Need a good neighborhood within 25 minutes of Midtown (Detroit, Grand Rapids: for rent, homes)

[kashodi]

Hello:

I am moving the Detroit area to work as a physician at the Detroit Medical Center. I am looking to rent in a good neighborhood for a family within 25 minutes of midtown. I need to be able to get there within 25 minutes when I am called for an emergency. I have children that are still 3 years away from school age but a good school district may still be a plus for the future. I have considered midtown itself but I'm not sure there are a lot of family things to do in midtown. Also, it does not appear likely that there are going to be single family homes for rent. I would prefer to have a garage if possible. The things that are important to us include safety, parks, public libraries, sidewalk, walkability, things to do for children.

I would appreciate any advise on neighborhoods, that are within 20-25 mins drive from Midtown.

Thanks

[gameguy56]

Grosse Pointe would be a good fit, I think.

[kashodi]

Thanks

[Almont1]

Grosse Pointe or Huntington Woods/Pleasant Ridge.

If school district is important, just Grosse Pointe or Huntington Woods.

If willing to go a 5-10 minutes further, Birmingham/Bloomfield is more upscale and probably has better schools than any other area in Metro Detroit, though.

[belleislerunner]

It's been said before but Grosse Point is your best bet. According to US News and World Report, their schools are in the top five in the entire state. Top Michigan High Schools | Best High Schools | US News The towns have their own private parks for residents only, lakeside access, walkable downtowns with bagel/coffee shops, ice cream, restaurants - all in all, a perfect place to raise a family. You can easily hop on 94 at Cadieux (6 Mile), Moross (7 Mile) or Vernier (8 Mile) and be downtown within 15 minutes.

[Arthur Digby Sellers]

Originally Posted by belleislerunner

It's been said before but Grosse Point is your best bet. According to US News and World Report, their schools are in the top five in the entire state. Top Michigan High Schools | Best High Schools | US News The towns have their own private parks for residents only, lakeside access, walkable downtowns with bagel/coffee shops, ice cream, restaurants - all in all, a perfect place to raise a family. You can easily hop on 94 at Cadieux (6 Mile), Moross (7 Mile) or Vernier (8 Mile) and be downtown within 15 minutes.

Grosse Pointe Schools - while still very, very good - are no longer top 5 in the state.

[Almont1]

GP Schools are probably Top 10 or Top 15 in the State, but no way Top 5.

Bloomfield, Novi, Birmingham, Troy, East Grand Rapids all rank higher, and there are a few more.

But really, the difference between these districts isn't big. You will be fine in any Top 25 district.

[Arthur Digby Sellers]

Originally Posted by Almont1

GP Schools are probably Top 10 or Top 15 in the State, but no way Top 5.

Bloomfield, Novi, Birmingham, Troy, East Grand Rapids all rank higher, and there are a few more.

But really, the difference between these districts isn't big. You will be fine in any Top 25 district.

Agreed.

[Coldjensens]

The "rankings" really o not mean a lot. They vary depending on what data is included. Grosse Pointe Schools are excellent schools. that a is really all you need to know. After that you need to explore the schools and figure out whether they are a good fit for your particular family. If you have a son who is a football star, Grosse Pointe may not be the best choice. However a son who is a great singer - Grosse Pointe is a very good choice. Sailer, rower, golfer, all good choice. Rugby Player, basketball star, maybe wrestler - maybe not. If your kid is a mediocher student, Grosse Pointe may possibly not be the best option.


Hwever within 25 minutes of downtown, GP is probably the best option for you.

[Arthur Digby Sellers]

Like most things, the rankings are relative. If you're comparing the 5th ranked district to the 25th ranked district, chances are the quality is identical. However, schools that are ranked in the middle or bottom percentiles are almost always there for a reason. Ditto for schools that drop significantly year over year.