Skip to Main Content

2018 Best Suburbs to Live in the Detroit AreaAbout this List

Explore the best suburbs to live in the U.S. based on crime, public schools, cost of living, job opportunities, and local amenities. Ranking based on data from the U.S. Census, FBI, BLS, CDC, and other sources. Read more on how this ranking was calculated.

1 – 25 of 136
Best Places to Live
136 results

Economy

Health & Outdoors

  1. Birmingham

    • Suburb of Detroit, MI
    • 58
    1 Best Suburbs to Live in Detroit Area

    Current Resident: I love Birmingham! Downtown Birmingham is great; the city is not too big or too small, and it is very close to many places such as Detroit. I have lived here my whole life and I have never wished to live in another city and I would love to live here again after college and raise my family here.
    Read 58 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 20,836 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  2. Ann Arbor

    • City in Michigan
    • 383
    2 Best Suburbs to Live in Detroit Area

    Current Resident: I love Ann Arbor! It's a lively city with a small-town feel. Having the University of Michigan down the street creates endless opportunities for concerts, events, and night life. The philanthropic scene is booming and small businesses are everywhere! Everyone here is happy and excited about life, passionate about this city and very environmentally-conscious and involved in the community. It is a truly wonderful place.
    Read 383 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 119,303 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  3. Beverly Hills

    • Suburb of Detroit, MI
    • 15
    3 Best Suburbs to Live in Detroit Area

    Current Resident: I really enjoy living in Beverly Hills. There is a great school district. The police station is very central and the people are really friendly!
    Read 15 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 10,424 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  5. Bloomfield Charter Township

    • Suburb of Detroit, MI
    • 69
    4 Best Suburbs to Live in Detroit Area

    Current Resident: More diversity training for the educators, including the principal/office staff. Because it starts and ends at the top just as in the home environment. My light skinned mixed son didn't know what racism or bullying were until moving into the school district, and the school's are why we moved.
    Unfortunately, he was in a middle school with only 15-20% minority luckily there was only (1) senior high school and an about 35% minority mix, along with more attention paid to diversity in all respects.
    Bloomfield Twp is primarily residential, no fast food or party store type businesses, mostly doctors, lawyers offices. Residents take pride in ownership and don't move often driving up prices and the school's are Rated A+ , private unless you live in district.
    Lastly, BT is very safe with a police/EMS response time of 2-3min. I personally walk my poodle at 3a in my house coat& feel comfortable and safe.
    Thanks
    Read 69 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 41,969 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  6. Troy

    • Town in Michigan
    • 195
    5 Best Suburbs to Live in Detroit Area

    Current Resident: I've lived in Troy for 30+ years, raised a family, advanced a career, and thoroughly enjoyed two different neighborhoods. You have ready access to the best shopping in the state, an abundance of excellent restaurants, movie theaters, and a very well run city government. You have everything from city run health clubs, water parks, golf courses, dog park, city parks, soccer fields, city museum, hiking trails, senior centers, swimming pools, and one of the best school systems in the state. Most people in Troy take pride in their property with really good city services. Take trash collection as a mundane example. The city provided service picks up everything and they even have these 90 gallon trash bins on wheels. Our friends down south have to individually contract for trash collection and even then they are limited to two trash cans a week. When it snows the city plows the residential streets. Troy really is a wonderful place to live and raise a family.
    Read 195 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 83,336 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  7. Franklin

    • Suburb of Detroit, MI
    • 3
    6 Best Suburbs to Live in Detroit Area

    Former Resident: In all of Michigan, this has got to be my favorite town to live. I've been everywhere in Michigan and Franklin just has the best of the best. Professional citizens, charming estate style homes, quaint downtown. Only the best of everything and people who really care! The Police and businesses are nothing but AMAZING! I really like that there aren’t a lot of crisp dollars flying around this town.
    Read 3 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 3,218 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  10. Grosse Pointe Farms

    • Suburb of Detroit, MI
    • 34
    7 Best Suburbs to Live in Detroit Area

    Current Resident: As a teenager, I think Grosse Pointe Farms is great! The only downside in my opinion is other people's political beliefs. I've grown up in a split household, so I've grown to make my own political choices. For others, that's not the case. The only thing I wish for is that everyone makes their own choices and doesn't just follow their parents beliefs because they think their parents are always right.
    Read 34 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 9,238 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  11. Grosse Pointe Park

    • Suburb of Detroit, MI
    • 23
    8 Best Suburbs to Live in Detroit Area

    Current Resident: Grosse Pointe Park and the surrounding Grosse Pointes are very nice communities to live in. The houses are clean-looking and the community is safe so it's a really good place to raise a family. It's also good for families because the Grosse Pointe school district is really great; one of the best in the state. It's a good community to guarantee a good education for your kids and their safety as well. Although the Grosse Pointes are big, almost everyone knows or knows of everyone, making it a tight knit community. The public parks are very nice facilities and the village (a string of shops and restaurants) is really convenient. The location of houses in proximity to the village, libraries, parks, and schools, is almost always in walking distance. One of the only downsides of living in Grosse Pointe is that some of the "old money" families living on the lake do live up to their snotty reputations. Other than that, Grosse Pointe Park is a pretty enjoyable and safe community to live in!
    Read 23 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 11,240 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  12. Novi

    • Town in Michigan
    • 139
    9 Best Suburbs to Live in Detroit Area

    Current Resident: Novi has been an amazing place to grow up. Although I attended Mercy High for high school, I went to Novi Public Schools K-8 and received an incredible elementary education. Crime is very low; I feel extremely safe at all hours of the day indoors and outdoors. I do, however, wish the overdevelopment of Novi would slow, as we are quickly seeing our remaining woodlands disappear into new neighborhood complexes. Traffic is growing worse, and the schools are growing overcrowded, I have been told by my three younger brothers who attend Novi Schools currently. Overall, I feel blessed to have grown up in such a wonderful, diverse community.
    Read 139 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A
      Public Schools
    • 58,835 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  14. Huntington Woods

    • Suburb of Detroit, MI
    • 16
    10 Best Suburbs to Live in Detroit Area

    Current Resident: Small city, with the best small-town feel in the suburbs of Detroit! Each season has reason to celebrate with friends and neighbors!
    Read 16 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A
      Public Schools
    • 6,347 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  15. Grosse Pointe

    • Suburb of Detroit, MI
    • 9
    11 Best Suburbs to Live in Detroit Area

    Former Resident: I grew up in Grosse Pointe, Michigan. From a child standpoint, it was a wonderful place to grow up. The public school system was impeccable, and it was an incredibly safe neighborhood. It is a suburb for families, mostly middle class families. As I got older, however, I started to notice its' flaws. I lived with my single mother and 3 older sisters. We were not a wealthy family, to say the least, and therefore did not "fit in". I had found out my mother was completely segregated from social life with other members of the community because of her financial situation. Grosse Pointe is also not diverse at all, made up almost completely of white individuals like myself. There is no nightlife in Grosse Pointe, as many people my age joked that the city "shuts down" at 9 p.m. Overall, I think this city is a safe environment to grow up and attend school at, but it is not a place for the unwealthy or individuals without children.
    Read 9 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 5,241 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  16. Northville Township

    • Suburb of Detroit, MI
    • 29
    12 Best Suburbs to Live in Detroit Area

    Current Resident: It's a pretty area with lots of shopping and great food choices available. Great access point to get all over the Detroit area. Located between Detroit and Ann Arbor, not far from Ohio, or Canada it's easy to get places!
    Read 29 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 28,838 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  19. Pittsfield Charter Township

    • Suburb of Detroit, MI
    • 60
    13 Best Suburbs to Live in Detroit Area

    Current Resident: Pittsfield Charter Township is a quiet and cozy place to live. The neighbors are very friendly and I feel safe living here. Here, we have Pittsfield Charter Township taxes, which are lower than Ann Arbor, but we are still a part of the Ann Arbor public school system, so we get the benefit of having one of the best school systems around the area. We are perfectly centered inside the areas of Saline, Ypsilanti, Ann Arbor, and Milan. We are just a few minutes from Eastern Michigan University, and only 20 minutes from the University of Michigan.
    Read 60 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 37,818 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  20. Northville

    • Suburb of Detroit, MI
    • 33
    14 Best Suburbs to Live in Detroit Area

    Current Resident: Overall, Northville/South Lyon is a great place. There are good and bad pockets, a lot of "old school" ways of thinking, but I love the small town fill. The real estate market is overpriced, and the building is getting out of control, but the school system is phenomenal!
    Read 33 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 5,998 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  21. Rochester Hills

    • Suburb of Detroit, MI
    • 102
    16 Best Suburbs to Live in Detroit Area

    Current Resident: I have really enjoyed growing up in Rochester Hills. As a student who has gone through the public school system, I can say with confidence that it provides a high quality education that strives for inclusivity and college preparation. Rochester Hills also has a thriving downtown area, with many shops and restaurants for people of all ages to enjoy throughout the year. In fact, my favorite event in Rochester Hills is the light show downtown that begins around Christmas! It is always a memorable and gorgeous time of the year to be living there!
    Read 102 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 73,458 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  22. Grosse Pointe Woods

    • Suburb of Detroit, MI
    • 32
    17 Best Suburbs to Live in Detroit Area

    Current Resident: I have lived in the Pointes for 22 years. Split between the Park and the Woods. I have lived in the Woods for 11 years. I am not originally from the Pointes, but I wouldn't call anywhere else home! The schools are great, crime is low, private parks are awesome and you can ride your bike anywhere you need to go. Restaurants, doctor, dentist, market, we have it all!
    Read 32 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 15,678 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  23. Farmington

    • Suburb of Detroit, MI
    • 11
    18 Best Suburbs to Live in Detroit Area

    Current Resident: Farmington is a small-town feel with the convenience of being centered within the big city life. I always feel safe and secure, and love how friendly all of the people are!
    Read 11 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A-
      Public Schools
    • 10,560 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  26. Royal Oak

    • Suburb of Detroit, MI
    • 77
    19 Best Suburbs to Live in Detroit Area

    Current Resident: Great community! Family friendly, adult friendly! Close to Detroit, but still far enough away!
    Schools are fantastic for the kids, high ranking in the state, and constantly moving forward with technology. Plenty of parks and bike friendly paths. Great fitness goals amongst the community. Intended to raise my son here.
    His father works in downtown Detroit and enjoys his job. Comes home happy from a short commute, exited to spend time with his family!
    Read 77 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • B+
      Public Schools
    • 58,973 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  27. West Bloomfield Charter Township

    • Suburb of Detroit, MI
    • 165
    20 Best Suburbs to Live in Detroit Area

    Current Resident: I like that West Bloomfield is close to the city, but you still feel secluded from the hustle and bustle of city life. You can be driving and it looks like you are in the country, but a few miles down the road there are shops, restaurants, and grocery stores. It is surrounded by many beautiful lakes so outdoor activities are big during the summer. I also like that it is so diverse. There are many different cultures and backgrounds in every neighborhood. Although there are many diverse cultures, everyone has a great sense of community and is very friendly. Overall, I think West Bloomfield is a great place to live!
    Read 165 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A
      Public Schools
    • 65,845 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  28. Plymouth

    • Suburb of Detroit, MI
    • 25
    21 Best Suburbs to Live in Detroit Area

    Current Resident: I have lived in Plymouth for the better part of 20 years. I have watched many changes, and growth come to the community. Plymouth is a safe place, with ample ammenities, and the coziest little town. Kellog Park in the center of town offers many attractions to residents such as Art in the Park, Ice Fest, music on Thursdays, trick or treating for kids, and Santa for kids just to name a few. The always seasonly decorated park is surrounded by many shops, boutiques, and restaurants that fill at night and on the weekends. While the nightlife options are rather limited, you are close enough to the freeways to head out to enjoy cities like Detroit, Ann Arbor, Novi, Royal Oak and Ferndale. I find that to be one of the biggest perks myself. If you were looking for a new community, I would absolutely recommend Plymouth, Michigan!
    Read 25 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 9,005 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  29. Farmington Hills

    • Town in Michigan
    • 144
    22 Best Suburbs to Live in Detroit Area

    Current Resident: I have lived my whole life in Farmington and this city has shown nothing but love and support. I went to all Farmington Public Schools and they have an overall good education system, it could definitely use some improvement. Farmington Hills is very safe and quiet. Everyone knows each other and come together as a community to work towards greater for each resident of Farmington Hills. The police staff and firefighters are very responsive, and respectful. With Farmington Hills always getting new friendly faces it keeps our community youthful! What we could work on is having more healthy food options instead of fast foods and more activities for our youth and our senior citizens to participate in.
    Read 144 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A-
      Public Schools
    • 81,235 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  30. Berkley

    • Suburb of Detroit, MI
    • 31
    23 Best Suburbs to Live in Detroit Area

    Niche User: There're plenty of small businesses owned by locals, which is wonderful! The atmosphere is great year-round, but especially during summer while the town preps for the Woodward Dream Cruise. It's small, but close enough to bigger towns so that you're never too far from finding something new to do. That being said, it seems to be lacking in "hot spots" to hang out which almost forces a lot of teenage business away. Hopefully, that will change in the future. There are a lot of stores that have been opening or getting renovated so the future looks bright for the area!
    Read 31 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A
      Public Schools
    • 15,269 Population
    View Nearby Homes
  31. Review Your Area

  32. Village of Grosse Pointe Shores

    • Suburb of Detroit, MI
    • 3
    24 Best Suburbs to Live in Detroit Area

    Current Resident: I like the people within the city. Everyone is so nice and thoughtful and typically there is nothing to worry about. It is a safe neighborhood where everyone fits in.
    Read 3 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 2,910 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  33. Bloomfield Hills

    • Suburb of Detroit, MI
    • 19
    25 Best Suburbs to Live in Detroit Area

    Current Resident: A very modern and welcoming community that accepts people of all race and religion. There is an excellent school district that caters to the specific student. The teachers really care about the kids and their education. Besides the academics, there are places of worship for many religious affiliations. This adds to the welcoming atmosphere of the city. The wide variety of restaurants is another appealing aspect of this city. The restaurants have many different options depending on what you are looking for. All of the different institutions as well as the wonderful people are what make Bloomfield Hills an amazing city.
    Read 19 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 3,981 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  34. Rochester

    • Suburb of Detroit, MI
    • 38
    26 Best Suburbs to Live in Detroit Area

    Current Resident: I Love the community and endless community events! Rochester is quaint, but it also has plenty of options for entertainment, food, and education. There's plent of activities for people of all ages to participate in and always community events going on.
    Read 38 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 12,987 Population
    View Nearby Homes
  • 1 of 6