The Palmer Park neighborhood is mostly known for having a central location, historic apartment district and a 296-acre namesake park, but it also offers a proud community looking to rebuild. Since the 1800s, this neighborhood has transformed from a sprawling estate into an overlooked and slipping urban neighborhood. Residents have partnered with neighboring communities over the years to breathe life into the once blighted area.
There's a transformation moving through Palmer Park, attracting buyers to its close-knit community, central location and long-standing homes.
“When I lived there in the 80s and 90s and my friends would come to visit, they’d be out in the car waiting like ‘girl come open the door hurry up,’” says Stacy Varner, People for Palmer Park’s Board President and a former resident of the district. “Its not like that anymore. I walk the area all the time and never feel any kind of way.”
Historic Condos are plentiful in Palmer Park.
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The namesake Palmer Park
Much like the apartment district, the namesake greenspace Palmer Park was overlooked and neglected until the community stepped up. In 2011, People for Palmer Park (PFPP) stopped the impeding closer of the 296-acre park and made a commitment to revive it. PFPP has worked tirelessly to build new recreation areas, maintain the park's natural spaces, revitalize the Palmer family’s historic log cabin and so much more.
Kids now flood the playscapes and splashpad during warm summer months. Walkers, runners and bikers enjoy the 2.5-mile nature trail year-round. Engulfed by tall, established trees, the trail provides a forested getaway at the center of the city. There’s also an apple orchard, pumpkin patch and community garden.
The picnic areas and barbeque grill stations are popular spots for reunions and birthday parties. Open greenspaces are used to host annual events like PFPP’s Harvest Festival, which has face painting, hayrides, apple picking and a petting zoo. “It’s my favorite event,” says Varner. “It’s just such a chill, peaceful, fun event.”
She says the look on children’s faces makes all the work worth doing. “Their smiles where they’re here, in the city of Detroit, picking apples from a tree—it makes it all worthwhile. You just don’t see that in the city,” she says.
People for Palmer Park also hosts an annual Farmer’s market with 25 local vendors. “It’s actually more like a community gathering,” says Varner. “There’s live entertainment, food. People really come to hang out with neighbors.”
With the arrival of an amphitheater in Fall of 2024, PFPP will host free concerts in the park as well. Also free to the public are activities like Thai Chi, a bike group and walking group.
In 1893, Thomas Palmer gave the city land for Palmer Park.
More than 60 Artists show their work at the Palmer Park Art Fair.
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Woodward and The Avenue of Fashion
Major shopping districts are within reach on Livernois and Woodward. Residents shop at stores like Meijer, Marshalls and Five Below at the intersection of Woodward and 8 Mile. Stores like Aldi, Forman Mills and Family Dollar can be found by driving south along Woodward. The section of Livernois between McNichols (6 Mile) and 8 Mile is also known as the Avenue of Fashion and is packed with boutiques, diners and services. Restaurants range from coney staples at Nickey D’s, to casual sit-down spots like Good Times on The Ave.
Grab dinner and drinks at Good Times on the Ave, outside Palmer Park.
The Livernois Avenue of Fashion has many shops and eateries near Palmer Park.
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Ample transportation options
Palmer Park is walkable, bikeable and is surrounded by public transit options. Buses run along Woodward, McNichols, 7 Mile and Livernois making getting around a breeze. Its compact layout and paved bike lanes also make it easy to bike and walk around. While it’s not necessary to own car in Palmer Park, most people own at least one. Major freeways like The Lodge and Interstate 75 are about 3 miles each way, meaning they’re close enough to access dealing with the noise.
A handful of single family homes
There are three major components to the Palmer Park neighborhood: the apartment district, the park, and a small strip of ranch style houses adjacent to Detroit Golf. While most of the residences in Palmer Park are historic apartments, there are also townhouses, condos and ranch style homes. On the east side of Pontchartrain Boulevard sits neat, well-kept ranches that cost between $150,000 and $350,000. Condos and townhouses, on the other hand, are spread throughout and intermingle with historic apartment complexes. These cost somewhere between $45,000 and $95,000.
Palmer Park features single-family homes and many Condo options.
Historic Brick Colonials stand out in Palmer Park.
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Palmer Park Academy and Mumford High School
Palmer Park Preparatory Academy serves pre-k through eighth graders and has a C-minus rating on Niche, while Mumford High School has a C and teaches ninth through twelfth graders. The high school offers a variety of programs to keep students on course including 24-hour access to homework help and online credit recovery.
Palmer Park Preparatory Academy offers a dynamic learning environment.
Mumford High School earned a "C" rating in 2024, according to Niche.com.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Interested in learning more about homes in this neighborhood?
Reach out to
Robert Coburn,
an experienced agent in this area.
Parks in this Area
Marie Park
Trails
Playground
Garbutt Park
Multi-Purpose Field
Oppenheim Park
Grills
Picnic Area
Trails
Ferndale Memorial Mall
Trails
Palmer Park
Tennis
Trails
Parking Lot
Ella Fitzgerald Park
Basketball
Grills
Playground
Transit
Airport
Windsor International
38 min drive
Bus
Woodward & 7 Mile
Bus
Woodward & Goldengate
Bus
Woodward & Grixdale
Bus
Woodward & Nevada
Bus
Woodward & Covington
Bus
Mcnichols & Second
Bus
Mcnichols & Third
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Palmer Park
US
Homicide
8
4
Sexual Assault
5
4
Assault with Weapon
7
4
Robbery
7
4
Burglary
5
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
5
4
Larceny
4
4
Crime Score
5
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Palmer Park, Detroit sell after 10 days on the market compared to the national average of 47 days. The average sale price for homes in Palmer Park, Detroit over the last 12 months is $241,000, up 503% from the average home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Come live life to the fullest in Historic Palmer Park. This newly renovated and landscaped 4-story apartment building offers beautifully modernized studios (handicap accessible options available), one bedrooms and two bedroom floor plans that range from about 500 square feet to a spacious 1,300 square feet! These apartments include tenant controlled heat and air conditioning, brand new kitchens
This beautiful 2 Bedroom unit has hardwood flooring throughout with both Nice Open Floor Plan with plenty of Space. Located near Palmer Park, Avenue of Fashion, shopping, restaurants and more. Easy Expressway access. 15 Minutes from Downtown Detroit. Call to schedule your private showing. Tenant must provide proof of income. a refrigerator and stove included with the property. This convivial
Living here-Historic Palmer Park is your backyard. This newly renovated and landscaped 2-story apartment building offers a beautifully modernized one bedroom floor plan of 900 square feet and a two bedroom floor plan of of 1000 square feet. These apartments include resident controlledl heat and air conditioning, free Laundry usage, Free Storage usage, brand new kitchens with stainless steel
Interested in learning more about homes in this neighborhood?
Reach out to
Robert Coburn,
an experienced agent in this area.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
2,824
Median Age
40
Population Density
2 ppl/acre
Population under 18
21.5%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
16%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$33,027
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$43,226
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
94.9%
College Graduates
51.7%
Above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
4.8%
Below the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
64.4%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
30''
Average Winter Low Temperature
20°F
Average Summer High Temperature
83°F
Annual Snowfall
28''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
49/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
35/ 100
Some Transit
Transit Score®
48/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
