Rochester Hills has blossomed from a small railroad town to a charming Detroit suburb. Initially inhabited by the Potawatomi, the area was first settled in 1817 and later organized as Avon Township in 1835. It ultimately became Rochester Hills in 1984. Innovative by nature is the city’s motto, and its innovation through natural transformation categorizes the path Rochester Hills follows. While it’s often merged with its neighbor to the east, Rochester, Rochester Hills offers a more suburban lifestyle and slower pace. With about 76,000 residents spread across 33 square miles, it’s a mid-sized city with a small-town feel.
“It has all the conveniences, jobs and schools as a major city, but the warmth, character and charm of a smaller community that makes you feel like a family,” says Debbie Corey, a Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Kee Realty and former Rochester Hills resident. “It’s the kind of area where, if you move there and you don't have family, you’re going to feel like family.”
Rochester Hills is home to the famous Yates Cider Mill.
Rochester Hills is known for its stock of medium to large sized homes.
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Open-air shopping at The Village in downtown Rochester
Shopping and dining options in this city are concentrated on South Rochester Road. Hampton Village Center is a vast open-air mall with a variety of small and large merchants. The mall is also home to several events, including annual visits from the Easter Bunny.
The Village of Rochester Hills is known as the city's “unofficial downtown”. Situated on Adams Road and Hampton Boulevard, the open-air mall features seven buildings separated by narrow streets and paved sidewalks. It's home to a slew of merchants, from luxury brands to grocery stores. Corey says that while Rochester Hills has its own downtown area, many residents wind up visiting downtown Rochester.
“You really don't have to leave the city for anything, but because [Rochester and Rochester Hills] have such a strong relationship, they almost feel like one—even though they're separate cities,” she says.
Downtown Rochester is also nearby and is home to a slew of mom-and-pop shops. Between Thanksgiving and the new year, downtown Rochester glimmers with over a million Christmas lights in an event known as the Big, Bright Light Show. Thousands of people visit from across Metro Detroit, and merchants stay open later to account for the foot traffic.
Rochester Hills has a vibrant downtown with multiple locally owned shops.
Browse for an assortment of home furnishings in downtown Rochester.
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Year-round outdoor recreation and Michigan’s’ first non-motorized trail
As an Oakland County city, greenspaces are bountiful within Rochester Hills. It’s home to 16 parks and trail systems in total. Borden Park is a catch-all sports complex that stretches a whopping 143 acres. It offers over 30 courts and fields, allowing visitors to play sports such as baseball, soccer, pickleball and more. In addition, the park has two roller hockey rinks, three fitness loops and a vast multipurpose field. Borden also features 30 acres of wooded wetlands and nature preserves.
Spencer Park covers 113 acres of land. The 38-acre Carter Lake sits on its east side and is home to the Spencer Park Pond Hockey Classic. The annual 3-on-3 tournament is held whenever the lake adequately freezes over. During warmer months, the lake is used for swimming and fishing from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The city’s rail-to-trail projects convert unused railroad tracks into walking trails. Paint Creek Trail was the first to receive this upgrade and became Michigan’s first non-motorized trail in the process. The nearly 9-mile linear park features picnic tables, the Clinton River and an area for cross-country skiing.
Yates Park in Rochester Hills is an excellent place to view nature.
Borden Park in Rochester Hills features several new pickle ball courts.
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Highly rated public schools and Oakland University
Served by the A-plus-rated Rochester Community School District, students in Rochester Hills have their pick of 13 elementary schools, four middle schools and three high schools. Rochester Adams has an A-plus and counts several notable graduates, including New York Rangers captain Jacob Trouba, Olympic gold medalist Swimmer Peter Vanderkay and entertainment icon Madonna.
Since 2021, the city’s Art on Auburn community project has exhibited select K-12 student artwork along Auburn Road. Done in partnership with the Paint Creek Center for the Arts, the winning pieces are painted right on the street — all within the same giant circles of the same size — and exude themes such as unity, community, belonging, coexistence and growth.
Oakland University has a B rating on Niche and ranks as the 7th best public university in Michigan. It specializes in engineering, business, healthcare and IT.
New housing for a moving market
“As far as houses, there’s something for everyone,” Corey says. “No matter what stage of life you're in, you can find something in Rochester Hills.”
Rochester Hills has over 15 neighborhoods, each offering distinct living spaces. The city’s average single-family home price is about $465,500, but homes range from $150,000 townhouses in Woodgrove to million-dollar mansions in Clear Creek. Houses tend to spend about 25 days on the market and sell for above asking price. For comparison, the US average is 44 days.
Most homes in this city are established, single-family options. They were generally built between 1950 and 1980 and sit on mid-sized lots with stretching, established trees out front. Extra yard space is the standard, along with cul-de-sacs and winding roads.
In January 2024, Mayor Bryan K. Barnett shared an update on the city’s five-year master plan. In it, he discussed the need for building new homes. Construction has already begun, with prices starting upwards of $350,000 and climbing to $800,000.
Contemporary homes in Rochester Hills offer plenty of room for growing families.
Smaller ranch style homes in Rochester Hills are ideal for first time homebuyers.
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Interstates, airports and employers
South Rochester Road is the main thoroughfare that runs through Rochester Hills. It connects to Michigan Highway 59, or M-59, which then connects to Interstates 75 and 96. The Detroit Metropolitan Airport is 45 miles southwest of Rochester Hills. Residents don’t have to commute 28 miles into Detroit for work. Major employers include Rochester Community Schools, Oakland University, Rochester Hospital, formally known as Ascension Providence Hospital, and manufacturing plants, such as Webasto.
Lower-than-average crime rates
Rochester Hills has an exceptionally low crime rate compared to the state and national averages. Where the Michigan average for violent crime is 4.61 per 1,000 residents, Rochester Hills is 0.78. With property crime, the city’s rate is 6.9 versus the state average of 15.37.
The chances of becoming a victim of violent crime in Rochester Hills are 1 in 1,287 compared to 1 in 217 in the state, while the chances of being a victim of property crime in the city are 1 in 145 compared to 1 in 65 in the state.
Typical southeast Michigan weather patterns
Rochester Hills experiences all four seasons the same as other Southwest Michigan cities. Temperatures start to drop below 50 in November, and light snowfall follows. Snowfall is heaviest in January and February, as the city gets around 5 inches each month. The weather begins to warm up around May. Summer highs are generally around 83 degrees but can sometimes peak upwards of 90.
Pink Coneflower blooms on a bright August day in Rochester Hills.
Enjoy fishing from the docks at Thelma G. Spencer Park in Rochester Hills.
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