Known for its roots in the automotive industry, Motown Music and one-of-a-kind culture, Detroit is a resilient community recovering from formidable setbacks. As the largest city in Michigan, it covers over 140 square miles and has more than 620,000 residents. During the 1920s, Detroit proper was home to America’s most successful automotive manufacturers—earning it the nickname Motor City. When these manufacturers moved to surrounding suburbs in the 1950s and 60s, they took around 150,000 jobs with them. This, paired with redlining, the race riot of 1967 and illegal property tax assessments between 2009 and 2015, fueled ongoing issues with poverty, crime and urban decay. The city filed for bankruptcy in 2013. But Detroit has experienced unprecedented growth over the past decade. “We are definitely a city on the comeback,” says Sheila Abrams, a Realtor at Community Choice Realty and Detroit native. “ Downtown Detroit ] was brought back before anything else, but now I can see businesses expanding through the neighborhoods, and it’s really cool to see.”
Some would say Detroit is being revived from the dead, but Abrams says it’s important to remember that the Motor City never died. When this city lost everything—from major employers to over half its population—committed Detroiters stayed and made the best of their situation. They built a culture of pride, grit, hustle and hope. Even the city’s professional sports teams demonstrate this culture, donning mottos such as “it takes more,” “different by design,” and “find a way.” “I love the slogan ‘Detroit never left’ because we didn’t go anywhere,” Abrams says. “The real, diehard Detroiters never left. We have a resiliency and pride that a lot of other cities don't have.”
The City of Detroit has poured millions into modernizing downtown, making it safe and enjoyable.
The Detroit River Front was voted Best in America in 2021, 2022 and 2023.
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Opportunities in manufacturing and healthcare
Today, Detroit’s economy doesn’t just lean on the automotive manufacturing industry—although there are two FCA Stellantis plants on the city’s east side that employ more than 12,500 people. Over the past decade, businesses have moved to bring workers back into downtown, rather than having them commute outside the city.
The city is also seeing growth in white-collar careers in downtown and Midtown . The new Hudson's Building, located downtown on Woodward, is slated to open its doors in 2025. At 681 feet tall, it's the second tallest building in the city and will be home to several corporations and also feature a hotel, shops and more.
Rocket Mortgage has changed the landscape of downtown Detroit in the past decade. When the lender, which employs just over 14,500 people, moved into downtown in 2010, it brought a dozen of its sister companies with it. The company encouraged other businesses, including Microsoft, to bring workers back into the city.
Detroit is also expanding its ventures in technology. Corktown 's Michigan Central, abandoned for over 30 years, used to be one of the city’s biggest symbols of blight. The old transportation center was fully rehabbed and reopened to the public in 2024. Featuring 1.2 million square feet of commercial space, multiple outdoor plazas and a state-of-the-art mobility hub, the 30-acre campus is now a symbol of hope and transformation. “It’s a whole building of innovators,” Abrams says. “[Detroit] is trying to expand horizons beyond cars. Maybe, someday, we can be like a new Silicon Valley.”
Healthcare is another major employer. The Detroit Medical Center, also known as the DMC, and Henry Ford Hospital are the largest medical employers in the city. The DMC is home to eight hospitals and partners closely with Wayne State University’s School of Medicine. With more than 32,000 employees, Henry Ford Health is the fifth-largest employer in metro Detroit. The Henry Ford Detroit campus is located in New Center , just north of Midtown.
Ford recently completed extensive renovations to Michigan Central Station
Renaissance Center is Detroit's most iconic landmark building located along the riverfront.
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Motown, museums, deep dish and a Coney
Much like the auto industry, Motown Music greatly influences Detroit’s culture. From colorful murals of Motown legends to the Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre along the Detroit River, the record label’s impact is felt from corner to corner. The iconic Hitsville U.S.A. studio, which has been transformed into a museum, is a brightly painted, white and blue American Four Square situated on West Grand Boulevard. Other museums and historic institutions, such as the Charles H. Wright African American Museum, Detroit History Museum and Detroit Institute of Arts, locally called the DIA, can be found in the vibrant Cultural Center neighborhood. The DIA is famed for the Detroit Industry Murals painted by Diego Rivera, inspired by the city’s ties to the auto industry.
The Cultural Center isn’t the only place to explore profound art and history. From vibrant murals in Mexicantown to urban parks in Elijah McCoy , Detroit is brimming with character. Near Eastern Market, for example, the brightly colored “Detroit Never Left” mural pays homage to the city’s cultural staples: fashion, music and trendsetting. There’s a man with Cartier sunglasses - also known as Buffs - and a pocket full of cash. Next to him, there’s a man doing the Jit, a woman dancing and many eyes watching. Dozens of murals similar in essence can be found around Detroit, highlighting some of the city’s greatest icons and cultural mainstays.
Even the city’s most popular shopping and dining spots reflect its history and culture. Detroit’s Historic Eastern Market was originally opened in the 1840s, making it one of the oldest farmer’s markets in the country. It’s also one of the largest at 43 acres. There is a Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday market. The Saturday market is open year-round and features over 225 vendors. It’s generally the busiest day, drawing thousands of people to the area to purchase fresh produce, whole foods, handmade attire and more. The Sunday and Tuesday markets are open from June through September. The Sunday market is slightly different from the Saturday market as it’s mostly a showcase of local musicians, artists and cooks. Along with hundreds of merchants, there are always street performers. The Tuesday market is scaled down from the other two but is just as uniquely Detroit. It also offers free classes, including Zumba and yoga.
Other shopping and dining options are concentrated on main roads such as 8 Mile, Gratiot, Grand River, Livernois and Woodward. Woodward is the busiest destination and has the most merchants, especially in Midtown and downtown. The Woodward Corridor, also known as “Detroit’s Main Street,” was the first paved highway in the world when it was completed in 1909. It stretches more than 27 miles and runs from downtown Detroit to Pontiac. Along with housing a slew of merchants and restaurants, it evenly separates the city’s east and west sides. Woodward is also home to various events such as the Woodward Dream Cruise, Thanksgiving Day Parade and Noel Night.
While dining options in Detroit range from James Beard-winning restaurants like Lena Sareini, to casual local chains like Captain Jay’s, the city is mainly known for Detroit-style Deep Dish and Coney Island. The Motor City’s square pies were created at Buddy’s Rendezvous Pizzeria in 1946. Like most things in the city, they have a tie to the automotive industry: the original pizzas were baked in forged steel pans borrowed from local manufacturing plants.
Coney Island’s story started in 1917 when Gust Keros, a Greek immigrant, opened American Coney Island on West Lafayette Street in downtown Detroit. Not long after, his brother William opened Lafayette Coney next door. Both of these Detroit Coney Islands are incredibly popular to this day, and there’s an ongoing argument over which serves the best Coney dog. The popularity of these two establishments is why dozens of Coney Islands can be found throughout the city today. From Leo’s Coney on 6 Mile to Hollywood Coney on Gratiot, there’s at least one coney island in almost every Detroit neighborhood. “You may have your favorite coney, but you really can’t go wrong wherever you go,” Abrams says.
Visit the famous Motown Museum, which just finished a massive remodeling.
Residents of Detroit & Wayne County enjoy free access to the Detroit Institute of Arts.
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Distinct, historic houses that vary by neighborhood
The drop in population led to a time when Detroit was known as a place where a home could be found for $1,000 (or less). The median home price in Detroit is now around $85,000, which is still less than one-fourth of the national level.
Detroit’s longstanding brick homes are widely known for their rich history, variety of styles and notable architects. Abrams says this is one of the city's biggest draws. “The houses in Detroit are just built better than some of the surrounding suburbs,” Abrams says. “[Contractors] don't make new construction the same quality that they did back in the day. People move to Detroit because they know they’re getting a good property with good bones.”
Home styles, conditions and prices depend entirely on the neighborhood. For instance, Boston Edison is home to some of the oldest and largest homes in the city. Urban decay hardly affected the neighborhood, as many of its historic homes were preserved with time. Nardin Park , however, is just blocks from Boston Edison and was severely affected by blight. Many of its bungalows and cottage-style homes are now controlled by the city through the Detroit Land Bank Authority, created to manage the sale of vacant or foreclosed property.
Highly coveted English Revival homes are found in Detroit's Boston-Edison neighborhood.
American Foursquare-style homes in Detroit offer families room to grow.
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Nearly 400 parks and green spaces
Detroit's 400 parks and greenspaces cover over 4,700 acres. Belle Isle 's park, which shares the community's name, is the largest and most used, stretching about 985 acres. It’s an island between Detroit and it's Canadian neighbor, the city of Windsor and can be reached by crossing the MacArthur Bridge. The park's north side provides views of the Detroit skyline, while the south side displays Windsor’s. Thousands of people visit Belle Isle during summer days to enjoy riverside picnics, cool off at the beach and let kids burn off steam at the playgrounds. The Belle Isle Aquarium is the oldest continually operating public aquarium in North America. The park also features museums, nature trails, boat launches and the iconic Giant Slide -- a 40-foot metal slide that has been a city staple since the 1960s. Hart Plaza and Campus Martius are the city’s largest urban parks. They’re both located downtown. Campus Martius is considered the city square and features activities for all four seasons. During warm months, there are movies in the park, concerts and a beach area with sand, lounge chairs and a tiki bar. The park is turned into an ice-skating rink during the holiday season and is also where the annual tree lighting takes place. Hart Plaza is a 14-acre plaza situated off the river. It’s home to major events like the annual Jazz Fest, Pride Fest and Movement Music Festival.
Designed by Albert Kahn, the Scripps Conservatory draws nature lovers from all over.
In winter, Campus Martius transforms into an ice rink in Downtown Detroit.
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Detroit Public Schools and 34 colleges and universities
Detroit Public Schools get a C rating on Niche. The city serves over 50,000 students across 78 elementary, 64 middle and 27 high schools. Examination high schools are highly sought after, but enrollment is limited as interested students must pass an admissions test. There are five examination schools in total: Cass Tech, Renaissance, Martin Luther King, Jr. Senior High, Southeastern High School and The School at Marygrove.
University Preparatory Science & Math, based in Midtown, offers its own public charter network. It has a C-minus rating and two elementary schools, one middle and one high school.
Highland Park School District currently has one school, Barber Preparatory Academy, which serves prekindergarten through eighth-grade students. It has not been rated on Niche. Hamtramck Public Schools has eight institutions, including four elementary, four middle and two high schools. The district has a C rating on Niche.
There are also 34 colleges and universities in the Detroit area. Wayne State University is the city's largest and has an A-minus rating. Niche ranks it as the 4th best college in Michigan.
Cass Technical High School was founded in 1907 and serves over 2400 students.
The Detroit School of Arts offers plenty of AP and Honors courses.
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Four major highways and ample public transit options
The Lodge Freeway, Interstate 96 and Interstate 75 are the major highways that run north and south through Detroit. Interstate 94 runs east and west. Public transit options include the Detroit Department of Transportation bus system, referred to as the DDOT, and the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation, commonly known as the SMART bus. DDOT only operates in Detroit, while SMART runs from Detroit to surrounding suburbs such as Southfield, Warren and Troy. There are 48 DDOT routes and 45 SMART bus routes. There is also the QLine streetcar. On Woodward, the QLine moves riders from New Center to Downtown. The Detroit People Mover is a three-mile elevated rail system that loops the downtown area as well. The city also has bike lanes and bike-sharing options. Detroit Metro Airport, which is situated about 20 miles southwest of the city, is the main place to fly to and from. There are plans to revitalize Coleman A. Young International Airport, which is in the city's boundaries, and increase commercial flights.
Crime rates and weather
According to the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer, Detroit’s reported rates of violent and property crime are often higher than state and national figures. The Detroit Board of Police Commissioners' 2023 annual report reflected a 3% increase in property crime rates between 2022 and 2023 and a decrease of less than a percent in violent crime rates. At the end of 2023, the city reported the fewest homicides in a single year since 1966.
Detroit experiences heavy snow in winter. Flash flooding is a concern in some neighborhoods.
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