Info on Clarkston, Oxford areas (Detroit, Flint: apartment, rent, amusement park)

[syrnative]

Now that the hubby is working full time in Auburn Hills, he's had some time to drive around and look at different areas. We've been concentrating on the Lake Orion area, where he has an apartment, but after driving to Clarkston and Oxford to visit former coworkers he's impressed with those areas too. Can anyone give us some info about these two cities - schools, communities, events, etc? Are they close to grocery stores, Target, strip malls, etc? We're hoping to either buy or rent something in the spring, whether we sell our house in WI by then or not. Thanks for the help.

[edub]

Clarkston is nice and has a few really good restaurants with a great atmosphere. Don't know about Oxford. Check out Mesquite Creek and Clarkston Union both in down town Clarkston. I live in Waterford and find Clarkston a little cleaner and nicer. Not sure about the schools.

[snoopygirlmi]

They are both nice areas. That being said, Clarkston's village government is considering merging with one of the other towns because they can't afford to run the village independently. There were a couple of articles in the Oakland Press about it, so I would research that before buying anything there.

[Laroosco]

I currently live in Lake Orion, my wife and I are trying to decide whether to stay or move back to Oxford. I like Lake Orion but I like Oxford just a little better, just a personal preference I guess.

I grew up in Ortonville so I've spent a lot of time in Clarkston over the years.

You really can't go wrong in the area IMO.

[Ohio248]

All good areas with good schools.

Not good for everyone, though. You need to like lakes and outdoors activity.

It would probably be better for families, and not singles.

And, for some folks, it's a bit far out in the "sticks". I personally would not live out that far (too far to get to shopping, restaurants, work, hospitals, culture, etc. etc.) but I know many folks like it just fine.

[syrnative]

Thanks everyone for your help. We like the idea of being near water but we don't have to live on a lake (not sure we can afford to anyways). We currently live in a rural area and I'm not thrilled driving a half hour to get anywhere. My husband is growing very fond of Lake Orion and I think we will concentrate our home search there. Just wish we could sell the house in WI and make the move.

[Ohio248]

Originally Posted by syrnative

We currently live in a rural area and I'm not thrilled driving a half hour to get anywhere.

Lake Orion is a good area with no major problems, but keep in mind that if you move there you will likely be driving a half-hour to get anywhere.

It's a far northern suburb, and most of the "stuff" in metro Detroit is a ways south.

For example, if you want upscale shopping, Troy, MI is 30 minutes away. If you want a downtown area with restaurants, Birmingham and Royal Oak are 30 minutes away. If you want a top hospital, Troy and West Bloomfield are 30 minutes away.

Lake Orion does have the basics in proximity. You have your nearby Target and grocery stores, and a few chain restaurants, but not much else. It's still semi-rural, or at least outer suburban.

[stanman13]

For all three communities, your generic shopping (Target, Meijer, Costco, Sam's Club, etc.) are right there by Great Lakes Crossing, which is a big outlet mall. All of those communities (plus nearby Brandon Twp.) have very good schools.

Clarkston just closed the village police dept and contracted with the Sherriff for coverage. This actually effects a very small area since the Village of Clarkston itself is small. Oxford and Lake Orion at this time still maintain their own police, but again, they only patrol right in the village limits, so it really is not that much of a consideration.

All three are nice little towns, and nice surrounding areas. I live in Clarkston, and I don't find myself driving 30 minutes to go somewhere else to shop very often. Out of those options, Lake Orion is probably the most budget-friendly, although it varies.

Oddly enough, all three were independent towns for years, until the last 15 or so when they began to be considered "outer suburbs". Same with Rochester, which I would recommend you also consider if you have work in Auburn Hills. Lake Orion built itself as a resort town and even had an amusement park. Clarkston was a farming town, with a fair amount of horse activity. Oxford is (as is nearby Metamora, Lapeer County) world famous for horses.

Oxford would be your longest drive to Auburn Hills, depending on specifically where you lived and worked.

[313er]

lake orion is best of both worlds, because its a great commuter town to Flint and detroit, since its right in the middle, and has all your shopping right there. in lake orion.

[Corktown 4 life]

Clarkston was more of a small village and tried become a cookie cutter suburb in the early decade with the widening of Sashabaw.