Detroit

Best Detroit suburbs for young professionals

Ranked on employment and income at 25%, amenities at 25%, commute at 20%, median rent at 15% (lower is better) and cost of living at 15%. Schools are not counted.

Updated Sep 2026·54 suburbs considered, 10 listed
1
The core of Ferndale, Michigan's downtown area is the intersection of 9 Mile Rd and Woodward Avenue, north of Downtown Detroit (which can be seen on the horizon
Ferndale$248k median · 23.2 min commute
Employment BAmenities A−Commute A−
74
Score
overall 66 C+
2
Downtown Royal Oak, Michigan (2020) at night looking south toward Detroit
Royal Oak$329k median · 23.8 min commute
Employment BAmenities ACommute B+
74
Score
overall 76 B
3
Downtown Berkley on 12 Mile Road. Metadata is at File:WABerkleyHeader.jpg, I had to remove an obstructive object.
Berkley$317k median · 22.0 min commute
Employment A−Amenities A−Commute B+
73
Score
overall 78 B+
4
Stephenson Hwy. at 14 Mile Rd. looking south from Troy into the city of Madison Heights. Downtown Detroit on the horizon.
Madison Heights$199k median · 25.3 min commute
Employment CAmenities A−Commute B−
70
Score
overall 65 C+
5
Downtown Clawson (on the corner of 14 Mile & Main Street).
Clawson$267k median · 22.3 min commute
Employment CAmenities B+Commute B+
69
Score
overall 68 B−
6
Fraser$216k median · 23.5 min commute
Employment D+Amenities B+Commute B−
68
Score
overall 63 C+
7
Southgate Municipal Complex (Southgate, MI)
Southgate$174k median · 23.5 min commute
Employment D+Amenities ACommute B−
67
Score
overall 57 C−
8
Downtown Wyandotte. Taken by me on May 23, 2014.
Wyandotte$167k median · 24.4 min commute
Employment C−Amenities B+Commute C+
67
Score
overall 59 C
9
Downtown Farmington, Michigan (2022) looking south.
Farmington$297k median · 23.1 min commute
Employment C+Amenities BCommute B
67
Score
overall 69 B−
10
Looking north over Downtown Rochester, Michigan in Detroit's far-north suburbs (2022)
Rochester$473k median · 24.9 min commute
Employment BAmenities BCommute C+
66
Score
overall 72 B−
This list's weighting
Employment 25%Amenities 25%Commute 20%Median rent (lower is better) 15%Cost of living 15%
Other Detroit lists
Best Detroit suburbs for familiesMost affordable Detroit suburbsBest Detroit suburbs for schoolsShortest commutes to Downtown DetroitMost walkable Detroit suburbsHow we score Detroit suburbs →

Photos from Wikimedia Commons: Ferndale (Lrgjr72 · CC BY-SA 4.0); Royal Oak (Lrgjr72 · CC BY-SA 4.0); Berkley (WeaponizingArchitecture · CC BY-SA 4.0); Madison Heights (Lrgjr72 · CC BY 4.0); Clawson (Bmburch · CC BY-SA 4.0); Southgate (Notorious4life (talk) (Uploads) · CC0); Wyandotte (Dethistoricaler · CC BY 3.0); Farmington (Lrgjr72 · CC BY-SA 4.0); Rochester (Lrgjr72 · CC BY-SA 4.0).