Utica offers a suburban lifestyle on the Clinton River
The fertile land surrounding the Clinton River attracted farmers to Utica over 200 years ago. This Macomb County town later became a manufacturing powerhouse before it developed a more suburban identity. "Utica has a small-town city feel with a lot to do, having Jimmy Johns Field right there as well as some great restaurants," says broker Daniel Schick of Realteam Holdings LLC, who's worked in real estate for 16 years. Residents have access to riverside parks connected by an expansive trail and robust commercial options. For more activities and services, Shelby Township and Sterling Heights border Utica to the north and south.
Diverse home styles and spacious yards in Utica
Colonial Revivals, neotraditional and ranch-style homes all have a foothold here. Utica also has a limited selection of condos and townhouses available. "You get a lot for your money. Shelby is the most expensive of the three. Utica and Sterling Heights are comparable," Schick says. Prices range from around $575,000 to $705,000 for homes in Shelby Township that share a zip code with Utica. The median sales price is around $300,000. Residential streets are filled with mature pines and oaks. Yards are generally spacious, but homes closer to commercial areas have smaller lots.
Students attend the second-largest school district in the state
Utica Community Schools is a school-choice district composed of four high schools, six junior high schools and 25 elementary schools, making it the state's second-largest school district. The district serves over 25,000 students living in the cities of Utica and Sterling Heights and parts of Shelby, Macomb, Washington and Ray townships. It ranks highly on Niche as the top district in Macomb County and earns an A-minus rating overall.
Fun by the river and music in the park
Hikers and bikers can access local parks from a segment of the Ironbell Bike and Walk Trail, which follows the Clinton River. Memorial Park offers a spot to picnic by the water downtown and hosts Utica's free summer music series on Fridays, starting in June. After the show, people stick around for a fireworks display from Jimmy John's Field, where professional baseball teams play less than a half-mile away. Clinton River Heritage Park has a playground and is a popular spot to launch kayaks into the river. Utica's Pioneer Dog Park has sections for smaller and larger pups. The trail also leads to parks in Sterling Heights and Shelby Charter Township, including the various sports courts at Dodge Park and the disc golf course at River Bends Park, within 3 miles of Utica. The 500-acre lake at Stony Creek Metropark, where boaters, swimmers and anglers spend summer days, is around 10 miles away following the trail. The park's grounds also attract snowshoers and skiers during the winter. The Clinton River flows toward Lake St. Clair, around 20 miles away, for another spot to go sailing.
Utica's variety of shopping and dining experiences
A wide array of shopping malls and retail strips between Utica, Sterling Heights and Shelby Township house chains such as Target, Costco and The Home Depot. All are reachable within 3 miles. Adding to the scene is an equally expansive selection of restaurants, from Korean to Italian to Greek. Within Utica proper, guests can cook their own steaks at Black Rock Bar & Grill, get authentic Filipino fare at Pinoy Classics and dine at the upscale Host Utica, featuring a rotating lineup of chefs.
A church older than the state of Michigan
Utica United Methodist Church was founded in Utica in 1823 before Michigan became a state in 1837. While it now resides in Sterling Heights, the church remains an anchor for Sunday worshippers. It also hosts a summer camp for local kids ages 7 to 14.
Highways and micro transit buses connect Utica to Detroit
Michigan 53 and 59 cut through Utica. Smart Flex, a flexible micro transit bus, offers curb-to-curb services in town. Detroit is roughly 30 miles away.
Written By
Kathryn Ashworth
