Located amidst some of the most affluent cities in Oakland County, Birmingham, Michigan combines the feel of a close-knit small town with an upscale community. Many Michiganders flock to Birmingham for the boutique, shopping experience that is incomparable with other Southeast Michigan communities. Plus, you will also find a wide selection of community-based events and year-round activities such as concerts in the park, Farmer's markets and ice skating. In addition, you are only short drive from the Detroit Zoo.
Easily merge yourself with the 20,000 other happy residents of this "Walkable Community". At 4.8 square miles, Birmingham offers over 20 parks. You will never be at a loss for outdoor activities such as walking, biking, snowshoeing, ice skating or playing sports such as soccer, tennis, baseball and volleyball. This community thrives on being outdoors during the beautiful weather in the spring, summer and fall. Winter weather brings a host of other choices from throwing snowballs and building snow men to toboggan runs down your favorite hills. The Michigan Governor's Council on Physical Fitness, Health and Sports approves of Birmingham's efforts to promote an active, healthy lifestyle. The city won the Promoting Active Communities award from 2007 to 2010.
Birmingham has approximately 10,000 homes of which almost 30 percent have children under the age of 18. This family-focus is seen in the many activities that happen in the park from the summer concert nights to a winter evening's ice skating. Families also enjoy the picnic areas on the cool fall nights with the smell of leaves in the air. The median income for those living in Birmingham is approximately $80,000 and the average cost of a home in Birmingham is over $300,000.
Not only is Birmingham a family-friendly city, it is a wonderful place to retire. The downtown shopping area has nearly 300 businesses ranging from eclectic apparel and service businesses to lawyers and small, independent local stores such as coffee houses and restaurants. It is easily accessed and you can enjoy the day as you walk from store to store, enjoy an ice cream or watch a movie at the local theater. Movoto also ranks Birmingham as one of the top 25 safest communities, so you feel comfortable as you walk around town, socializing with your neighbors, or traveling on your commute to work. You may even find your desire to open a business is rewarded in this upscale, supportive community.
You can expect a high quality of life when you decide to call Birmingham home. The residence of this city strive to keep the city clean, thriving and safe. They are committed to shopping locally to sustain the community and provide a small-town feel. Over time, you will befriend many of the residents. If your children attend school, you will meet other families, or you may choose to work in Birmingham and talk on a daily basis with other community members. Maybe politics is catching your attention? The mayor and seven city commissioners work together to determine the best policies and ordinances for Birmingham. The homes in the city are well-kept and offer many options from two-bedroom condos to four-bedroom homes. You can find the old-fashioned charm you seek or homes with upgrades such as granite counters. You can choose to live on a small lot, if yard work is not your forte, or you may decide you want to purchase a home that has a few acres. Either option is available to you in Birmingham. You can also choose to live within walking distance of downtown, or remain on the outskirts for a more peaceful feel.
Many people are familiar with Birmingham because of the annual "Woodward Dream Cruise". This gathering brings out car-buffs and more to watch the over 40,000 classic cars that drive up and down Woodward throughout one beautiful summer day and night. Over a million people attend this event and Birmingham is one of the host cities. You can enjoy seeing your favorite classic cars, experience live musical entertainment or be a part of the live broadcasts. It truly is an event to remember in this Motor City suburb. See Ford classics that are usually only observed in museum's such as The Henry Ford in Dearborn. During the Dream Cruise, you get a blast from the past and enjoy hearing details of how these cars were restored to their classic beauty.
Birmingham public schools are some of the best in Southeast Michigan. Ernest W. Seaholm High School is ranked at 96 percent by the Michigan Government. Part of Oakland Schools, Birmingham has six elementary schools, two middle schools and two high schools. Elementary schools are grades kindergarten through fifth. Middle schools are grades sixth, seventh and eighth. High schools include grades nine through twelve. Seaholm High School is ranked 5th in Michigan by the U.S. News and World Report. The school contains approximately 1,300 students, half are female and half are male. Seaholm's graduation rate is higher than the national average, as 95 percent of the students graduate high school.
If you are discovering more information about Birmingham because you are considering a job in downtown Detroit, rest assured that your commute will be an easy one. If you decide to drive, you are approximately 25 minutes from downtown via Interstate 696 and The Lodge. You also have the option of using public bus transportation offered by the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation, SMART. You save miles on your vehicle, plus you can relax on those snowy drives when the roads may be slippery. Your third option for commuting to Detroit is on an Amtrak train. Rail service is provided three times a day to Detroit, Pontiac and Chicago.
