THE 10 BEST Neighborhoods In Detroit For 2020


We used science and data to determine which neighborhoods in Detroit are the best of the best.

Chris Kolmar, About HomeSnacks
January 17, 2020 - 23,278 views
Editor’s Note: We updated this article for 2020. This is our sixth time ranking the best neighborhoods to live in Detroit.
Best Neighborhoods In Detroit
Source: Wikipedia User Albert duce | CC BY-SA 3.0

If you're thinking of moving to Michigan and you haven't experienced the magic of the Michigan mitten yet, you should definitely start your search in Detroit. The Motor City has some very cool, diverse neighborhoods that deserve your attention, and HomeSnacks is here to tell you the top ten best neighborhoods in Detroit for 2020.

To be eligible for our list, a Motown neighborhood had to be strong in areas like jobs, affordability, safety, and fun stuff to do. To get this data, we ran each neighborhood through our Snackability formula that looked for excellence in the same criteria. We also consulted the latest census data for median income levels and median home values.

The following is what we learned:

Many of Detroit's best neighborhoods are located on the city's northeast side along the Detroit River; and if you're lucky enough to call one of these gems home, you will have scenic views, accessible marinas, and pedestrian and bicycle friendly streets. Neighborhoods like Jeffries will put you in the middle of Detroit Lions' territory at the base of Ford Field; and of course, Downtown, will put you in the middle of everything Detroit.

And for all of you people who base every major life's decisions around good food, we can personally verify that Detroit's best neighborhoods are definitely not lacking in tasty treats. There are little corner spots like Mudgie's Deli in the West Side Industrial neighborhood that serve up some of the finest smoked meat sandwiches and Legends on Livernois St. in the Sherwood Forest neighborhood makes a pizza that rivals Chicago's deep dish.

Great food, great views, low crime, and affordability are qualities that can be found in Detroit's top ten best neighborhoods; but if you want to know what neighborhood has it all, keep reading.

Detroit's 88 neighborhoods are starting to see an influx of residents as many of these places are undergoing a sort of revitalization. Surprisingly, you can scoop up great homes in The Big D's best neighborhoods for $58,124.579545454544. And in Detroit's number one neighborhood, you can be close to the riverfront.

So, what is Detroit's number one neighborhood? According to the latest data, that would be Indian Village.

To see how your favorite Detroit neighborhoods compared, take a look below.

For more Michigan reading, check out:

The 10 Best Neighborhoods To Live In Detroit

1. Indian Village

Population: 1,672
Rank Last Year: 2 (Up 1)
Median Home Value: $220,450 (Second best)
Median Income: $64,062 (Sixth best)
More on Indian Village: Homes For Sale | Data

2. Palmer Woods

Population: 1,003
Rank Last Year: 4 (Up 2)
Median Home Value: $355,000 (First best)
Median Income: $148,977 (First best)
More on Palmer Woods: Homes For Sale | Data

3. North Rosedale Park

North Rosedale Park Detroit, MI

Source: Wikipedia User | CC BY-SA 3.0

Population: 4,839
Rank Last Year: 5 (Up 2)
Median Home Value: $88,575 (15th best)
Median Income: $71,137 (Fourth best)
More on North Rosedale Park: Homes For Sale | Data

Rosedale Park is a historic district located in Detroit, Michigan. It is roughly bounded by Fenkell, Outer Drive, Grand River Avenue, Southfield Freeway, Glastonbury Avenue, Lyndon Street and Westwood Drive. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2006. The Rosedale Park district has the largest number of individual properties of any district nominated to the National Register of Historic Places in Michigan, with 1533.

4. Sherwood Forest

Population: 904
Rank Last Year: 1 (Down 3)
Median Home Value: $166,100 (Fifth best)
Median Income: $101,429 (Second best)
More on Sherwood Forest: Homes For Sale | Data

5. University District

University District Detroit, MI

Source: Public domain

Population: 2,702
Rank Last Year: 6 (Up 1)
Median Home Value: $145,725 (Eighth best)
Median Income: $77,849 (Third best)
More on University District: Homes For Sale | Data

University District is a neighborhood in Detroit, Michigan, United States. Located one mile west of Woodward Avenue, the University District is named for its neighbor to the south, the University of Detroit Mercy. The neighborhood is bounded on the north by residential Seven Mile Road, on the south by McNichols Road and the UDM campus, and on the east by the Detroit Golf Club and Golf Club Estates. The western boundary is Livernois Avenue: once known to Detroiters as "the Avenue of Fashion", this commercial boulevard of small shops is becoming Gallery Row, home to a growing collection of art galleries and art-related businesses.

6. Downtown

Population: 4,983
Rank Last Year: 31 (Up 25)
Median Home Value: $86,940 (16th best)
Median Income: $39,360 (20th best)
More on Downtown: Homes For Sale | Data

7. Detroit Golf

Population: 1,616
Rank Last Year: 13 (Up 6)
Median Home Value: $177,640 (Third best)
Median Income: $66,708 (Fifth best)
More on Detroit Golf: Homes For Sale | Data

The Detroit Golf Club is a private golf club located in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan in the middle of a neighborhood area on north side of the city near the University of Detroit Mercy and Palmer Woods Historic District. Bert Way designed the original 6-hole course, then it gradually improved to 9 holes, and finally Donald Ross built the current 36-hole course. The club grounds crew maintains two courses. The North and the South Course. The head pro is Jon Gates. On October 10, 2010 the club and sponsors have expressed interest in a PGA Tour event to be held possibly in the future.

8. Jefferies

Population: 1,361
Rank Last Year: 21 (Up 13)
Median Home Value: $153,100 (Sixth best)
Median Income: $9,809 (88th best)
More on Jefferies: Homes For Sale | Data

9. Rosedale Park

Population: 3,323
Rank Last Year: 3 (Down 6)
Median Home Value: $77,150 (19th best)
Median Income: $54,763 (Eighth best)
More on Rosedale Park: Homes For Sale | Data

10. West Side Industrial

Population: 399
Rank Last Year: 11 (Up 1)
Median Home Value: $84,300 (17th best)
Median Income: $42,084 (17th best)
More on West Side Industrial: Homes For Sale | Data

How We Determined The Best Detroit, MI Neighborhoods In 2020

In order to rank the best neighborhoods in Detroit, we had to determine what criteria defines a "best".

Using crime, census, and extrapolated BLS data, we arrived at the following set of criteria:

  • High incomes
  • Low unemployment rates
  • Low crime
  • High home prices
  • High population densities (A proxy for things to do)

We then ranked each neighborhood with scores from 1 to 88 in each category, where 1 was the best.

Next, we averaged the rankings for each neighborhood to create a best neighborhood index.

And finally, we crowned the neighborhood with the lowest best neighborhood index the "Best City Neighborhood In Detroit." We're lookin' at you, Indian Village.

Read on below to learn more about what it's like to live in the best places Detroit, Michigan has to offer. Or skip to the end to see the list of all the neighborhoods in the city from best to worst.

Putting A Bow On Our Analysis Of The Best Neighborhoods In Detroit

If you're measuring the neighborhoods in Detroit where crime is low and everyone wants to live, this is an accurate list.

As we mentioned earlier, the neighborhoods in Detroit aren't all good. Forest Park takes the title of the worst neighborhood to live in Detroit.

We ranked the neighborhoods from best to worst in the chart below.

For more Michigan reading, check out:

Detailed List Of The Best Neighborhoods To Live In Detroit For 2020

Rank Neighborhood Population Home Value Median Income
1 Indian Village 1,672 $220,450 $64,062
2 Palmer Woods 1,003 $355,000 $148,977
3 North Rosedale Park 4,839 $88,575 $71,137
4 Sherwood Forest 904 $166,100 $101,429
5 University District 2,702 $145,725 $77,849
6 Downtown 4,983 $86,940 $39,360
7 Detroit Golf 1,616 $177,640 $66,708
8 Jefferies 1,361 $153,100 $9,809
9 Rosedale Park 3,323 $77,150 $54,763
10 West Side Industrial 399 $84,300 $42,084
11 Lafayette Park 5,574 $66,100 $25,886
12 Martin Park 4,948 $44,725 $41,604
13 Virginia Park 2,005 $69,733 $29,236
14 Corktown 592 $150,600 $34,167
15 Grandmont 2,332 $53,600 $55,696
16 Woodbridge 2,266 $117,600 $44,060
17 Aviation 3,888 $44,625 $37,824
18 West Village 1,168 $53,200 $24,191
19 Morningside 14,867 $45,932 $38,814
20 Jefferson Chalmers 5,689 $59,929 $31,505
21 Bagley 11,792 $48,720 $38,046
22 Michigan-Martin 1,002 $32,100 $30,051
23 Rivertown 925 $119,000 $48,429
24 Art Center 1,841 $77,650 $30,184
25 Castle Rouge 2,041 $47,100 $30,804
26 Grandmont-Rosedale 10,334 $48,643 $30,985
27 Belmont 2,238 $29,300 $42,218
28 Berg-Lasher 4,511 $49,500 $31,926
29 Southwest Detroit 14,928 $37,582 $25,383
30 Joseph Barry 445 $104,400 $41,544
31 Springwells 13,397 $32,206 $29,316
32 Green Acres 889 $92,100 $36,979
33 Boynton 6,897 $44,709 $27,823
34 Park 4,597 $35,840 $45,081
35 Russell Woods 2,983 $47,850 $33,192
36 Eliza Howell 839 $17,300 $45,321
37 Mohican Regent 3,055 $35,825 $32,005
38 Chandler Park 2,113 $22,133 $31,409
39 Midtown 8,324 $117,389 $19,407
40 Elmwood Park 6,871 $54,980 $19,106
41 East English Village 4,473 $50,525 $44,385
42 Marina District 386 $168,200 $32,467
43 Lasalle Gardens 1,459 $42,600 $25,774
44 Islandview 4,941 $44,429 $26,975
45 Regent Park 4,362 $40,133 $43,734
46 Hubbard-Richard 2,229 $46,767 $31,279
47 Brush Park 1,746 $71,250 $30,055
48 Millenium Village 1,211 $96,650 $35,035
49 Lasalle College Park 3,323 $40,225 $28,500
50 Grixdale 1,085 $18,750 $35,976
51 Old Redford 564 $59,400 $45,833
52 Eight Mile Wyoming 2,835 $37,060 $24,143
53 Conner Creek Ind 1,337 $66,267 $24,371
54 Westwood Park 664 $31,700 $26,000
55 Van Steuban 6,379 $30,738 $34,416
56 Franklin Park 11,290 $30,264 $29,235
57 Fishkorn 3,443 $36,880 $22,662
58 New Center 1,038 $56,833 $17,862
59 Fitzgerald 5,670 $40,510 $24,535
60 Barton-Mcfarland 8,306 $34,138 $25,195
61 Wayne State 4,223 $39,100 $21,459
62 Blackstone Park 2,082 $18,467 $22,553
63 Grandale 5,794 $28,318 $27,806
64 Oakwood Heights 164 $15,800 $38,333
65 Warrendale 17,417 $17,650 $27,970
66 The Eye 3,437 $27,325 $28,934
67 Greensbriar 2,531 $31,200 $31,313
68 Kranz Woods 4,297 $30,840 $20,637
69 Pulaski 4,741 $21,733 $32,341
70 Core City 3,511 $28,920 $25,587
71 Five Points 2,965 $29,700 $27,084
72 Carbon Works 615 $27,300 $33,125
73 Conant Gardens 1,080 $30,900 $25,622
74 Riverdale 5,084 $17,800 $28,243
75 State Fair Grounds 601 $62,300 $11,771
76 Ravendale 2,166 $26,500 $29,362
77 Brightmoor 9,961 $21,585 $24,947
78 Briggs 1,635 $29,900 $15,460
79 Weatherby 1,643 $28,733 $23,734
80 Mcdougall-Hunt 895 $20,100 $21,728
81 Gold Coast 294 $24,900 $27,832
82 Nw Goldberg 1,265 $39,375 $17,793
83 Herman Gardens 504 $31,400 $16,440
84 Petosky-Otsego 7,177 $23,667 $18,799
85 Milwaukee Junction 743 $10,300 $22,039
86 Poletown East 508 $13,280 $16,286
87 Chaldean Town 639 $5,200 $16,172
88 Forest Park 1,044 $14,000 $14,872

About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.

 Best Neighborhoods, Rankings