Moving to Detroit? 6 Things to Know Before Living in Famed Motor City
The City of Detroit is unique. There’s a mix of history and resurgence, of old-school and modern, of past and present and future. There’s so much beauty in this area just waiting to be discovered. Motor City has its spark—once you take a closer look.
Are you moving to the City of Detroit to work or take advantage of the lower cost of living? Perhaps you’re looking for family-friendly communities, with good schools and historic architecture.
Whatever your reason for coming to Motor City, here are some things that might help convince you to move here—or might help make your transition to life in Detroit a bit smoother.
The City of Detroit: An Overview
Detroit is the largest city in Michigan, with a population of almost 750k in 2022.
In a nutshell, you can expect an average salary income of $36,100 per person, probably find work in its rich automobile industry, enjoy the exciting nightlife in its highly diversified community after hours, and go around for some fresh air, jazz, sports, and delicious food.
But let’s take a closer look at what Detroit City has to offer.
1. Homeowner’s Dream
There are plenty of homes available to rent or buy in the City of Detroit. The city is an aspirational homeowner and potential investor’s dream come true, where you can find many homes selling for around $100,000—significantly less than the national average of $359,900.
The most common available residences for sale and rent are single-family homes, but you can also find single apartment units for young professionals, large properties for growing families, and fixer-upper homes selling far below market value for real estate investors.
You can also take a look at our ongoing Deep Dive series into the different suburbs and districts in Metro Detroit. These guides are more for investors, but as a homeowner, it’s always good to know more about the local area.
2. City of Music
The City of Detroit is synonymous with jazz and electronic music—and for a good reason. It lays claim to Aretha Franklin and the Motown classics, alongside legendary jazz figures like Donald Byrd. Motor City can even boast about being the hometown of the legendary rapper, Eminem!
There’s a thriving R&B and jazz scene in the city, with plenty of live shows each night. One prime location is the historic Cliff Bell’s for a night of cocktails and sweet, soulful music. You can spend a couple of hours here after work or during the weekends, by yourself or with friends.
3. Sports Central
If you’re a football, basketball, or baseball fan, then the City of Detroit is the place for you.
Here, you’ll find the NBA’s Detroit Pistons and the Lions, who inspire passion and loyalty despite their less-than-stellar track record. Opening day for the Tigers is also a major event in the city, where you can attend with friends and family to cheer the team on. If you’re into hockey, you can hang out at the famous Hockeytown Cafe before catching a game at Little Caeser’s Arena.
For something more family-oriented, there’s the Rosedale-Grandmont Little League—the biggest one in Michigan. Your kids will love playing baseball in Rosedale Park, while other schools feature sports programs. There are also plenty of summer camps for when school’s out!
4. Walkability on the Rise
The City of Detroit, albeit nicknamed Motor City, is also incredibly walkable. The city started with a low WalkScore before, but is now improving and ranks the 19th most walkable large city in the country.
The George Washington University School of Business also notes that Detroit has seen substantial improvement in making its urban areas more walkable, so you’ll certainly find it easy to run errands, drop by cafes and restaurants, and send your kids to school—all while on foot.
5. Big on Diversity and Community
The city is immensely diverse in terms of race and culture, so Detroit residents are quite proud of their roots and sense of community. Everybody is treated as family and nobody is alienated.
Plus, not only will you have great neighbors, but you’ll also find plenty of local causes or drives for you to find your place in Motor City. It won’t be long before you feel right at home—here in the hometown of icons like Rosa Parks and Barack Obama.
If you’re not sure where to start first, check out Live6 Alliance and Little Guide—two of the city’s community initiatives for locals to give back and uplift each other.
6. Foodie Heaven
You can’t expect any less from a city with its own pizza style. The Detroit deep dish pizza is an icon of local food, as is the Coney dog. The city is full of pizza parlors and Coney Island restaurants, which are sure to satisfy your craving at any time of the day.
If you want to dine out, but can’t pick a destination, check out some of these sweet eats! Other recommendations also include Seasons Market & Cafe, Barda, and Antojitos Southwest.
Home Sweet Home in the City of Detroit
Detroit is one that you’ll be proud to call your home. As the famed Motor City continues to develop, there are increasingly more things to discover, adventures to enjoy, and an environment of strong community roots to raise a family in.
Whatever your reason for arriving, the City of Detroit will certainly welcome you with open arms.
If you’re looking for somewhere to live in Detroit, let the expert team at Logical Property Management find you your next home. We know the city best, so we’ll find the perfect place for you.