South Lyon sits roughly 40 miles west of Detroit, offering a small-town setting without straying far from big city amenities. “It’s a quaint, quiet, rural bedroom community,” says Lisa Prochazka, associate broker with Real Estate One in South Lyon. “There’s a downtown area and we have some larger acreage parcels, so people can get more space.” Incorporated as a city in 1930, South Lyon enjoys a longstanding history, especially with the railroad industry, which once operated three lines running through the small city. Today, the CSX main line from Detroit to Grand Rapids still runs through South Lyon, but the city’s largest employers are the South Lyon School District, Michigan Seamless Tube and the South Lyon Hotel.
Witches Hat Depot Museum is a local staple in South Lyon.
South Lyon Hotel employs locals and offers dining options in South Lyon.
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The shops and restaurants of downtown South Lyon
Initially built in 1867, the South Lyon Hotel was originally the city’s central hotel and still provided rooms into the late 1980s. Converted to a restaurant and banquet hall, it was destroyed by fire in 2016. In a demonstration of the sense of community across the city, ownership and locals rallied to bring the hotel back to life, reopening the following year. Surrounding the hotel, the city’s downtown is as a hub for shopping and dining, offering various locally owned shops and restaurants. “We finally got a Downtown Development Authority,” Prochazka says. “There’s a farmers market, concerts in the park and a lot of new restaurants.” Dining options range from the hotel’s full menu of Americana to fresh baked goods or upscale Italian cuisine. Shopping options are just as varied, with shops offering toys, video games, boutique clothing and more. For groceries and other necessities, residents can head to Busch’s Fresh Food Market on Pontiac Trail or Kroger, which is also on Pontiac Trail but just south of city limits.
The Corner Social in South Lyon is a great spot all year long for lunch.
Sip on a freshly poured craft beer from Witch's Hat Brewery in South Lyon.
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History and hiking abound in South Lyon parks
Spanning five parks and the Huron Valley Trail, South Lyon’s park system holds more than 200 acres of green space where the community can enjoy baseball fields, basketball and volleyball courts, playgrounds and more. Unique activities across the city include a popular sledding hill in McHattie Park, also home to the Witch’s Hat Depot Museum & Village. The historic site offers a glimpse into the city’s past with an old train depot, a schoolhouse and a chapel. The 12-mile Huron Valley Rail Trail extends from South Lyon to Wixom and connects to surrounding trails, offering an additional 25 miles of trail to explore.
Witches Hat Depot Museum has an old school house that was used for many years in South Lyon.
The Huron Valley Trail runs through South Lyon.
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Depot Days and other community events
South Lyon’s small-town vibe is even more apparent when the town comes together for annual events. The community comes together for events like Depot Days and the annual Pumpkinfest , with live music, crafts, model trains, pie-eating contests and even a dog costume contest. In the summer, residents enjoy movies and live music at McHattie Park. The holiday season is celebrated spectacularly with the Holiday Spectacular tree lighting and parade.
Enjoy all your favorite carnival foods! Hot dogs, french fries, funnel cakes at Pumpkinfest.
Locals come and stroll the streets downtown at the annual Pumpkinfest.
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A mix of housing in a sellers’ market
While many homes were built between the 1950s and 1970s, new subdivisions are popping up across South Lyon, adding modern craftsman-style and New Traditional homes to its inventory of mid-century bungalows, colonial revivals and ranch-style homes. Single-family homes typically sell between $100,000 and $850,000, though larger estates can sell for more than $1 million. Townhomes and condos are also available and usually sell from $65,000 to $500,000. The median home price in South Lyon is $450,000, up 14% from the previous year, and homes spend an average of 27 days on the market.
Traditional minimal homes in South Lyon are very charming and well-kept.
There is a wide variety of home styles in South Lyon.
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South Lyon Community Schools
The South Lyon Community Schools district earns an A-minus on Niche with eight elementary schools, two middle schools and two high schools. With just under 8,500 students, the district maintains a 20:1 student-teacher ratio and is ranked among the 50 districts with the best teachers in Michigan. The district’s average graduation rate is 91%, and the average SAT score is 1220.
Students are taught a challenging curriculum at South Lyon East High School.
Kids are challenged to excel at Bartlett Elementary School in South Lyon.
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Convenient commutes to Detroit jobs
With its suburban neighborhood sidewalks, network of trails and compact size of less than 4 square miles, South Lyon is a fairly walkable community. There are no public transportation options, but Interstate 96 is just about 4 miles north and puts downtown Detroit roughly a 40-mile drive away. A little more than 10 miles east, Interstate 275 puts the Detroit Metro Airport 34 miles away.
Crime rates are notably lower in South Lyon
According to FBI data, South Lyon’s property and violent crime rates tend to be less than a fifth of the average rates for Michigan and the United States overall. Environmental data indicates the city is at moderate risk of damage from wildfires over the next 30 years, with 55% of properties at risk of being affected. Like many Michigan cities, it expects significant snowfall over most winters, averaging 44 inches per winter.
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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.
