6 Things You Want to Know About Detroit, Michigan Before Moving There

Is Detroit a Good Place to Move to?

The birthplace of the automobile, Motown and Vernor’s ginger ale, Detroit is a true American original. And while the city that put America on wheels and made the cry of Pizza! Pizza! famous has sure seen its share of hard times, there’s no question that the Motor City is one of the most spirited and resilient places in the nation.  

Times certainly have changed since the Motor City’s heyday, but a renaissance is afoot. The city in the cuff of Michigan’s mitten is now on the cusp of a new era. The home of Model T is now a hub for EV, fintech and advanced manufacturing. Creative entrepreneurs have opened alluring boutiques and amazing new restaurants. Wayne State University attracts bright young minds and brilliant researchers. The Detroit Riverwalk and greenways have made the city accessible to cyclists and pedestrians like never before, better connecting the city’s eclectic neighborhoods and cultural destinations. This is a city that loves its sports, its music, its art and its food. It relishes its history and prioritizes its future. And people are taking notice.  

Detroit was named one of the top startup ecosystems in America, and development programs like the Michigan Emerging Technologies Fund are giving the Motor City a new engine to power the future. Unemployment is low, the job market is diverse, and the cost of living is more affordable than in many other major metro areas.  

If you’re looking for a fresh start in a creative and industrious Midwestern city, Detroit may offer the friendly, big-city lifestyle you’re looking for. Before you decide to move to this beautiful, historic city, learn more below about the pros and cons of living in Detroit, and get tips on how to plan for your relocation. 

6 Things You Want to Know About Living in Detroit 

Weather and Seasons

With four distinct seasons and fun activities for each, Detroit has it all when it comes to weather. Like much of the Midwest, Detroit’s winters have been eerily warm of late — well, at least warm by Detroit standards. In a normal year, the average temperature in January is 26 F, with lows averaging 19°F and highs barely hitting the freezing mark.  

Detroit typically sees snow from November through April, with an average accumulation of 45 inches per year. Detroit does have snow codes in effect that require residents to clear sidewalks, necessitating snow removal tools and pet-friendly de-icing options.  However, Detroiters eagerly anticipate the snow, as it opens up opportunities for snowmobiling, cross-country skiing and the exhilarating activity of snow tubing at locales like Bowers School Farm. 

Spring is slow to come on in Detroit, but glorious with daffodils and tulips when it arrives. You will have to watch out for storms, though.  

Summertime is one of the best seasons in Detroit, because the average high is only in the low 80s F in July and August, and evening temperatures fall into the low 60s. Despite occasional heatwaves, you can cool off at the splash pad at Palmer Park, the Brennan Pool in Rouge Park or the Boll Family YMCA pool downtown.  

Fall in Michigan is equally splendid — the crabapple trees set their colorful fruits and the changing leaves put on a dazzling show. You’ll have your pick of apple picking orchards, too, where you should treat yourself to one of Detroit’s finest apple cider donuts.  

Job Opportunities

Despite the automotive industry in Detroit turning out to be a real lemon, Motown residents have — after some agonizing hard work — turned that misfortune into lemonade. The once monocultural economy is finally diversifying and the region is now considered to be one of the top tech cities in the country. It’s known around the globe as a hub for innovation and for its startup ecosystem.  

At 4%, unemployment in the city remains just below the national average, and wages in Detroit are comparable to the U.S. mean, where the average hourly rate for all occupations is just under $30/hour.  

Trade, transportation and utilities still dominate the economy, employing 385,400 residents in the region. Close on its heels is professional and business services, which employs 377,700 individuals, followed by education and health services, with its 320,400 employees. Most industries in Detroit saw a nominal downturn in 2023 (-1.4%, on average), but other services gained 2.3% and mining, logging and construction gained 8.5%. 

Thanks to American old-timers like Ford and GM, Manufacturing still employs 249,700 people in the Detroit metro area, making it the fourth-largest industry in the region. But then there are international heavyweights like Bosch and EV giant BorgWarner, who are turning Detroit into a future hub for smart technology and advanced manufacturing.  

Let’s not forget Little Caesars in this mix, or Ally Financial, both of which are headquartered in the Motor City. Fintech corps like Autobooks employ some of the city’s 123,000 Financial Activities workers. All told, there are 18 Fortune 1,000 companies headquartered in Detroit, and plenty of blue chips like Apple, Microsoft and Google have bases in the city, too.  

Coupled with the start-ups and small businesses, Detroit’s future is looking rosier by the minute.  

Cost of Living and Housing

Because vacancies are still a nagging challenge in the city, housing prices in Detroit are far below the state and national averages. The median home value in Detroit is now just $66,700 — three times less than the median home value in Michigan and nearly five times less that the U.S. average. Detroit’s home values also lag behind other cities near Lake Erie, like Cleveland and Buffalo, where the median home values are $87,400 and $132,100, respectively. The median gross rent in Detroit is $989/month.  

Housing keeps the cost of living low in Detroit, but you’ll also save on insurance/pensions, healthcare, food and other items. Transportation is, ironically, one area that Motor City residents spend most of their paychecks on.  

Neighborhood Spotlight 

One of the biggest decisions you must make when you decide to move to Detroit is where you’re going to live. Are you looking for a quiet neighborhood outside the city, or hip, in-town digs? In this city of 620,000, you have great options downtown and in the suburbs of Macomb and Oakland County, the city’s largest.  

In and around downtown, you’ll find renovated industrial buildings that offer cool condos and lofts and turn-of-the-last-century single families. You’ll also, unfortunately, still find lots of empty lots and abandoned buildings. Suburban Detroit has a wide range of housing options, and you’ll find charming, clapboard duplexes, red brick gingerbreads, stately old townhomes and some truly opulent spreads in places like Grosse Pointe that could house a royal family. 

With historically low crime rates, Downtown Detroit is looking better than ever. The city has invested mightily in resurrecting its treasures and remaking some of its grandest historic gems into 21st-century hubs of activity. All the major sports venues are located here, so whether you’re a fan of the Detroit Lions (NFL), Detroit Tigers (MLB), Detroit Red Wings (NHL) or Detroit Pistons (NBA), you’ll only be moments from the other stadiums. For that matter, Comerica Park, Ford Field and Little Caesars Arena are mere blocks from the Fox Theatre, the Detroit Opera House and the Fillmore, a legendary concert hall. The center of downtown is Campus Martius Park, which becomes ice skating central in the winter and a beach in the summer. That’s right—the city brings in sand, umbrellas and vendors to please staycationers from around the Motor City.  

Just north of Downtown, the Midtown area is chock-a-block with civic treasures, from the Detroit Public Library to the Carr Center, an institution dedicated to African American arts. Real estate prices can get pricey here, thanks to these amenities and the ease of accessing both the College for Creative Studies and Wayne State University. Some of the city’s best restaurants are in Midtown, from the sophisticated trappings of Mad Nice, where a butterscotch gelato sando will set you back an icy $16 (do it, it’s worth it), or the drool-worthy Warda Patisserie.  

In the trendy Corktown neighborhood west of downtown, there are swanky spots like Ottova Via, trivia-centric gastropubs like Bobcat Bonnies, and the eclectic pan-Euro-African cuisine of Supergeil, with its phantasmagoric décor. Corktown’s main spoke was once Michigan Central Station, and fortunately for residents, this onetime railroad hub was saved from certain death and reimagined as an entertainment destination. Stayed tuned for the grand reopening of this Beaux-Arts masterwork. Corktown is far more residentially oriented than downtown, so if you’re looking for a condo or single family that’s got a high walkability factor, this neighborhood could be a good fit for you.  

Perched on the banks of the Detroit River, Rivertown lives up to its name on downtown’s eastern side, and this warehouse-laden district on the water is the embodiment of industrial cool. Rivertown has prime access to the marina, the Detroit Riverwalk and the MacArthur Bridge, which will ferry you to beautiful Belle Isle — an island park where you will likely spend many a Saturday at the beach, conservatory, aquarium or zoo. Rivertown has its share of excellent dining establishments, as well, like the 100% gluten-free menu at Breadless and the cheeky suds at Atwater Brewery.  

Note: If you’re thinking of moving to Detroit, it’s important to thoroughly research neighborhoods or areas in the city you might be interested in living. Before you decide where you are going to live, make sure you understand the area’s cost of living, commute time, tax rates, safety statistics and schooling information. 

Transportation and Commuting 

Public transportation is one of the areas of Detroit that needs improvement. The city has a robust network of standard buses managed by DDOT, as well as a streetcar, the PeopleMover, and SMART buses for regional travel, but there is no meaningful light rail system, and fares are expensive relative to other cities. A four-hour Dart Pass costs $2.00 and a 24-hour pass costs $5.00. Weekly passes are $22 and 31-day passes are $70. If you only need to get around the city proper, you can purchase a weekly DDOT pass for $17 or a monthly pass for $50. Students and those 65+ qualify for reduced fares.  

Bike commuters can consult the Detroit bike map to determine their best routes to get to work. All buses are outfitted with bike racks, and the city does plow and salt bike lines once accumulations hit the three-inch mark. To make routes safer for riders, Detroit has rolled out the Streets for People program as part of the city’s master plan, which includes a proposed greenway that would add nearly 30 miles of trails and create a ped- and cycle-friendly loop around the Motor City.  

Those traveling by car will become quickly acquainted with Highway 75, 94 and 96, which crosses south into Windsor, Ontario, Canada at the Ambassador Bridge. Meanwhile, 696 and 275 create an outer belt around Detroit to ferry residents to suburbs around the city. 

Thanks to the distances people live from the city center, the average commute time in Detroit is 25.7 minutes, only slightly below the national average.  

Unique Experiences

Residents know that Detroit isn’t just the Motor City or the birthplace of some of the greatest music to ever crush the Billboard Top 40. It’s a city of art and architecture, outdoor concerts, dance, sports and history. And in between festivities, there’s the food. Oh, the food of Detroit.  

Arts and Museums

The Detroit Institute of Arts is housed in one of the city’s many spectacular buildings, a 1927 Beaux-Arts gem and home to Diego Rivera’s spectacular Detroit Industry Murals. In addition to the fine permanent collection, you can see exhibitions from far and wide — one month it might be the works of Ghanaian photographer James Barnor and another the quizzical, post-Cubist works of Ilse Bing and Henri Matisse. 

Delve into the rich tapestry of African American history at the Charles H. Wright Museum. The central permanent exhibition “And Still We Rise” begins with the Middle Passage and takes visitors on a deeply affecting journey to contemporary times. But the museum also has exciting and powerful exhibitions of art and design, sometimes featuring local emerging artists and other times highlighting international superstars, like Oscar-winning costume designer, Ruth E. Carter.  

Next, you can get a beat on your favorite mid-century beats at the Motown Museum, which gives Martha and the Vandellas the Supremes, the Miracles, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and other legends their forever-spotlight. Kids can even join summer camps to explore their musical talents, promising TikTok-worthy moments for proud parents. 

Where the Motown Museum leaves off, Detroit’s Max F. Fisher Music Center picks up. This gorgeous performance space is home to the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and hosts musical concerts from classical to contemporary. Its 2023-24 season featured everything from Yo Yo Ma to Herbie Hancock to Elf in Concert (SANTAAAAA!). 

Kids’ imaginations really come to life at the Michigan Science Center, where the smaller set can be the kings of Math Mountain and the powerful, atmospheric forces behind avalanches, ocean waves and even twisters. Go on a journey to outer space or venture deep within the human body to uncover mysteries large and small.    

Everyone in the family will enjoy a trip to the Henry Ford Museum and the Automotive Hall of Fame, where America’s motoring history gets revved into high gear. You’ll meet the visionaries who paved the way for the world’s need for speed, from Ford to Soichiro Honda, and get an up-close look at rad roadsters, railroad engines and even tractors.   

Outdoor Escapades

Detroit’s best features aren’t just inside. You’ll also want to take in all the outdoor fun the city has to offer. In the non-frozen months, the Motor City takes full advantage of being a river town, and a short bike ride will take you to beautiful Belle Isle Park. This nearly 1000-acre riverine oasis is spectacular in any season — even when ice floe forms on the river’s banks. The park has an aquarium and zoo, along with a gorgeous garden and hiking trails. For a dollar, you can buy yourself a thrill ride on the Giant Slide. Don’t worry, they’ve corrected the waxing error that made the ride a little too thrilling for riders in 2022 and caused some of them to go flying.  

The nearby Outdoor Adventure Center will allow you to try out a lot of favorite area pastimes without the commitment of, say, renting a yurt or going on an actual duck hunt. Try out the snowmobile simulator or climb aboard the OAC airplane that crews from the Department of Natural Resources use to monitor wildlife in the area. When you’re ready for the real thing, outfitters like Detroit River Sports can hook you up with gear and a guide so you can set your paddles into the city’s open waters, including Lake St. Clair, where you can cross into Canada.   

Culinary Delights

By now, the secret of Detroit’s amazing pizza is out, and there’s just no way to put that square pie back in the pan. For a slice of the original indulgent recipe, Buddy’s pepperoni is hard to beat, but there’s also the humorously named Grandma Bob’s in Corktown, and boy do they know how to outdo themselves. Boozy vegan shakes, sausage & pistachio deep dish and a quixotic cocktail called the Snap Dragon, whose Lambrusco base has an unexpected tequila bite. Detroit’s restauranteurs have perfected the art of pizza from around the nation and the world though, you’ll find New Haven’s “apizza,” blistered Neapolitan pies and even tandoori specialties.  

Detroit’s other famous casual fare is its Coney Dogs. That’s right, this Midwestern city specializes in the East Coast staple, though Detroit’s dueling, adjacent wineries — American Coney Island and Lafayette Coney Island — are actually Greek hot dog joints that have been around for more than a century, and it seems as though neither their menus nor their prices have changed in the last hundred years.  

Detroit has plenty of upscale fare, as well, though. Those ravenous for Roman dishes should try the sharp-toothed comestibles of Shewolf, where the Paccheri Allo Stracotto snarls with succulent Wagyu brisket and the Tortellini al Prosciutto is finished in a howl-at-the-moon-delicious wolf sauce. The Selden Standard hews closer to home, offering a menu of essentialized new American delights, like grilled Michigan pork accentuated with pineapple and adobo and salt-cured cod with creamed leeks and piquillo.  

When it comes to restocking your own kitchen’s provisions, Detroit’s Eastern Market will be your salvation. This 43-acre bonanza is shopped by chefs amateur and pro, and it’s been in operation since 1841. The Saturday Market runs year-round, and you can get everything you need for a quiet night in or a colossal banquet, from produce to fancy cheese to floral arrangements.  

How to Move to Detroit, MI

Partner With a Reputable, Professional Moving Company

Making the move to Detroit with America’s #1 Mover®, United Van Lines, will take the stress out of your relocation. Whether you’re making a cross-country move to Detroit or a local one, United Van Lines can handle your moving needs. We offer unmatched full-service moving packages and can handle all your moving needs, from packing and unpacking, to shipping your car, debris removal, storage and more.  

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If you are moving within the city of Detroit or within the state of Michigan, our interstate Detroit movers can provide local moving services in Detroit independently under their own businesses and brands. 

Tips for a Hassle-Free Moving Journey

We know that relocating involves a lot of, well, moving parts. Unpack the details of the moving process including how moving quotes are calculated, and start planning for other parts of your move. 

Want the inside scoop on the Wolverine State? Our Moving Guide to Michigan provides essential information about the most important things to know about the state.