Ypsilanti, commonly called “Ypsi,” is a small city in southeast Michigan with just over 20,000 people and is best known for being home to Eastern Michigan University, EMU. The city also has a rich automotive and manufacturing history. Ford Motor’s Willow Run Plant was the world's leading producer of bomber planes during World War II. However, the city faced hardship when General Motors closed the last large factory in 2010. “Ypsi was crushed when the factory shut down,” says David Anderson, a Realtor with Howard Hanna, who has lived in the area for 40 years. “But it’s really, really come back as a great funky little city. Just because it's hard to spell or pronounce — don't write off Ypsilanti.”
The city has become a quirky college town that is often considered a more affordable alternative to Ann Arbor, which is just 8 miles away. It’s a place where residents keep bees and chickens and shop locally for crystals and antiques. “Ypsi is vibrant, and it’s weird,” says Mary Dettling, a former real estate agent who lived in Ypsilanti for 10 years. “There’s something gritty and real about it. It’s a mixture of all folks, and it’s got a huge artsy vibe.”
EMU was established as a college in Ypsilanti in 1849 and became a university in 1959.
Ypsilanti Water Tower can be seen from the Eastern Michigan University neighborhood.
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Artsy festivals and historic attractions
Arts and culture fill the streets of Ypsilanti. Artisan booths and live music stages are set up monthly for the First Fridays celebrations. Every Saturday, there’s a farmers market and an annual yard sale gets hundreds of participants. Holiday celebrations range from the family-friendly Trunk-or-Treat for Halloween to a dark take on Christmas at the Krampus market. During the warmer months, thousands travel to Ypsi for its largest event — the Michigan Brewers Guild’s Summer Beer Festival. With live music and over 700 local brews to try, it’s the largest beer festival in Michigan. Ypsilanti’s Jazz Festival celebrates local talent, and in June, the city hosts a Pride Parade. “Ypsi is a place that celebrates diversity and is very LGBT-friendly,” Anderson says. “There’s always something going on here, and it’s often smaller, more intimate events than those in Ann Arbor. And I think that leads to more mingling of people.”
The city’s history can be explored at the Ypsilanti Firehouse Museum and the Ypsilanti Automotive Heritage Museum, which has an annual car show. The Michigan Flight Museum showcases Ypsi’s important role in WWII, with a focus on the women who worked at local factories — notably Rose Will Monroe, known as the original “Rosie the Riveter.” The museum offers ride-alongs in historical aircrafts and air shows.
History takes flight just outside of West Willow at the Yankee Air Museum.
The Michigan Firehouse Museum has free admission all day during the Fire Truck Muster.
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Downtown Ypsilanti and historic Depot Town are walkable shopping districts
Along the banks of the Huron River, bustling downtown Ypsilanti and historic Depot Town make up the heart of the city. These two walkable districts are filled with vintage shops, artisan boutiques and galleries. There are several options for nightlife, from laid-back breweries to lively college bars. The restaurant selection is growing to rival downtown Ann Arbor, with tastes from around the globe. Bellflower, which serves a constantly rotating menu of local ingredients, earned the city’s first James Beard nomination in 2024. The city is also known for being the birthplace of Domino’s Pizza, though the original building is now a burger joint. “Ypsi is a great place for folks to start a business because it’s more affordable than Ann Arbor,” says Andy LeBarre, the Executive Vice President of the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Chamber of Commerce. “Ypsi businesses are small, they’re innovative, some of them are totally weird — and I mean that in a good way!”
Ypsilanti music fans can find regular live music at nearby Ziggy’s Tuesday through Saturday.
Ypsilanti's historic Depot Town acts as a second downtown with more shops and restaurants.
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Relatively affordable homes in one of Michigan’s “best-kept secrets”
The median home price in Ypsilanti is $300,000, with properties staying on the market for an average of 24 days. “People who get priced out of Ann Arbor often move over to Ypsi because it’s so much more affordable,” says Dick Mattie with Reinhart Realtors, who lives in the city and has over 15 years of experience there. “Even though the taxes are high in both cities, the same house that is $300,000 in Ypsi is going to be $700,000 in Ann Arbor.” Most of the city’s homes are older, dating from the late 1800s to the mid-1900s. Prices can drop as low as $150,000 for smaller ranch-style houses and get up to $450,000 for renovated Victorians. In general, properties on the west side of the Huron River tend to be slightly more expensive, especially in the College Heights and Normal Park neighborhoods. “It’s competitive, so you have to be prepared that homes in any condition or location are going to sell quickly,” Mattie says. “But at the same time there’s always been a kind of perception that Ypsi was the ‘wrong side of the tracks’ compared to Ann Arbor. That’s made it one of the best-kept secrets in Michigan.” As of 2024, several affordable housing developments are in construction or planning stages. Most have income restrictions, and some set aside units for unhoused individuals.
Affordable ranch homes on the outskirts of Ypsilanti are a popular starter home option.
Historic homes throughout Ypsilanti date back to between 1800s and the mid-1900s.
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Walkability to local parks
Ypsilanti has over 23,000 acres of parks and green space. Downtown's Riverside Park and Depot Town's Frog Island Park are connected by a bridge over the Huron River, creating one walkable city center. On the city's south side, Ford Lake is open for kayaking, fishing and waterside picnics. Recreation Park has the city’s only public pool, as well as youth sports leagues and an indoor senior center.
According to U.S. Climate Data, Ypsi experiences four distinct seasons, though winter is long and cold. Temperatures can drop below freezing from November to March, and snowfall averages around 57 inches annually.
Despite the icy winters, Ypsi holds a Silver Award from the national organization Walk Friendly Communities. The award recognizes Ypsi’s emphasis on pedestrian safety and noted that 95% of locals live within a 10-minute walk to a park. The League of American Bicyclists also named Ypsi as a 2021-2025 Bronze Level Bicycle Friendly Community. Ypsi is a stop along the paved Border to Border Trail, a Washtenaw county-wide trail system that connects to Ann Arbor.
Ford Lake on the east side of Ypsilanti makes Gault Village a lake community at its core.
Ainsworth Park locals cross the Huron River using the Heritage Bridge.
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Commuting between college towns
Eastern Michigan University has around 13,000 students and nearly 2,000 employees, making it one of the city’s largest employer. EMU is known for being one of Michigan’s most diverse colleges and is the second oldest in the state. Another significant part of Ypsi’s economy comes from its proximity to Ann Arbor, which is home to the University of Michigan. Often referred to as the Ivy League of the Midwest, Michigan and its associated hospital are the biggest employers in Washtenaw County.
Ann Arbor is about 10 miles away, with the fastest route typically being Interstate 94. The trip usually takes about 20 minutes but can get up to 50 during rush hour. Ann Arbor Transit Authority buses serve both cities, and there is a designated commuter bus for faster trips. Ypsi’s proximity to Interstate 94 also makes for quick trips to the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, located 15 miles away. The airport serves 128 destinations across the globe.
International opportunities at Ypsi’s public schools
The city is served by Ypsilanti Community Schools, which gets an overall C-minus rating from Niche. The district is known for its magnet schools, including STEAM-focused programs and the International Baccalaureate program. Ypsilanti Community High School offers IB courses and Career & Technical Education courses. It is also home to the STEMM Middle College, where students typically spend five years in high school, graduating with 15-60 transferable college credits. “It’s a very diverse school district, which is celebrated here tremendously,” Mattie says.
Ypsilanti is also home to Washtenaw International High School and Middle Academy, a county school known for its IB program. Niche gives Washtenaw International High School an A-plus grade, also ranking it as the fourth-best public high school in Michigan. “It’s a great school, and you have to live in Ypsilanti to have first dibs,” Mattie says.
Important to know
According to the FBI Crime Data Explorer, the Ypsilanti Police Department reports crime rates twice as high as Ann Arbor and the national average. The city has a wide network of support organizations, which include food pantries, free medical services and subsidized childcare.
The community group Care-Based Safety offers an unarmed, non-police emergency response option, and the non-profit FedUp provides showers and free meals. In recent years, two community centers have been constructed in the east half of the city, leading out into Ypsilanti Township, bringing more support to that side of the river.
Ypsilanti Fire Department is a full-time unit and is located downtown. Although Ypsi is home to the Forest Health Medical Center, the nearest emergency center is 3 miles away, at Trinity Health Ann Arbor.
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.
