Lima Township is a rural area with no commercial hub
About 15 miles west of Ann Arbor, Lima Township is a rural community of over 4,000 people. Surrounded by farmlands and green spaces, the area is otherwise entirely residential, drawing residents looking for elbow room and a serene atmosphere. "Most of the area is agricultural – there's no commercial hub," says Charlie Koenn, a broker with Swisher Commercial. "It's more of a quiet, country feel – a lot of gravel and dirt roads." High-ranked schools and modern architecture are other appealing factors for many potential homeowners.
Lima Township has many working farms and ranches.
It's not uncommon to see tractor crossings on dirt roads running through farmland in Lima.
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Most home lots have a 5-acre minimum
With a 5-acre minimum lot size for most of the area, the township generally avoids traditional subdivisions. Instead, space provides homes with privacy and increased room for foliage or additions like sheds and pole barns. The area surrounding Fourmile Lake has some of the largest lots and ranch-style homes with farmhouse accents. In the center of the region is the community of Jerusalem, which has a variety of millennial mansions. The few suburban-style subdivisions in the area tend to be closer to the surrounding cities of Dexter and Chelsea. These neighborhoods are the newest developments in Lima Township, with 21st-century neo-traditional and colonial homes. The median sale price in the area is around $510,000, about $100,000 more than the national median.
A few developed communities can be found in Lima Township.
The wide fields of Lima Township are not too far from Chelsea.
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Chelsea and Dexter's school districts have As from Niche
The western half of Lima Township is served by the Chelsea School District, which has four schools and an A grade from Niche. In 2025, Chelsea High School won a state title from the Michigan Council on Economic Education for the Personal Finance Challenge for the eighth year in a row. Dexter Community School District covers the township's eastern half, earning an A from Niche. In 2025, the district was approved for a $242 million bond to fund renovations and improvements for its five schools.
North Creek Elementary was founded in 1958 and focuses on prepping students for high school.
Team spirit is strong in Chelsea, home to the highly state-ranked Chelsea Bulldogs.
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The Chelsea State Game Area has almost 1,000 acres of wilderness
In addition to 70 acres of green space, Baker Woods Preserve is the home of the Storybook Trail, which features regularly updated children's book displays along a mile route. The Chelsea State Game Area attracts anglers, hunters and birdwatchers with nearly 1,000 acres of wilderness surrounding Fourmile Lake. The Border to Border Trail is a paved pathway that crosses 42 miles of scenic wilderness and urban settings from Lyndon Township to Ypsilanti.
A narrow trail leads to a fishing area at Chelsea State Game Area.
The border to border trail connect Chelsea to Ypsilanti through greater Lima Township.
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Most shopping is done out of town
Lima Township has few retail or restaurant options, so locals head out of town to shop. Stivers has been serving laid-back meals with a full bar in Chelsea since the 1940s. Dexter's Jolly Pumpkin maintains a farm-to-table philosophy, sourcing produce and meats from local and regional farms and pastures. Polly's Country Market is available for groceries, and the Briarwood Mall at Ann Arbor has nearly 100 retailers and chain restaurants.
Stivers Restaurant in the Lima Township neighborhood has been a staple for years.
Polly's Country Market is the one-stop shop for Lima Township grocery runs.
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Dexter has seasonal events like the Summer Festival and Apple Daze
The Dexter Summer Festival is an annual celebration of the season with two days of local artisans, live music and food vendors. Every October, Apple Daze attracts visitors from all over the region for a day of hayrides, pumpkin bowling and other seasonal activities.
The Dexter Summer Festival takes over downtown Dexter every summer.
The Dexter Summer Festival draws artists and crafters from across Dexter.
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Ann Arbor is about 15 miles east
Interstate 94 passes through the township's center, providing a direct route to Ann Arbor and Detroit, 15 and 60 miles east, respectively. Just outside the township's western border is Chelsea Hospital, a non-profit medical clinic with a surgery center and emergency facilities.
Written By
Phil Keeling
Photography Contributed By
James Gordon
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Rhonda Cerone,
an experienced agent in this area.
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Welcome home to this spacious Colonial in the sought-after Thornton Farms community-- located between Dexter and Ann Arbor, with convenient access to I-94 for an easy commute. Open floor plan features a generous kitchen with cherry cabinets, center island, pantry, & a cozy breakfast nook. Sliding glass door leads from the nook to backyard with a deck & fruit trees. The large family room offers a
Welcome Home to Turn-Key Perfection in Sought-After Thornton Farms!Step into this pristine, move-in-ready single family home nestled in the highly desirable Thornton Farms community, known for its fantastic clubhouse, community pool, and family-friendly playgrounds. Located within the top-rated Dexter School District, this home offers both exceptional lifestyle and convenience. Inside,
Exquisite Arts & Craft first floor primary just moments north of Chelsea on 2 secluded acres with over 30 exotic tree species from Meta Sequoia to Gold Rush Redwood, to Concolor Fir (designed by a botanist). This yard and home will take your breath away! Stone & Hardi Plank exterior and fabulous courtyard design, all nestled among those amazing trees. Enter the foyer to find straight-grain fir
Welcome home to this spacious Colonial in the sought-after Thornton Farms community-- located between Dexter and Ann Arbor, with convenient access to I-94 for an easy commute. Open floor plan features a generous kitchen with cherry cabinets, center island, pantry, & a cozy breakfast nook. Sliding glass door leads from the nook to backyard with a deck & fruit trees. The large family room offers a
Welcome Home to Turn-Key Perfection in Sought-After Thornton Farms!Step into this pristine, move-in-ready single family home nestled in the highly desirable Thornton Farms community, known for its fantastic clubhouse, community pool, and family-friendly playgrounds. Located within the top-rated Dexter School District, this home offers both exceptional lifestyle and convenience. Inside,
Exquisite Arts & Craft first floor primary just moments north of Chelsea on 2 secluded acres with over 30 exotic tree species from Meta Sequoia to Gold Rush Redwood, to Concolor Fir (designed by a botanist). This yard and home will take your breath away! Stone & Hardi Plank exterior and fabulous courtyard design, all nestled among those amazing trees. Enter the foyer to find straight-grain fir
Come live in the home of your dreams. Unique opportunity to lease a new construction home! 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths beautiful home in the Thornton Farms III in Dexter. Super spacious, open floor plan. Fully equipped kitchen with stainless steel appliances and granite counters. Luxury vinyl plank flooring on main floor, carpet upstairs. Bonus flex space upstairs, great for office, TV room, etc.
This house was built in 2013, and features spacious bedrooms and huge second floor loft. An kitchen with upgraded cabinetry, a center island and an eating area offers an abundance space as well as preparation and entertaining space. The foyer opens into a delightful flex room, a perfect place for a formal living room, or library. A first floor laundry room.2 and 1/2 baths, nice sized basement
Beautiful 3 bedrooms home with two full and a half bath. Full basement with an egress window. Hard flooring in family room, study/office room, and hallway. Open dining and spacious kitchen. All new carpet on second floor. Upstairs you will find the primary suite with a large walk-in closet, laundry room, and a loft space perfect for another family room, and two additional bedrooms. This house is
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