$244,048Average Value$193Average Price per Sq Ft29Homes For Sale
A community on the rise
Just 14 miles northwest of Detroit sits Oak Park, a city that’s experienced tremendous growth over the past decade. With a population of about 30,000, it’s a relatively small town with a big character. Repping the motto “Community, Culture and Commerce,” this once-bedroom community has come a long way.
Industrial areas have been converted into shopping districts, old apartments have been transformed into modern condos, and there’s a heavier focus on social interaction, shopping and entertainment. While modern-day developments find their way to Oak Park, the city remains in touch with its humble beginnings and holds onto its close-knit community feel.
“The neighbors are so friendly,” says Mayor Marian McClellan. “It’s a family city, and family can look like anything. It can be you and your dog, grandma and grandpa, mom and dad. Doesn’t matter.”
Oak Park is a welcoming city located just 14 miles from everything Detroit has to offer.
The revitalization of 11 mile is a point of pride for the Oak Park community.
Oak Park has several gathering places, including Mother Hansome a pizza place and bar .
Oak Park consists of well-built homes, ranging from bungalow to ranches to new townhomes.
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A renaissance in the shopping scene meshes with community mainstays
Over the past decade, Oak Park has seen robust growth in its shopping and dining scene. “It’s gone from tired to booming,” McClellan says. Until 2013, an alcohol ban in the city prevented bars, breweries and other businesses from being built. After the ban was lifted, new establishments took told, especially on 11 Mile.
“It was all vacant industrial buildings,” McClellan says. “When we hired a new economic development officer in 2014, she rezoned the area to mixed-use to get restaurants, gyms, bars and things like that.” Now, 11 Mile is home to several small businesses, including Unexpected Craft Brewing Company, the city’s first brewery. Following its success, they used a similar approach to revitalize 9 Mile. “We narrowed the streets by adding bike lanes, parking and pocket parks,” McClellan says. “We wanted to make it more walkable and bikeable. There’s also a MOGO station and a place to park your own bike.” Small restaurants and shops have emerged due to these changes.
Alongside this new growth, shops that have been in the city for decades continue to foster Oak Park's strong sense of community. For nearly 50 years, Ernie Hassan has greeted everyone walking through the door of Ernie’s Market with a hearty “Hey baby,” followed up with a handful of Hershey’s kisses. Ernie’s familiar warmth and welcomeness are just as popular as his stacked custom sandwiches.
Another presence that helps to galvanize the community is the Book Beat, an independent bookstore that has been a mainstay in Oak Park for 40 years. The bookstore specializes in small presses, underrepresented communities, children's books, books signed by local authors and dialogue surrounding important current events.
Unexpected Craft Brewery was the first brewery to open after Oak Park rezoned the city.
Nine Mile Connector Park was developed as part of Oak Park's revitalization initiative.
Nine Mile Linear Park hosts one of Oak Park's MoGo electric bike stations.
Ernie's Market is a staple of Oak Park, serving the community since 1955.
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Over 102 acres of parks
Residents also find comfort in the camaraderie of their circle through events at the libraries, community collaboration with schools and the suburb’s robust recreation department. Covering more than 102 acres, 10 parks are spread throughout Oak Park, including the 57-acre Shepherd Park in the heart of the community. Kids can enjoy multiple play structures and tunnels while sports fanatics hit one of the many basketball and tennis courts to hone their skills. Shepherd offers an outdoor pool to keep everyone cool when the weather's hot. In winter, the park’s sledding hill and ice rink are high-traffic areas that keep students busy on snowy days.
The city is also working on building new parks and an event space for concerts, community gatherings and an indoor farmer’s market. The market, which currently takes place at the Oak Park Community Center, runs from July until October and features over a dozen local vendors.
Kids love the swing set and playgrounds at David H. Shepherd Park in Oak Park.
The public library in Oak Park is a great resource to use when needing to study or learn.
Oak Park has an indoor ice area used by skaters and local ice hockey teams.
For indoor programs, Oak Park has a large Community Center.
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Solid brick homes sell faster than the US average
Like nearby Detroit, bungalows are the city's staple, but there’s also a mix of ranch-style homes, townhouses and apartments. Most houses were built in the 1950s and feature hardwood floors, brick exteriors and full basements. “They’re just really solid-built homes,” McClellan says. The median home price is about $230,000, comparable to nearby cities such as Southfield and Ferndale. Homes sell relatively fast at 29 days on average. The US average is 44 days.
A variety of home types can be found throughout the Oak Park neighborhood.
Downtown Detroit is just a short drive from Oak Park.
Brick Ranch homes from the 1950's are the most common in Oak Park.
More modern, uniquely built townhomes can be found in Oak Park.
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Three school districts
Three school districts serve Oak Park's students. Berkley School District has an A Niche grade and includes Norup International School, which has an A rating on Niche and serves kindergarten through 8th grade. Ferndale Public Schools has a C-plus, while Oak Park Public Schools gets a D-plus. The latter is home to Oak Park High School, which has a C-minus rating and is well-known for its varsity basketball teams.
Berkley High School holds a stellar A rating on Niche.com
Ferndale High School proudly boasts a B rating on Niche.
Oak Park High School maintains a C- rating on the Niche.com website.
Oak Park Preparatory Academy has a strong C+ rating in diversity on Niche.
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Celebrating freedom and fathers
Of all the cultural events that take place in Oak Park, the city places a special emphasis on its annual Juneteenth Celebration. Recognizing the official abolition of slavery in the United States, the fun-filled festival is laced with local apparel, accessories and food vendors, live music and cultural performances, an essay contest that spotlights Oak Park Schools students and — since the event coincides with Fathers’ Day Weekend — a special recognition for all the fathers of Oak Park.
Interstates 75, The Lodge, thoroughfares and DTW
Oak Park residents can easily access The Lodge Freeway and Interstate 696, which cuts through its northern half. Eight Mile Road and Woodward Avenue are other major thoroughfares that run through Oak Park. On the city’s western border, Henry Ford Providence Southfield is the nearest full-service hospital and offers 24-hour emergency care services. The Michigan State Fair Grounds are located at Eight Mile and Woodward, while the Detroit Zoo is conveniently located at the intersection of Woodward and I-696. The Detroit Metropolitan Airport is just under 23 miles away in Romulus.
Average crime rates
In 2023, Oak Park reported 10% fewer violent crimes than the US average and 11% fewer than the Michigan average. At the same time, it reported 18% more property crimes than the US average and 37% more than the Michigan average.
Written By
Kaitlin Davis
Photography Contributed By
Christopher Shires
Video By
Houston Knight
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Thomas Zibkowski,
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GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
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On average, homes in Oak Park, MI sell after 31 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Oak Park, MI over the last 12 months is $235,000, up 3% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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