Anyone here from Detroit??

[RU482]

I'm looking at a job in Farmington Hills, where would be a good place to live. Concerns would be crime, schools (I have 2 kids), environment, traffic, ect.

thanks

 

[notfred]

My dad is from Detroit, but has lived in California for over 20 years

 

[daddyo]

I've lived in Michigan for about 6 weeks now, but I'm on the road all over the place, so I'm getting a really good idea of the area. I also went through the whole "area hunt", so I received some advice from natives.

My best advice would be to stay the heck out of Metro Detroit, it's a warzone.

It really depends on what you are looking for: urban, suburban, rural.

We moved to Ann Arbor, about 30 minutes SW of Farmington. It's a wonderful city, my wife and I love it here so far. Housing is very expensive though, so we're renting.

There are a lot of nice towns east of Farmington, but you have to watch traffic. The 96/696 corridor can be brutal. It also seems pretty expensive that way.

There are a few areas west of Farmington worth taking a look at, Novi, Walled Lake, Plymouth, and a few others.

I would stick to the west of Farmington.

 

[Gillbot]

Anywhere around detroit has it's share of crime. I lived in Center Line and Sterling Heights and they weren't too bad, schools on the other hand, i'm not sure of. Then again, I lived in Warren and that was NOT a good area.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: Gillbot
Anywhere around detroit has it's share of crime. I lived in Center Line and Sterling Heights and they weren't too bad, schools on the other hand, i'm not sure of. Then again, I lived in Warren and that was NOT a good area.

I'm originally from Warren!


If oyu are moving to Farmington Hills, i suggest you either find a house there(very expensive though) or Novi. You can also move north of Farmington if you prefer to live near water. I would suggest going this route since you will have to deal with 696/96/275 traffic. Moving north entails taking the "lake" roads that run throughout that area. I live roughly 30 miles north of Farmington and it only take 45min to get there if i take the back roads. Its a nice drive, too.

 

[iamme]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: Gillbot
Anywhere around detroit has it's share of crime. I lived in Center Line and Sterling Heights and they weren't too bad, schools on the other hand, i'm not sure of. Then again, I lived in Warren and that was NOT a good area.

I'm originally from Warren!


If oyu are moving to Farmington Hills, i suggest you either find a house there(very expensive though) or Novi. You can also move north of Farmington if you prefer to live near water. I would suggest going this route since you will have to deal with 696/96/275 traffic. Moving north entails taking the "lake" roads that run throughout that area. I live roughly 30 miles north of Farmington and it only take 45min to get there if i take the back roads. Its a nice drive, too.

good advice Farmington/novi area is a very nice and quiet place to live. Houses can be pretty expensive, though. Sterling Heights is a long driving from Farminton Hills (1 hour+). Detroit's not exactly a nice or quiet place to live

 

[Gunbuster]

Something off of 696 or 275 would be a good choice

 

[rudeguy]

Windsor!!!!

 

[mpitts]

I am originally from Flint (about an hour and a half northwest of Detroit).

I worked in Detroit and considered moving down there before I moved to Atlanta. Livonia was pretty nice, but I would probably move to Ypsilanti or Ann Arbor (GO BLUE) if I moved back up there. Birmingham was nice too, but it seemed like it would be expensive.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: rudeguy5757
Windsor!!!!

windsor is pretty much the same as detroit once you move away from the river.

 

[mpitts]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: rudeguy5757
Windsor!!!!

windsor is pretty much the same as detroit once you move away from the river.

I would disagree a little bit. You can definitely tell you are in Canada when you get to Windsor. Things are just a little different. Just my opinion.

 

[rudeguy]

Originally posted by: mpitts

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: rudeguy5757
Windsor!!!!

windsor is pretty much the same as detroit once you move away from the river.

I would disagree a little bit. You can definitely tell you are in Canada when you get to Windsor. Things are just a little different. Just my opinion.

cheetahs anyone?

 

[iamme]

Originally posted by: mpitts
I am originally from Flint (about an hour and a half northwest of Detroit).

I worked in Detroit and considered moving down there before I moved to Atlanta. Livonia was pretty nice, but I would probably move to Ypsilanti or Ann Arbor (GO BLUE) if I moved back up there. Birmingham was nice too, but it seemed like it would be expensive.

goto downtown Birmingham on a cool summer night, and sit on one of their benches. you'll see so many mercedes, bmws, porsches, and even ferraris drive by. it's insane.

 

[Gillbot]

I think i'll stick with Dayton now, much calmer than Detroit!

 

[mpitts]

Originally posted by: iamme

Originally posted by: mpitts
I am originally from Flint (about an hour and a half northwest of Detroit).

I worked in Detroit and considered moving down there before I moved to Atlanta. Livonia was pretty nice, but I would probably move to Ypsilanti or Ann Arbor (GO BLUE) if I moved back up there. Birmingham was nice too, but it seemed like it would be expensive.

goto downtown Birmingham on a cool summer night, and sit on one of their benches. you'll see so many mercedes, bmws, porsches, and even ferraris drive by. it's insane.

Yup. I worked in that area doing contract work for the Post Office years ago and it was awesome downtown. If I were to move back to MI, that would probably top my list.

 

[mpitts]

Originally posted by: Gillbot
I think i'll stick with Dayton now, much calmer than Detroit!

Yeah, but it is in Ohio.

Ewwww.

 

[Gillbot]

Well, I used to live near Gratiot and VanDyke area and worked on Mack Ave at the Chrysler plant, so now you can see why I like Ohio better

 

[mpitts]

Originally posted by: Gillbot
Well, I used to live near Gratiot and VanDyke area and worked on Mack Ave at the Chrysler plant, so now you can see why I like Ohio better

Good point.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: mpitts

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: rudeguy5757
Windsor!!!!

windsor is pretty much the same as detroit once you move away from the river.

I would disagree a little bit. You can definitely tell you are in Canada when you get to Windsor. Things are just a little different. Just my opinion.

Have you ever taken a drive through the lower wealth area of Windsor? There is a definate similarity between the 2.

 

[adlep]

I live in Ann Arbor, and from my experience it is the best place to live in Michigan. Because of the university, they do have here an excellent public schools, the city is quitet, there is always something to do, bunch of clubs, nice downtown, plentora of good restaurants, and it will be about 25~30 minutes of drive to Farmington Hill via M-14, which is a deacent road, fast freeway.....
Regards,
Adam

I am going to buy my first condo in Ann Arbor....

Edit: Windsor is nice too, I love Canada

 

[mpitts]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: mpitts

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: rudeguy5757
Windsor!!!!

windsor is pretty much the same as detroit once you move away from the river.

I would disagree a little bit. You can definitely tell you are in Canada when you get to Windsor. Things are just a little different. Just my opinion.

Have you ever taken a drive through the lower wealth area of Windsor? There is a definate similarity between the 2.

I have. I was referring more to the restaurants and such. But they do resemble each other.

 

[Lola]

you may wanna try some smaller cities in the area such as walled lake or south lyon.

 

[Corn]

I work in Farmington Hills: 12 Mile/Orchard Lake area.

I live in Commerce, the northwest end that borders Milford and White Lake. There's lots of new new housing in that area. Expect to pay ~$300-350,000 for 2500+ sq. ft there. The same in Farmington Hills/West Bloomfield/Novi will cost about 100K more.

My commute time is 30 minutes for a 17 mile drive. I love where I live and the commute is nice--as long as you stay off 696/275/96 during rush hour. I stick to the back roads.

 

[Corn]

My best advice would be to stay the heck out of Metro Detroit, it's a warzone.

Huh? In what way?

 

[spacelord]

Detroit has some decent parts. Just don't get lost at night... and end up on the wrong street.