerset Collection. About one-third of Troy's population claims Asian ancestry, as reflected in the shops and restaurants catering to those groups. Troy is a classic suburban community served by several excellent school districts. Much of the apartment space in Troy is relatively new construction and ranges from studios to townhouses.

Clarkston

The Village of Clarkston sits northwest of Stellantis headquarters along I-75. The village's historic district includes buildings dating from the 1830s and beyond. The buildings and shops offer a unique, small-town ambiance amid the broader suburban setting. Most apartments in Clarkston are newer, though one-bedroom apartments and rental homes are found in the area as well.

Housing Near Major Employers in the Detroit Area

The recommended neighborhoods for General Motors and the Rocket Companies are in or near Detroit's downtown or central business district, while those for Ford, Stellantis, and Corewell are in suburban areas. The Detroit metro area is well-connected with interstate or state highways, so each profiled neighborhood is readily accessible to your work location. The Detroit area's accessibility allows you to make your housing choice based on your available transportation, budget, and lifestyle preferences, not just your work locations. All the profiled neighborhoods are within 35 miles of one another, with most being within 15 miles of one another.

Detroit offers a variety of neighborhood choices, ranging from the historic to the newly built, and from the quiet to the vibrant. Whatever lifestyle you prefer in the context of a major American city is available in Detroit or its surrounding communities.