[Fatnslow]

We are no strangers to cold weather. We will be coming from Colorado Springs (next to Pikes Peak)!

For curiosity's sake, how are places south of dearborn? I am looking at Wyandotte, Riverside, Trenton, and Southgate as well.

The main thing we are looking for is safety. I am willing to drive about 30 minutes for a commute. I don't mind buying a smaller house as long as it is in the right neighborhood. Also not looking to be close to the ghetto. I was told to stay away from Royal Oaks as it is slowly turning ghetto. After safety, we would be looking for areas with good schools. Wife and I don't have any kids yet. Outlook for elementary school would be about 7 years from now.

I was given this map by a friend of areas to stay away from:



I also looked at the crime map on Trulia and the crime seems to be mainly centered in the black area.

[animatedmartian]

Unless hipsters and yuppies are now considered ghetto, Royal Oak is pretty far from it. The map you posted also seems way generalized and many of the areas in red and yellow are pretty fine. Most of the green areas are where prices are over your budget. Obviously crime is most concentrated in city proper, but it's pretty localized and hardly spreads at all like people like to believe.

[TiggerDog]

I live in Berkley and my city is in yellow, should be green. There was an article last summer that said Berkley is the 5th safest city in Michigan. Royal Oak is not crime ridden or ghetto, most young people and young families like living in Royal Oak. I work for Ford myself and a lot of people live in Royal Oak that work there. Probably the most common two cities that Ford Employees live would be Canton or maybe Dearborn.