Safest Places to Live in Michigan

By PropertyClub Team
Jan 26th 2023
Michigan is a state that often gets a bad reputation when it comes to violent crime statistics. Cities like Detroit and Flint cover most of the headlines about the state. However, many cities remain safe and livable. In this article, we’ll discuss the ten safest places to live in Michigan. 

hash-mark10 Safest Places to Live in Michigan

  1. Grosse Ile Township
  2. Berkley
  3. New Baltimore
  4. South Lyon
  5. Clawson
  6. Farmington
  7. West Bloomfield 
  8. Royal Oak
  9. Hamburg Township
  10. Bloomfield Township

hash-mark1. Grosse Ile Township

The safest place to live in Michigan is Grose Ile Township. This city is located near Detroit in Wayne County and has a population of 10,000. The overall crime rate is very low, with 390 crimes per 100,000 people, making this city 88% safer than the US average. Grosse Ile is an isolated suburban community located on several islands near Lake Erie. Residents feel safe due to the city’s seclusion and heavy police presence. 

hash-mark2. Berkley

Berkley is another one of the safest places to live in Michigan. This small city is in Oakland County and has a population of 15,194. The total crime rate in Berkley is 409 incidents per 100,000 people which is 83% lower than the national average. Residents have a 1 in 245 chance of becoming victims of any crime. Berkely is located along the Woodward Corridor, a stretch of suburban communities located along Woodward Avenue outside of Detroit. The median home price in Berkley is $159,400. 

hash-mark3. New Baltimore

New Baltimore is a northern Detroit suburb with a population of 12,117. The total crime rate in this city is 493 per 100,000 people, which is 79% lower than the national average. Residents have a 1 in 203 chance of becoming victims of any type of crime. New Baltimore is located along Lake St. Clair, offering fantastic lakefront views. 

hash-mark4. South Lyon

South Lyon is located in Oakland County in the Detroit area and has a population of 11,746. The overall crime rate in South Lyon is 471 per 100,000, which is 80% lower than the national average. Residents have a 1 in 213 chance of becoming victims of any type of crime. South Lyon is a suburban community with several large parks and plenty of green space. South Lyon is a highly educated community, with 42% of the population having a bachelor’s degree or higher. 

hash-mark5. Clawson

Another safe place to live in Michigan is Clawson. Located in Oakland County, Clawson has a population of 11,825. The total crime rate in the city is 540 per 100,000 people, which is 77% lower than the national average. Residents have a 1 in 186 chance of becoming victims of any type of crime. Clawson is ideal for families looking for a suburban lifestyle outside of Detroit. The median home price in Clawson is $139,100, which is 25% lower than the national average.

hash-mark6. Farmington

Located in the northern suburbs of metropolitan Detroit, Farmington has a population of 10,372. The crime rate in Farmington is 362 per 100,000 people, which is 85% lower than the US average. Residents have a 1 in 277 chance of becoming victims of any crime. After undergoing a major renovation in 2009, Farmington’s downtown has become a major cultural hub for the city. The city is known for having many historic Victorian-style homes in the downtown area. The median home price in Farmington is $165,800.

hash-mark7. West Bloomfield 

West Bloomfield is another of the safest cities in Michigan. West Bloomfield is located in Oakland County and has a population of 65,888. West Bloomfield is located west of scenic Orchard Lake, which has a private country club located on its shore. The crime rate in West Bloomfield is 1,691 incidents per 100,000 people, which is well below the national average. 

hash-mark8. Royal Oak 

Royal Oak is also one of the safest cities in Michigan. Royal Oak is located in Oakland County and has a population of 58,211. Royal Oak has one of the largest populations in the Detroit suburban area and is home to much of the Detroit Zoo. The crime rate in Royal Oak is 739 per 100,000 people, with residents having a 1 in 136 chance of becoming the victim of any type of crime. The median home price in Royal Oak is $175,200, which is 5% lower than the national average. 

hash-mark9. Hamburg Township

Hamburg Township is one of the safest towns in Michigan. It is located in Livingston County and has a population of 21,165. The crime rate in Hamburg Township is extremely low, with only 880 violent crimes and 1,200 property crimes per 100,000 residents. Hamburg is made up of three smaller townships: Hamburg, Lakeland, and Pettysville. Hamburg is a semi-rural community ideal for families looking for some distance from the Detroit area. The median home price in Hamburg is $447,000.

hash-mark10. Bloomfield Township

Bloomfield Township is a charter township located in Oakland county with a population of 41,070. Bloomfield has a crime rate of 2,100 incidents per 100,000 residents, which is 6.5 times lower than the national average. Bloomfield doesn’t refer to one place but rather a collection of smaller townships that make up the larger community. Bloomfield is one of the most expensive places to live in Michigan, with a median home price of $650,000. 

hash-markSafest Cities in Michigan Bottom Line

Even though Michigan is better known for its dangerous cities, this list shows there are still many safe and affordable areas within the state. Every city on this list is located near the Detroit and Ann Arbor areas, which is convenient for commuters. If you are relocating to Michigan and want a safe midwestern lifestyle, one of these cities may be the right fit.