One of the crucial factors when selecting a place to live is safety, which is a crucial aspect for many people. Everyone desires that there is no crime or any other factor that makes one feel insecure in his or her hometown. On a positive note, most larger cities and many of the smaller ones are among the safest places to live in Michigan. Based on recent crime statistics, low unemployment rates, high household incomes, and other factors, here is a detailed look at some of the safest places to live in Michigan:
1. Rochester Hills
Rochester Hills is a city in Oakland County, north of Detroit, and it is one of the safest places in the entirety of Michigan. SafeWise is a website that ranks safety scores of cities across the United States and in 2022, called Portage the number safe city in Michigan.
The current study was conducted in Rochester Hill, which records very low incidences of violent and property crimes at the state and national levels. There were 59 violent criminal incidences per 100000 residents in the city, in the same year of 2021 while the statewide figure stood at 447 per 100000 residents. The unemployment rate is at a mere 3.7%, and the median household income stands at $83,284. There are also good schools in Rochester Hills and lots of parks, trails, shops, and places to eat and have fun for the inhabitants.
2. Grandville
Another city in the western part of Michigan is the city of Grandville in Kent County which is also one of the safest communities for residents. It is a friendly suburban neighborhood located near Grand Rapids and in the whole of 2021, 106 crimes per 100000 people were reported. One will be surprised to learn that violent crimes are rare in Grandville.
This is underlined by a low crime index that contributes to a high quality of living in Grandville some of the factors that have placed Grandville on the map for home buyers are the high neighborhood activity, quality schools, well-established economy, and job market. The current and youth unemployment rates are less than 3% and the median income per household is about 70000$. Realizing that Grandville is a city with a good climate and a high level of living.
3. Northville
Both Northville Township and the adjacent city of Northville in Wayne County are among safer places, situated within commuting distance of jobs and amenities in Detroit and Ann Arbor. There were only 58 violent crimes recorded in this area per 100,000 inhabitants in the last year which is considerably lower than in the state overall and the US. Some of the highest ranked are the public schools which also fall under the Michigan state list.
Other benefits for families relocating to the area include: There are many parks and recreation areas, excellent health-care facilities, active community and social life with fun festivities, and even a cute historic district in the city of Northville. The median home value is just over $ 400,000, which is also indicative of the popularity of this safe town.
4. Portage
In the region of southwest Michigan, specifically in Kalamazoo County, Portage has emerged as one of the most secure cities in the region where people can live safely, and more importantly, purchase houses. Comprehensive data shows that last year only 93 violent crimes per 100,000 people occurred in this area. The current employment is at 3.2%, and average income levels are equally impressive, with an estimated $70,000 for a given family.
Portage has well-maintained parks and nature reserves as well as schools with excellent ratings, diverse shop and restaurant facilities, and family-oriented neighborhoods. For this reason, the good conditions provided by the inhabitants and a diminutive crime rate make the city of Portage appealing to young families of today.
5. Shelby Charter Township
This makes Shelby Charter Township rank at the bottom in terms of violent crime rates among all the communities in Michigan that have a population of more than 75,000 people, hence being recognized as one of the safest cities in the region every year. This young city situated in Macomb County, north of Detroit, has become one of the fastest-growing suburbs of Motor City; however, even in 2021, the rate of violent crime herein was only 35 per 100,000 people. That is roughly a third of the average, which stands at 447 per state. Same with property crime rate which is also low.
Besides safety, Shelby Charter Township boasts of good public services and recreational facilities, growth of infrastructure base to cater to the growing population, and job markets in Detroit and other parts of southeast Michigan among others. To anyone looking for a cheap and safe environment with which to start a family or a home close proximately to the bigger city of Columbus Ohio, Shelby is most definitely the place for you.
The Bottom Line
Looking at the overall crime rates in the country today, no community is safe, however here are some of the best cities for safety-conscious people and families looking to relocate to Michigan. From the first city on the western frontier to the last on the eastern frontier and cities in between, these five cities can boast consistently low crime rates each year, along with quality schools, amenities, and economic prospects. If you want to make a good bet on your future in the Great Lakes State here are the cities that have high rates of employment and well-paying jobs; Rochester Hills, Grandville, Northville, Portage, and Shelby Charter Township.