The 10 Best Neighborhoods In Detroit For 2022


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

Chris Kolmar, About HomeSnacks
Last Updated: April 6, 2022

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 2022.

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. 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:

Best Neighborhoods In Detroit
Source: Wikipedia User User:AE at Quicken Loans | CC BY-SA 1.0

The 10 Best Neighborhoods To Live In Detroit

1. Indian Village

Population: 1,672
Rank Last Year: 1 (No Change)
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: -
Median Home Value: $355,000 (best)
Median Income: $148,977 (best)
More on Palmer Woods: Homes For Sale | Data

3. Sherwood Forest

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

4. Downtown

Population: 4,983
Rank Last Year: 2 (Down 2)
Median Home Value: $86,940 (16th best)
Median Income: $39,360 (20th best)
More on Downtown: Homes For Sale | Data

5. North Rosedale Park

Population: 4,839
Rank Last Year: 3 (Down 2)
Median Home Value: $88,575 (15th best)
Median Income: $71,137 (Fourth best)
More on North Rosedale Park: Homes For Sale | Data

North Rosedale Park Detroit, MI

Source: Wikipedia User | CC BY-SA 3.0

6. University District

Population: 2,702
Rank Last Year: 5 (Down 1)
Median Home Value: $145,725 (Eighth best)
Median Income: $77,849 (Third best)
More on University District: Homes For Sale | Data

University District Detroit, MI

Source: Public domain

7. Midtown

Population: 8,324
Rank Last Year: 4 (Down 3)
Median Home Value: $117,389 (11th best)
Median Income: $19,407 (77th best)
More on Midtown: Homes For Sale | Data

8. Jefferies

Population: 1,361
Rank Last Year: 8 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $153,100 (Sixth best)
Median Income: $9,809 (88th best)
More on Jefferies: Homes For Sale | Data

9. Detroit Golf

Population: 1,616
Rank Last Year: 7 (Down 2)
Median Home Value: $177,640 (Third best)
Median Income: $66,708 (Fifth best)
More on Detroit Golf: Homes For Sale | Data

10. Corktown

Population: 592
Rank Last Year: 9 (Down 1)
Median Home Value: $150,600 (Seventh best)
Median Income: $34,167 (29th best)
More on Corktown: Homes For Sale | Data

Methodology: How We Determined The Best Detroit, MI Neighborhoods In 2022

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.

Summary: 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:

Best Neighborhoods To Live In Detroit For 2022 Detailed Data

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

Editor's Note: We updated this article for 2022. This is our ninth time ranking the best neighborhoods to live in Detroit.
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