Moving from Canada

Those areas are all nice, and consider northwest Livonia (same as another person said . . . north of Five Mile, west of Merriman) as well. We live in northwest Livonia, and I really enjoy it! We have excellent schools (the area I mentioned feeds into Stevenson, which is an awesome high schools). Like other districts, they are dealing with a financial crunch right now, but they seem to be handling it prudently and keeping the district as vibrant and engaging as possible. Livonia also has a fantastic Recreation Center, which offers classes for adults and kids, fitness equipment, a pool and indoor-water-park area, a tree fort play area for the kids, etc. We have good libraries, easy access to freeways, low property taxes (especially compared to city services offered), nice parks, and an easy flow-of-traffic.

It may also be worth looking into Farmington, Farmington Hills, and West Bloomfield. Those are nice areas, too!

Good luck!

You might also wish to consider Farmington, or Farmington Hills. We have lived here for years and love it! Central location, close to highways, and great schools and community. You can also find beautiful homes at a reasonable price.

Hi. My sister lives in Commerce Township she has 2 teenage girls in the Walled Lake school system. (Walled Lake Central) It is one of the top districts in Michigan,Commerce township is family oriented ,clean ,safe and your family will love it.I highly recommend it. My parents were from Windsor and Oshawa I know just what you are looking for. The area is close to M-5 and I-696 close to shopping in Novi, Michigan.I don't recommend Wixom.Northville is smaller quaint, I can't speak to the school system

We moved to Canton in 2000, moved out of state, and when we returned, we came back to Canton because we liked it so much (and we did look at other areas at that point). Plymouth-Canton is very nice, the schools are good, and there is a fabulous church. It is a non-demoninational (Christian) church - Northridge. The children's programs are awesome, the pastor is super, and they have an incredible small group program, as well. You can get involved in a small group and meet people and form friendships so easily. I invite you to visit the church - there are Saturday and Sunday services, and a Wednesday evening service. You could even take a look online at http://northridgechurch.com/ and listen to some services there, as well. Brad Powell is the Pastor. Feel free to contact me with any questions on the area or the church. I will send you my email in a private note.

Canton is a really nice area

We relocated a little over a year ago and one of the websites we found helpful was schooldigger.com. I grew up in Michigan but things have changed a lot- I still miss it, it was great!

I would highly recommend Plymouth. Plymouth Township was rated in Fortune Magazine two years in a row as one of the top areas to live in the country (I believe Plymouth and Bloomfield Hills were the only cities in Michigan that received any mention). Plymouth is great for a lot of reasons. They have all the amenities of a city life, with the community feel of small town. At any given point, you can walk to the downtown area and find something going on, esp. during the spring, summer, fall timeframe. Most of the stuff going on is free and family oriented. It is also a dog friendly city. My husband works for a German company, and a lot of the European transfers gravitate to Plymouth, Northville and Farmington for the downtown community feel. Also, the schools are excellent in those three areas. My husband grew up in Farmington Hills - also a nice area...but going through major budget cuts at their schools right now. I grew up in the downriver area...and would recommend Trenton or Grosse Ile because of their schools systems (excellent)...but the location is not at all close to freeways, etc. I hope this info helps. Good Luck!

Those areas are all very nice. Sorry, I don't know specific areas within those cities though. Lots of lakes in the area though! Sorry I'm not much help, but welcome to Michigan!!!

I grew up and Lived in Ypsilanti, MI
I do not live there anymore and am so very thankful for that! Ypsilanti has gotten really bad. Stay away from there!! Wixom and Walled Lake are both nice. The more North and Northwest you go from Detroit, Ypsilanti the better.
Bloomfield Hills is known as the upper scale area to live. Not sure what you are looking for. Stay away from Inkster, Dearborn and Redford. I am not sure where your husbands job is going to be to give you some other cities near his job. My mom and her family are from Montreal, Quebec if you are looking for Canadian friends! LOL =0)
Sadly, they all still live in Ypsilanti.

Good luck with your move!!

Hi J.,

The areas you are looking in are commonly known as "The West Side" due to the fact that they are West of Detroit.

We recently bought a house in Novi and LOVE it! I grew up in Sterling Heights MI (east side) then moved out of state with my hubby for 7 years. We came back for his job at the Detroit Metro Airport. We live close to highways, shopping, and dining. I love my neighborhood (turtle creek sub at 9 and meadowbrook). All of my neighbors so far have been wonderful. They even brought over some baked goods when they came by to introduce themselves. I didn't even get that kind of greeting in Kentucky and the south is a very polite place!

Our kids go to Village Oaks Elementary. Last year they were in Catholic school and we were very unhappy there. Since we made the switch things have been so much better and I love the school. I haven't met a parent that I didn't like, and so far all of the students I have met seem to be well rounded and polite. The school as a whole has a huge sense of community. Parents are encouraged to be involved and there are always activities going on for the whole family to enjoy. Those who are unable to volunteer aren't judged and there are plenty of other ways for them to help out and get involved even if they can't physically be at the school

Novi has one of the top school districts in Michigan, with small class sizes as well. We are going through budget issues but so is everyone else. I would not let budget issues deter you from Novi.

We rented an apartment in Northville last year which is also a very nice area...it's just around the corner from our house!

My hubby works with a few people who live in Brighton and they say it is beautiful. It's a farther drive to the airport but they still love it. You can also get more house and land out that way as well. Novi has high taxes and unless you have a BIG budget you will likely have a smaller yard and or a smaller house. Our lot is a good size and we got the house for around $230,000 or $225,000. But that was last year and home prices I believe have fallen since then.

Go to www.schooldigger.com if you want to check out other cities schools.

If you are planning to move to the East side of Detroit, you have some options as well. I find the traffic to be heavier out that way and to me it's not as pretty as the West side unless you go farther North like 26 mile and up. I believe that's New Baltimore, Chesterfield, Romeo, Lake Orion etc. I would try to stay away from Warren, Southern Sterling Heights, and Centerline.

As for a Church...Our church is Church of the Holy Family on Meadowbrook. There is also St. James on 10 mile road. These are both catholic churches. I do not know about other or non denominational churches but there are plenty around and they all look nice.

Wixom, Walled Lake, and Commerce are all nice cities. I have been to all of them and it's really pretty. They are all close to each other and to Novi and Northville. Plymouth is just south of Northville and it's nice there too.

I would try to stay away from Dearborn, Westland, and Southfield. Farmington Hills is nice. We were looking there first. However, it depends on where in the city you are looking. For me, the city seems to be falling down hill. There is also Farmington, which is nice too. My preschooler actually goes to school in Farmington and will be attending Village Oaks in Novi next school year. There is a part of Farmington just across the border of Novi that's nice. There are also parts of Livonia that are nice with nice schools, West of Farmington Road and North of Five Mile. I have heard not so good things about Livonia schools, but their highschool (Stevenson) is supposed to be wonderful.

This is probably getting longer than you hoped. Good luck in your house hunt and welcome to Michigan!!!

Feel free to send me a message if you have any more questions...you can be as candid as you like I don't offend easily. I know sometimes in looking for a home people can get pretty specific in what they are looking for.

The areas that you are considering are all very nice. When you settle on one, I can recommend a couple of churches out there. However, you'd probably pick a different church in Commerce Twp than you would in Plymouth. I live in the area and am happy to be a resource!

S.
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We love Grosse Pointe. communities consist of Grosse Pointe Park, Woods, Farms, Shores, and City. Great Schools, great services (they snow plow our sidewalks), small neighborhood feel, beautiful old homes, private lakefront parks for residents only with free pool priveleges. Close to downtown and bridge or tunnel access to Canada

Hello,I have a wonderful suggestion for you as far as an area and a great school district. I currently live in New Hudson( just west of Milford) But all three of my kids go to South Lyon schools. South Lyon is a great area also. The communities are close and the area is wonderful.Kensington Metropark is close by. The freeway is easily accessable. I've lived in the area for 5 years and I personally love it here.
Hope this is helpful. B.

Royal Oak has a close neighborhood feel to it . The schools are great and it was listed as one of the top cities to live in for transferred employees. royaloakschools.com The town is closer to the city of Detroit so you have access to all city type things within 20 to 30 minutes. Science center, art museum pro sports theater etc.
the areas you mentioned have great schools too my sister lives in commerce.
that area has a cottage and lake type feel. your about 30 to 45 min away from Detroit for downtown type stuff. Good luck!

We recently moved to Novi, MI - and love it! (Originally from upstate NY, also lived in MO and OH for Husband's schooling)... We bought in Novi because the school district was rated higher, and the taxes slightly lower.
We go to Novi United Methodist Church on Ten Mile... Ten Mile has many churches on it. Good luck!

Hi J.
Go to greatschools.org
It's a website that grades schools, it has input from parents and also gives information about the area the schools are in.
I live in Southfield and love it, but am not really familiar with any of the cities you have mentioned. Unfortunately in Michigan at the moment all the school districts are hurting because of state budget cuts, but I'm sure you can still find a good school.
Good luck and hope your relocation goes smoothly for you.