Hartland offers convenience and the countryside
Hartland splits into two distinct areas: a rural sector to the north and a commercial hub to the south. The northern part is primarily residential, with country roads, quiet suburbs and very little commercial development. “It has a very small-town feel,” says Jennifer Petersen, an associate broker with Red Door Realty Group, who has sold in the area since 2015. “Our downtown is essentially a post office and a village with some single-family homes.” To the south, U.S. Route 23 and the Michigan 59 highway intersect, forming a one-stop shop for shopping and dining. Hartland attracts buyers looking for a secluded home base without sacrificing convenience.
Homes range from condo complexes to horse farms
Hartland has various housing options, from condos and manufactured homes to a wide selection of single-family properties. Though some houses are situated closely together in suburban areas, others rest far off county roads on secluded lots. “It’s a rural community, so there are a lot of homes on acreages, horse farms and dairy farms,” Petersen says. “The prices are actually lower than in Brighton, so it’s more affordable and a convenient 30 minutes from most major places.” Condos and townhouses typically sell between $220,000 and $335,000, and manufactured units go for under $100,000. Ranch-style homes, bungalows, and Cape Cods sell for $200,000 to $450,000, and New Traditional and colonial builds can fall anywhere from $500,000 to over $1.5 million. The CAP Index Crime Score is 2 out of 10, which is low compared to the national average of 4.
Indoor and outdoor spaces provide year-round recreation
Hartland’s countryside landscape caters to a wide range of activities. Settlers Park has 100 acres full of wetlands, paved biking trails and a playground. Livingston County has over 75 lakes, and Petersen notes, “You can walk in any direction and be on a lake.” Members of Waldenwoods Resort may go sailing or boating or just relax on the beaches of Lake Walden and use the tennis courts, pool and campgrounds. The Majestic at Lake Walden, Hartland Glen Golf Course and Dunham Hills Golf Club are all in the community and open to the public. When snowy, cold winters hit Michigan, locals can skate in the Hartland Ice House or swim in the Hartland Caroselli Aquatic Center, which features an indoor pool with a waterslide and offers group exercise classes.
Popular dining spots and shopping options in Hartland
The intersection of U.S. Route 23 and Michigan 59 provides numerous big-box stores, fast-food restaurants and other businesses. Options include Target, Kroger and Rural King, a hardware and farming store. The Black Rock Bar & Grill is one of Hartland's most popular dining spots. “It’s unique in that you can cook your own steak on a stone at your table,” Petersen says. “People come from all over for it; the first one was here, and it has now been franchised out.” Tony Sacco’s Coal Oven Pizza is another local favorite, and Mackle’s Table and Taps is known for its quality bar food.
Children attend Hartland Consolidated Schools
The local school district offers many different elementary options. “We have school choice, so a lot of kids come from surrounding towns,” Petersen says. Students may begin at Creekside Elementary, which scores an A on Niche for kindergarten through fourth grade. Hartland Farms Intermediate School for fourth through sixth grades and Hartland Middle School at Ore Creek for seventh and eighth grades both have A-minus ratings. According to Niche, Hartland High earns an A-minus and ranks in the top 1% of U.S. high schools for athletics. “There’s a sense of community rallying around sporting events,” Petersen says. “The big buzzwords here are ‘Go Eagles;’ everyone is all about it.”
Annual and weekly activities unite a rural residential area
Despite its small size, the Hartland community hosts many events. The Cromaine Library throws a summer concert series, and the Rural King parking lot has a weekly farmers market from May through October. Residents sled, ice skate and watch fireworks at the annual Winterfest, and the Memorial Day Parade celebrated its 90th anniversary in 2025. The Hartland Polo Classic draws hundreds of attendees to eat, drink and watch live polo. “People get all dressed up in fancy hats like they’re at the Kentucky Derby,” Petersen says.
Highways connect to interstates and Michigan cities
U.S. Route 23 and Michigan 59 lead to larger thoroughfares, such as Interstate 96, 10 miles south in Brighton, and Interstate 75, 25 miles north in Flint. Though the area feels rural in some parts, it’s centrally located near bigger cities. “You’re 30 minutes to Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan, 30 minutes to the capital in Lansing, 30 minutes to Novi and 45 to Detroit,” Petersen says. Hartland has no public transportation, and Petersen adds, “We don’t even have Uber.”
