Metro Detroit’s community of Inkster was once known as Moulin Rouge. But you won’t find the history of the Parisian can-can dance here. You will find the site of the former red sawmill that the community was named after, as well as a bevy of history on Inkster’s role in civil rights. The small town is in southeastern Michigan, located about 20 miles west of Detroit.
In Inkster, most housing dates back to the early to mid-1900s, and styles include brick- and wood-sided Minimal Traditionals, ranches and Colonial Revivals. Homes rest along relatively flat, gridded streets. The median home price is around $115,000, significantly lower than the statewide and national medians. “There are some hidden gems here for first-time buyers and investors,” says Norman Trotter, Realtor with Mr. and Mrs. Real Estate, which serves the metro Detroit and surrounding areas. Inkster's CAP Index crime score is 6 out of 10, which is higher than the national average of 4.
Inkster’s place in civil rights history could ultimately play a vital role in the future of the community. The Wesleyan Methodist Church on Michigan Avenue and Henry Ruff Roads reportedly ran a stop on the Underground Railroad for the 45,000 enslaved people who escaped to Canada to gain freedom. In 1952, civil rights leader Malcolm X lived with his brother’s family in a house on Williams Street. The home was recently listed on the National Register of Historic Places, clearing the way for the Inkster-based nonprofit Project We Hope, Dream and Believe, to revitalize the once-abandoned home into a museum. The nonprofit bought three lots next door and across the street, where there are plans to build a community center and a job training/youth tutorial center. A grant from the National Park Service African American Civil Rights program is helping to develop the organization’s vision.
Several parks dot the city’s landscape, providing space for residents to stay active. Inkster Park has wide open green space, a covered picnic area and a large playground, while Lemoyne Park is a popular area for sports. The Dozier Recreation Center offers indoor recreation for all ages and is reserved for school-aged children in the afternoons. Locals can also stop by the Leanna Hicks Public Library for help with tax forms or to participate in educational programs. The Inkster Valley Golf Club has both an 18-hole outdoor course and an indoor virtual golf facility.
Depending on their address, children who live in Inkster can attend one of three different districts. The northwestern corner of the city is zoned for Wayne-Westland Community Schools, which earns a C-minus on Niche. The C-rated Taylor School District and the C-minus-rated Westwood Community School District serve other portions of Inkster. Private options include the Peterson Warren Academy, a preschool through 12th-grade Christian school that earns an A on Niche.
Inkster has a handful of take-out restaurants and sit-down spots, including Brothers Smokehouse Bar and BBQ and AlTayeb Restaurant. There are plenty of sit-down options in Dearborn and Detroit. Dearborn's Westpoint BBQ serves steaks and smoky ribs, and Detroit's restaurant options run the gamut from upscale, European-inspired food at Ladder 4 Wine Bar to modern Mexican cuisine at M Cantina. The closest grocery store is a Kroger about a mile west of the city, and the Fairlane Town Center in Dearborn is around 5 miles east.
U.S. Route bisects the community, and Interstate 94 is a few miles south. Residents can also catch SMART buses into downtown Detroit or to the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, less than 7 miles south of Inkster. The region tends to have relatively mild summers and cold, snowy winters.
Jill Tokarsky
Real Estate One-Northville
(734) 292-4434
102 Total Sales
3 in Inkster
$25K - $85K Price Range
Amanda Gleason
Real Estate One-Southgate
(313) 646-7534
117 Total Sales
1 in Inkster
$157,600 Price
Elijah Cook
KW Metro
(313) 474-7193
129 Total Sales
2 in Inkster
$80K - $113K Price Range
Vern Smith
Real Estate Management Specialists Inc
(888) 308-3469
18 Total Sales
1 in Inkster
$113,000 Price
Dean Agius
3Sixty5 Realty
(734) 415-6099
345 Total Sales
6 in Inkster
$16K - $80K Price Range
Bryan Redmond
BHHS Kee Realty
(947) 218-7258
79 Total Sales
1 in Inkster
$40,000 Price