I'm Tim, your ApartmentHomeLiving.com Local Expert for Detroit, Michigan. My family and I have lived in metro Detroit since the late 1990s and have witnessed the city and its surrounding metro area undergo a renaissance. Tens of billions of investment dollars have poured into the city, resulting in a thriving downtown area and growth in many surrounding areas. With a son living and working in Detroit, we have many reasons to enjoy the sights, sounds, and tastes of Detroit.
A Detroit Overview
Detroit is a fun city to visit or call home. Located in Southeastern Michigan, the combined metro area, which includes Windsor, Ontario, across the Detroit River, is home to 5.7 million people. Detroit offers all the advantages of urban living along with easy access to a range of outdoor activities, especially swimming, boating, and fishing. Historically and today, Detroit's auto industry has welcomed people from around the world, who make the city their home and contribute to its eclectic mix.
I'm excited to take you for a spin around our great town, so fasten your seat belt and enjoy the ride.
Current Rental Pricing for Apartments in Detroit
| Bedroom | Average Rent | Cheapest Rent | Highest Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio Apartments | $1,183 | $482 | $3,175 |
| 1 Bedroom Apartments | $1,410 | $410 | $5,000 |
| 2 Bedroom Apartments | $1,746 | $457 | $5,989 |
| 3 Bedroom Apartments | $2,099 | $525 | $10,000+ |
| 4 Bedroom Apartments | $2,780 | $790 | $10,000+ |
Current Rental Home Pricing
| Bedroom | Average Rent | Cheapest Rent | Highest Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio Apartments | $1,320 | $750 | $2,200 |
| 1 Bedroom Homes | $1,132 | $525 | $5,000 |
| 2 Bedroom Homes | $1,313 | $750 | $5,350 |
| 3 Bedroom Homes | $1,547 | $550 | $5,000 |
| 4 Bedroom Homes | $2,029 | $1,200 | $4,000 |
| 5 Bedroom Homes | $2,323 | $700 | $7,999 |
| 6 Bedroom Homes | $2,647 | $1,750 | $3,281 |
| 7 Bedroom Homes | $2,850 | $2,850 | $2,850 |
A Story of Detroit's Past
The Detroit area was home to various Native American peoples over the centuries, with European missionaries and traders arriving in the area around 1630. The French explorer Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac and others constructed a fort along the river in 1701, which eventually developed into the largest European settlement between Montreal and New Orleans. The area fell under British rule following the French and Indian Wars and became part of the United States after the Revolutionary War. (A visit to Fort Malden, a 1795 British fort on the Ontario side of the river, is a must-see for history buffs, and children love it as well.)
The city experienced rapid growth with the rise of the auto industry, which began around 1900, and became America's fourth-largest city by 1920. People from around the world were drawn to Detroit for work, especially Italians, Poles, and Lebanese immigrants, followed soon after by African Americans from the South. A second wave of population growth occurred during World War II, as Detroit became known as the Arsenal of Democracy.
Like other former Rust Belt cities, the Detroit area experienced significant job and population losses in the second half of the 20th century but has undergone a notable resurgence since 2000.
Popular Detroit Neighborhoods
The City of Detroit and the metro area have a range of unique neighborhoods, so I'll highlight a handful the provide a sense of the available selection.
Much of the central business and arts district is dotted with fun and vibrant neighborhoods. Rivertown is a former warehouse district northeast of downtown along the river. Rehab projects and new construction offer numerous housing options, while the Riverwalk and state parks make it an ideal area for running, biking, hiking, or fishing. Recent investments in Belle Isle, a nearly 1,000-acre island and state park, are rejuvenating a unique jewel.
Downtown and the surrounding area have exciting neighborhoods with varying styles and price points. Brush Park, Midtown, the Cultural Center, Milwaukee Junction, Corktown, and other neighborhoods each offer alternatives to suit your taste. Whether you are looking for a university, a theater, and museum, or an active rehabilitation vibe, each is available, and they intermix as well.
Suppose you want a more established neighborhood feel. In that case, Royal Oak Downtown, Berkley, Dearborn, the University District, and others offer alternatives with an inner-suburb to urban feel, varying in their level of nightlife.
Those looking to get further away from Detroit proper may enjoy the many smaller, walkable downtowns that have developed around the suburbs of former independent communities. Rochester, Troy, and Clarkston fit the bill to the north, while Northville, Plymouth, and Ann Arbor are prime spots to the west. Each has many interesting shops, eateries, and community events.
Getting Around Detroit
Detroit is relatively easy to get around, especially if you have a car. Although mass transit covers most of the metro area, it covers downtown Detroit best. Detroit has a 3-mile-long overhead tram, the People Mover, that loops around much of downtown. The People Mover intersects with the Q-Line, which runs along Woodward Avenue from near the river out through Midtown and New Center. Both are free to the public.
The Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT) covers the City of Detroit with 37 bus routes carrying nearly 50,000 passengers per day. The Southeast Michigan Area Rapid Transit (SMART) system's bus routes cover the Detroit suburbs. It carries almost 9 million passengers per year on 47 routes that radiate from downtown, while other routes run through the suburbs.
I-75, I-94, and I-96 also serve the Detroit metro area. Multiple state highways, a mix of limited-access and surface roads, crisscross the area as well.
Things To Do in Detroit: The Good Stuff
Detroit offers numerous entertainment options, and as a northern city, many of its favorite activities are seasonal. To accommodate this, we'll categorize our favorites into indoor and outdoor activities, although some are a mix of both.
For indoor activities, you can't go wrong with a visit to the Detroit Art Institute, which has one of the best fine arts collections in the Americas. The Diego Rivera Detroit Industry Murals are spectacular, though my personal favorite event each year is the showing of the Oscar-nominated short films at the adjoining Detroit Film Theatre.
If you enjoy spectator sports, Little Caesar Arena, located in the Cass Corridor, hosts the Detroit Pistons and the Detroit Red Wings, plus any number of concerts and other entertainment, while Ford Field is home to the Detroit Lions. Across the street is Comerica Park, which the Detroit Tigers call home. All four venues are relatively new and located within walking distance of one another in downtown Detroit. Comerica Park opened in 2000 and is the oldest of the four venues. It boasts fabulous sightlines, views of the city over the outfield walls, and plenty of sunshine, although it is best to visit during the warmer months.
Detroit is also the birthplace of Motown and techno music. A visit to the Motown Museum offers the opportunity to explore a Detroit neighborhood near downtown. Set in Barry Gordy's former home, the birthplace of Motown welcomes visitors from around the world to experience the collections and exhibits of one of the country's most iconic musical contributions.
Detroit's most recent contribution to music is techno, which can be found at clubs throughout the city any night of the year. However, the highlight is Movement, also known as the Detroit Electronic Music Festival, an outdoor music festival held over Memorial Day weekend each year at Hart Plaza, along the river. Music blasts from multiple stages all weekend. Despite the tens of thousands of attendees, it is among the best-kept or cleanest venues you will find and far cleaner than your typical professional sports event.
Detroit may not be the first city that comes to mind when you think about cruises, but think again. The Detroit River Cruise is a surprisingly enjoyable experience, offering a leisurely cruise up and down the Detroit River. Cruise lengths and courses vary, but do yourself a favor: take the long, slow route that runs up to Lake St. Clair to well south of downtown. It's a relaxing ride that provides a guided tour of the sites along the U.S. and Canadian sides of the river. The Detroit area's other cruise season arrives on the third Saturday of August in the form of the Woodward Dream Cruise. The Dream Cruise is an annual festival celebrating Detroit's automotive tradition. The 40,000 participating cars, almost all of which are vintage Detroit steel, cruise up and down Woodward Avenue, starting several days in advance. However, Saturday is prime time, so pull up your lawn chair and a few cold drinks to enjoy hours of vintage vehicle excellence pass you by.
Belle Isle is situated several miles north of downtown, located on the Detroit River, and is connected to the mainland via a bridge. It hosts the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory (a botanical garden) and the country's oldest aquarium. Beyond seeing those sites, we enjoy picnicking in the park and watching kayakers and massive ore boats cruise up and down the river. Beyond the central city, the Huron-Clinton Metroparks comprise 25,000 acres of parkland, primarily located along the Huron and Clinton Rivers. Canoeing, kayaking, fishing, golfing, horseback riding, camping, and hiking are widely available. My personal favorite is a 3.7-mile loop hiking trail in Indian Springs Metropark that provides a quick, quiet getaway.
Another unique Detroit-area attraction is the Henry Ford Museum and the adjoining Greenfield Village. Both have their odd and engaging exhibits, but the museum includes John. F. Kennedy's presidential limousine, the chair Lincoln sat in at Ford's Theatre, and items from Thomas Edison, the Wright Brothers, and Rosa Parks. Although the museum is an indoor venue, Greenfield Village recreates life around 1900 with an outdoor collection of period buildings and people dressed in the style of the time. For the technically inclined, stop at Ford's nearby River Rouge assembly plant for a tour, as hundreds of robots and thousands of people assemble F-150s.
A final Detroit classic is Eastern Market, a predominantly outdoor farmers' market located just outside downtown, dating back to the 1800s. While the focus is on fresh produce and flowers, there is a little bit of everything in the covered sheds or the stores and restaurants that surround the market.
The Many Tastes of Delicious Detroit
You can find virtually any cuisine in the Detroit area. There's plenty of fine dining in the central city and in the burbs. However, if you are a first-time visitor, you cannot leave Detroit without enjoying a Coney Island, a Detroit-style pizza, and some shawarma or other Middle Eastern cuisine.
Coney Island's are casual diners or restaurants whose signature dish is a hot dog slathered in chili, yellow mustard, and onions. The full range of other casual breakfast, lunch, and dinner staples is also available, but try the classic coney. If you are brave enough, you can wash down your meal with Vernor's ginger ale, a local favorite with a taste I have yet to acquire.
The story goes that Detroit-style pizza originated at Buddy's in 1946, using an auto factory parts pan as the baking dish. Wisconsin brick cheese sprinkled atop the border caramelizes in the oven, bringing a crusty, cheesiness to the doughy treat. Today, Buddy's has numerous competitors, including single-restaurant and chain locations, throughout the metro area.
With between 300,000 and 350,000 people of Middle Eastern or North African descent, the Detroit metro area has the country's largest Arab American population, and their presence brings a diverse assortment of restaurants and bakeries specializing in Middle Eastern fare. Dearborn is home to a concentration of Middle Eastern people and restaurants, with Al Ameer being a personal favorite for its shawarma, kebabs, and hummus. You will also find excellent Yemeni restaurants in Dearborn, though my personal favorite lunch location is Yemen Café in Hamtramck, where the lamb agdah arrives bubbling hot and stays that way for a while. The north side of the metro area is home to a large Chaldean (Iraqi Christian) population in Sterling Heights and West Bloomfield. For Middle Eastern baked goods, Shatila in Dearborn and West Bloomfield is as good as it gets for baklava and other treats.
More To Motown
There is more to Motown than most expect, at least, that is what our out-of-town guests say after spending a few days here. We don't have an ocean, but we have hundreds of freshwater lakes to wile away a summer afternoon or drill a hole for ice fishing. The city brings a vibrancy befitting its size, diversity, and history, so there is something for everyone just around the corner.
Detroit's casual Midwestern feel makes it an easy city to love. Come for a visit and stay for a lifetime.
