Detroit

Shortest commutes to Downtown Detroit

Ranked on distance to Downtown Detroit at 50% and the mean commute time residents report to the Census at 50%. The mean commute includes people who work locally, which is why the two numbers do not always agree.

Updated Sep 2026·54 suburbs considered, 10 listed
1
Former city hall during Memorial Day Parade, Dearborn, Michigan
Dearborn$219k median · 21.7 min commute
Commute BHousing DCost of living C
87
Commute score
overall 60 C
2
Jos Campau Historic District: Jos Campau at Norwalk - Hamtramck MI
Hamtramck$131k median · 23.9 min commute
Commute C+Housing FCost of living B+
87
Commute score
overall 46 D
3
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
Commute A−Housing C−Cost of living C+
86
Commute score
overall 66 C+
4
The Detroit skyline as it appeared from Windsor, Ontario on a sunny Labor Day 2025, known as the “Motor City,” Detroit sits on the Detroit River and anchors the
Detroit$84k median · 24.8 min commute
Commute C+Housing FCost of living B−
85
Commute score
overall 42 D−
5
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
Commute B+Housing BCost of living C+
84
Commute score
overall 78 B+
6
Pedestrian plazas over Interstate 696
Oak Park$212k median · 23.3 min commute
Commute BHousing D+Cost of living C+
84
Commute score
overall 55 C−
7
Montage of Hazel Park Hazel Park Racetrack Hazelcrest Apartments, tallest building in the city Monument to the Fallen Heroes at City Hall Hazel Park Welcome Sig
Hazel Park$159k median · 24.6 min commute
Commute B−Housing DCost of living B−
83
Commute score
overall 57 C−
8
Birmingham, MI
Birmingham$698k median · 20.3 min commute
Commute A−Housing A−Cost of living D−
83
Commute score
overall 77 B
9
Downtown Clawson (on the corner of 14 Mile & Main Street).
Clawson$267k median · 22.3 min commute
Commute B+Housing CCost of living B−
81
Commute score
overall 68 B−
10
Downtown Royal Oak, Michigan (2020) at night looking south toward Detroit
Royal Oak$329k median · 23.8 min commute
Commute B+Housing C+Cost of living B−
80
Commute score
overall 76 B
This list's weighting
Distance to downtown 50%Mean commute time 50%
Other Detroit lists
Best Detroit suburbs for familiesMost affordable Detroit suburbsBest Detroit suburbs for schoolsMost walkable Detroit suburbsBest Detroit suburbs for young professionalsHow we score Detroit suburbs →

Photos from Wikimedia Commons: Dearborn (Rmhermen · CC BY-SA 4.0); Hamtramck (Andrew Jameson · CC BY-SA 3.0); Ferndale (Lrgjr72 · CC BY-SA 4.0); Detroit (TheWxResearcher · CC0); Berkley (WeaponizingArchitecture · CC BY-SA 4.0); Oak Park (Johnrozsa · CC BY-SA 4.0); Hazel Park (Jacob S. grafitti 14:52, 18 March 2010 (UTC) · CC BY 3.0); Birmingham (Notorious4life (talk) (Uploads) · CC0); Clawson (Bmburch · CC BY-SA 4.0); Royal Oak (Lrgjr72 · CC BY-SA 4.0).