Home to nearly 60,000 residents, St. Clair Shores sits on the shores of Lake St. Clair across from Canada, only 14 miles northeast of Detroit. The lake itself is a big part of the lifestyle of residents. “A move to Saint Clair Shores will expose you to a happy, leisurely life with more opportunities for self-expression than inland areas,” says Lynne Juanita Summers, a relocation expert and senior specialist agent at River Realty Group in Detroit. “Lake Saint Clair makes everyone happy. We don’t even care if it’s a fish tank in the driveway; we want to look at water.”
There’s more to the city than just a body of water. It was the birthplace of Car City Records and Crow’s Nest East. It’s also home to the Miss St. Clair Shores Scholarship Program, one of the longest-running preliminaries for the Miss America contest. This combination has earned it a unique position as a contributor to the Detroit music scene and American pop culture.
Residents of St. Clair Shores enjoy living in close proximity to the lake and all it affords.
St. Clair Shores' sailboat-themed clock tower pays tribute to the lake it borders.
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Lake St. Clair, 15 major parks and a golf course
Lake St. Clair is the city’s most significant natural amenity, but its park system also holds holds 15 major parks and a collection of smaller neighborhood parks and recreational facilities. The parks include courts and facilities for residents to play volleyball, bocce ball, shuffleboard and more. Memorial Park offers public space on the lake’s shore and a splash pad for families to take children 12 and under. Disc golfers can enjoy the park’s 24-hole course, while traditional golfers can head to St. Clair Shores Golf Club and enjoy a challenging 18-hole course.
Concerts in the Park on Wednesdays are a hit during the summer in St. Clair Shores.
Enjoy views of the lake from Lac Sainte Clair Park.
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The Downtown Social District
Saturdays bring residents to the Downtown Social District, where they can enjoy live music, food trucks, yard games and more. Every April, Blossom Heath Park hosts the Big Brew Fest, a celebration of beer featuring live music and local food vendors. The St. Clair Shores Summer Concert Series hosts artists across different musical genres, and the city’s popular Memorial Day attracts crowds from all over the Detroit metro area to watch the parade and enjoy local food and live music.
The St. Clair Shores Big Brew Fest attracts a couple hundred people each year.
Bands play through the weekend at Aqua Freeze Festival in St Clair Shores.
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Smiles on the Nautical Mile
Known locally as Nautical Mile, the stretch of Jefferson Avenue between Nine Mile and Ten Mile Roads features a variety of locally owned shops and restaurants. The city’s boating scene comes to life in this area, with boaters docking and launching from the area while land lovers enjoy the shopping and dining hub. Restaurants offer American fare, Greek, Michigan’s famous Coney Island hot dogs and more, while shops offer fishing and marine supplies. The district is also home to the St. Clair Shores Farmers Market, which offers fresh, locally grown produce on the 4th Saturday of each month from May through September. “It just seems like a community that understands what a small business is, and they’re excited to support it,” says Joshua Jankiewicz, owner of Nerdtopia, a video game and collectible shop on Harper Avenue. “It’s been good to us since we moved here.” There is a Meijer on the city’s northside, just off 13 Mile Road, and Kroger and Walmart sit just beyond Interstate 94, which defines the city’s western limits.
Boaters living in St. Clair Shores can find a variety of services found along the Nautical Mile.
Residents of St. Clair Shores visit Kroger on 9 Mile Road for all their home cooking needs.
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Interstate access to Canada and downtown Detroit
The city stretches from 8 Mile Road to 14 Mile Road, with Interstate 94 running along its western edge, connecting drivers to downtown Detroit 19 miles south or the Canadian border 50 miles north. The interstate also takes drivers 33 miles south to the Detroit Metro Airport, which connects to major airports worldwide. The SMART bus system provides a public transit option, with stops along most major roads. Pedestrians have plenty of sidewalk space to enjoy, and the city’s Sidewalk Replacement Program makes repairing and replacing damaged sidewalks an annual affair. Bike lanes are rare, but the city’s park system offers miles of trails to ride.
A wide range of home prices and sizes
The area’s home inventory offers a variety of homes ranging from small bungalow and ranch-style homes that start around $50,000 when significant work is needed to lakeside estates that surpass $1 million. Most homes date to the middle of the 20th century, when the city saw a massive population boom and needed new housing. These mid-century homes usually sit back a block or two from the shore on tightly packed lots rarely bigger than a tenth of an acre. Homes spend an average of 24 days on the market, and the median home price was $231,500 in 2024, up 8% from the previous year.
Well maintained ranch style homes are found throughout St. Clair Shores.
Large lakeside homes in St. Clair Shores provide plenty of space for growing families.
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Three school districts to expand horizons
Students can attend one of three districts: Lakeview Public Schools, South Lake Schools and Lake Shore Public Schools. Lakeview earns an overall B-plus on Niche, South Lake earns a B-minus, and Lake Shore earns a C-plus. All three districts offer early childhood centers and opportunities for students to learn virtually.
Jefferson Middle School invites students in Saint Clair Shores, MI.
Lakeview High School received a B rating from Niche.com in 2024.
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Low crime rates but some environmental risk
Property and violent crime rates are significantly lower in St. Clair Shores than the overall state of Michigan and average rates for the United States. Environmental data shows only a minor risk of flood damage over the next 30 years despite the city’s location on the lake. The data also shows some concern regarding air quality, forecasting that the city’s air quality will worsen over the next 30 years.
Written By
Konrad Solberg
Photography Contributed By
Owen Kaufman
Video By
Andrew Perrius
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Lilia Vega Igram,
an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
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On average, homes in Saint Clair Shores, MI sell after 28 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Saint Clair Shores, MI over the last 12 months is $239,000, up 4% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
HIGHEST & BEST DUE WED, 12/10 @ 8P. Charming Cape Cod in St. Clair Shores featuring 3 bedrooms and 1.5 baths on a corner lot with an attached garage. Enjoy a welcoming front porch sitting area and a cozy living room with a gas fireplace. The kitchen offers white cabinetry, granite countertops, and ceramic flooring, while LVP runs throughout the first floor for a clean, modern look. The main level
Check out this charming brick home in St. Clair Shores!Featuring 3 spacious bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms, plus a bonus 4th bedroom in the finished basement, this home offers plenty of room to grow. Enjoy a bright 3-season room just off the kitchen—perfect for morning coffee or relaxing evenings. The home boasts a large, beautiful family room with a natural fireplace, ideal for cozy nights
Beautifully updated bungalow featuring a brand-new open kitchen, boiler, heat pump, and Florida-room. Ideally located within walking distance to restaurants, shops, and Lake St. Clair. This charming home is perfect for first-time buyers or anyone looking to downsize. Enjoy a spacious lot and a cozy patio—ideal for outdoor relaxation. Careful... you just might fall in love!
Original owner. Home filled with many years of laughter and love. Quality built sprawling ranch. The circle driveway greets you. Also, more parking with an additional driveway leading to the mechanic's garage. Hardwood floors under the carpet in dining room, hall, and bedrooms. Home was originally a 4 bedroom, could easily be converted back if desired. The family room has its own heat source and
Wonderful original owner ranch with many desirable features... attached garage, 2 full baths, fireplaces in family room and rec room with wet bar. You'll also enjoy the fenced yard with large patio. RECENT MECHANICAL UPDATES include newer kitchen appliances, replacement windows and furnace. Well located near schools, restaurants and waterfront park... INCLUSIONS: washer, dryer, stove in basement,
Beautiful 3 bedroom brick ranch with plenty of features including a finished basement with full bath and bar, central air, fireplace, hardwood floors, 2 car garage and more.
THIS WILL NOT LAST LONG! COMPLETELY FURNISHED!!! 3 Bedroom 1 full bath Bungalow close to the Nautical Mile and minutes from the shops and restaurants of downtown SCS and Grosse Pointe Woods. Large Backyard with detached 2 car garage. Brand New Laminate Flooring throughout home. HUGE Bungalow with built ins galore. Rent is $2000 per month. 6 months preferred but is negotiable. Security deposit is
2 Story Apartment Building, with 8, 1 Bedroom Apartments. The building has 2 hallways that serve as a entrance way to 4 apartments per each hallway. Each apartment has Central Air Conditioning, and Forced Air Heating. Each apartment has its own chain link locker in the basement. Each apartment has its own mailbox located in the hallway that services it. Each apartment has it's own forced air
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