How bad is living in the suburbs of Detroit, really?

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Phonebreaker

I don't even think the area you're talking about is really a suburb of Detroit, but hey that's good! Yes it's close but I don't think it's that close. The surrounding townships and cities of the Detroit area are fine, it's the hole by the coast that you need to stay away from. I'm in Lansing, which is going in the same direction as Detroit, we'll call it a nose dive. The last time I went to Detroit I was there for a Tiger Baseball game. When people tell you not to go two blocks from the ballpark they ain't lying, When I was leaving there was an ambulance for an ambulance because some thugs shot an EMT who responded to a shooting. Half the city looks like a bomb dropped on it.

My Tractor Is Green

Shelby Township is actually a nice town. It is attractive and quiet. Detroit is an awful place to live because we are in a recession. You won't believe all the vacant homes and empty office buildings and strip malls. Kwame is the worst mayor in the country, and our governor is terrible too. Why you're moving here is beyond me, and I don't recommend it unless you have good, secure jobs waiting for you.

My point exactly

the suburbs are not bad. detroit is not even bad. there are certian areas that are no developed that can worry you.
i live, literally, a 4th a mile from Detroit. it is like any other neighborhood. you have annoying neighbors. some one who steals from your garage, but i mean it happens. no city is perfect.

DetroiterGuy

The suburbs are a great place to live. Oakland County is one of the richest and safest counties in America. Shelby Twnship is in Macomb County and a great place to live. Detroit is as bad as out of towners would like to be. Detroit is a great city that has alot of potential and is growing slowly but surely. You'll be fine!

Q-volez?

lmao, FIRST OFF!! detroit isnt bad, get it out yo head. ive been living here all my life, en southwest detorit (mexican town) its basic common sense my friend: dont PHAK with no one, and they wont phak with u.

and the suburbs, yall are sheltered. you wont be around nothing "urban" or "ghetto". the cops keep it "clean" if you know what i mean.. not that i agree with it

~LaTTiiNa~4~LiiF3~

pepper royal

The suburbs are not bad. I live downriver and I love it. It is very quiet not a lot of crime. Don't listen when people tell you how bad downriver is (that is what they told me when I moved up here) Everyone told me to go to the northern suburbs but I feel they are too expensive

Bitsy

Shelby Township is a very nice area! No worries there! Shelby is NOT 12 miles north of Detroit...it is further than that!

Dr. Evil

No worries Shelby twp. is not bad at all (middle to upper class) trust me i live a few miles away. And the truth of the matter Detroit ain't as bad as you think. The outside press would like you to believe we are a bunch of flippin animals all with guns not true most people here are blue caller workers. There is high crime in the city but it stay south of 8mile for the most part, And not to sound raciest but most of the crime stays between it own color/race. Michigan's economy is pretty bad. Times are very tough right now and we lead the nation in forecloses.

PENDRAGON

Who ever told you that is an idiot.

Detroit is not that bad of an area and, the suburbs are actually really nice.

I used to reside in walled lake myself before leaving Michigan, and i only left because of lack of employment opportunities. I would move back in a heartbeat if a good opportunity arises for me.

buffywalnuts

I agree with Pepper I love where I live and been here along time 15 minutes from Detroit

tracey a

where your moving is fine, i have lived in the burbs all my life, im 50, and have never had a problem.

bill s

shelby twp was a corn field like three weeks ago bit now it is one huge strip shopping mall.

one lonestar steakhouse after the outback after the applebees and sandwiched between the bedBathAndBeyound and the LinensAnd More.

slit your wrists now.

Iguana

The Shelby Township area is approx. 12 miles north of Detroit. It has some crime, but no more than any other northern suburb.
There are some great things to do in this area, such as: Yates cider mill, Lakeside Mall, River Bend walking trail,and very close to downtown Rochester and Utica too. Oh yeah, Stoney Creek Metro park, for swimming, biking,walking, fishing, and picnics.
Great area to live in.
Take Detroit in small doses. Start by just taking a drive, so you can see for yourself, there are many fine areas, and there are many dangerous areas.

JC Masters

Shelby Township is nice.

I live in Clarkston, however, and I think it's the best place around. Pine Knob is right down the street (yes, I STILL call it Pine Knob). You can find anything you want on Sashabaw, and Dixie Hwy.

Detroit is a cesspool. Been there, done that. The interior of Mexico and some of the other trash dumps overseas have much more appeal.

PuppiesCatsRUsв„ў

Detroit is not that bad. I literally live half an hour away from detroit! I mean no city is perfect.

Malcolm

The tragedy is that Detroit has so much potential. If it had a mass transit system the actual city of Detroit would be back on the map. People would move back to the inner-ring suburbs and also back into the city itself. One of the big problems is that the suburbs are indifferent to Detroit. Many white Democrats suburbanites want to push blacks aside and reclaim downtown Detroit for themselves. There's a liberal Republican leader named L. Brooks Patterson in Oakland County who wants suburban sprawl to continue. James Blanchard & Lee Iacoca moved Chrysler Headquarters out of Highland Park (in the middle of Detroit) out to Auburn Hills. James Blanchard was from Beverly Hills Michigan and he was Oakland County's governor. Oakland County grew rapidly during his 8 years as governor of MI while Detroit fell a part. BTW, L Brooks Patterson wants to kick Christian conservatives out of the party.

bscoleville

I worked downtown; my husband in Auburn Hills and we lived in Rochester Hills. We loved it! Oakland County has a nice mix of recreation and shopping, housing, good schools, people were amazingly -- and noticeably -- polite. The only downside that really bothered us was the Mayor! Now, I know why I never got my city refunds for the past two years!

nancy n

I lived there and moved! Couldn't wait to get out....bad economy...depressed people...and no culture...well...if you call driving a Ford F-150 wth a gun rack and killing Bambi culture then have at it....or worse....competitive eating...I never saw such out of shape people in my life! I came back to California and won't be back...and by the way...I grew up in the suburbs of Detroit...
Sorry you all have to live there.

2 cents

The suburbs are not bad at all. I've lived in Texas, Tenn, and now the suburbs of Detroit. The people are not as friendly as the ones south...but as far as safety it's fine. Shelby township is a very nice, safe area.

cnroberts05

Shelby Township is not Detroit. I agree with many others that Detroit is a city like any other. Great areas, and not so great areas. At the moment, due to our local economy, the not so great seem to over power the great.

I currently live in Farmington. Great schools, clean, quaint, and a short trip from downtown. You'll be much further away from the city than you are probably thinking.

Michigan is a great state. Lots of winter sports and too many things to do in one summer. Travel. See the sand dunes, Mackinac Island, touristy cities (Traverse City, Saugatuck, Holland, Ann Arbor), and golf up north. Pick apples in the fall and hike the metroparks.

If the economy bounces back in the near future, you'll wonder why you were ever worried.

G Detroit

Welcome to Detroit. I am sure you will love it, I do. I have lived all over the globe. Nobody talks trash about Detroit like Detroiters.

alizemuffin

I love living in Michigan, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. Tons of great shopping and restaurants. There is a ton of stuff to do. The east side where you will be living is very busy. Lots of traffic and people drive crazy. If you travel around the state you will see that up north along Lake Michigan is one of the most beautiful places ever! The economy is bad and there are poor areas where it can be dangerous and not pretty, but you will know where those are and you can easily avoid them. I've never felt unsafe. And the city is really fun, just don't get lost! And someone said they don't agree with the cops keeping the suburbs "clean"??? Why would you not agree with the police force keeping a city safe and clean? That's just weird. I pay taxes to make sure that I feel safe, I would have a problem if my city wasn't safe and I would be sure to work with the government of my city via voting and making an effort to make a change.

Debb

I have lived in the suburbs and I have lived in Detroit. I lived in a pretty shady area of Detroit and I have lived downtown. It is all good. People who have never been here need to stop starting rumors.

sarge927

The Shelby Township area is VERY safe. It's quite a bit north of Detroit, so the crime is not nearly as bad in that area. The suburbs north of Detroit are usually better in terms of lower crime rate and family-friendly areas than the suburbs south of Detroit, but the suburban areas around Detroit are generally pretty safe. Actually, Shelby Township has nice housing for the most part and plenty of shopping and things to do. The only thing that's bad in that area is the traffic around Hall Road (M-59).

P.S.: As for the city of Detroit itself, it's just like every other big city. It has its good areas and its bad areas, so once you get here just talk to the locals and you'll find out which areas are OK and which areas you should avoid.

Jay Dub

I was born and raised in the city of Detroit. Now I live in the suburbs, Rochester Hills (near Shelby Twp). If you like a suburban lifestyle, you'll find Shelby Twp. quite nice.

Since I'm a Detroiter, I really really pull for the city to turn it around. But during my 36 years of life, it hasn't come even remotely close to being a world class city. Hell, I've been to cities in 3d world countries that had more curb appeal than Detroit.

I often wonder if the indigenous residents who "cheer lead" for Detroit have ever traveled to other successful, well run cities. I've been to 49 states (missed Alaska so far), most of the major cities in the US, and to 8 countries. Being a Detroiter, I can honestly say that I can count on one hand how many cities I've been to that are worse than Detroit.

Let's not kid ourselves fellow Detroiters. Detroit is a cesspool with a few marginal attractions. There's nothing impressive about South East Michigan period. It's been a dumping ground for industrial manufacturing for a century. All stereotypes are based on some truth.;

: )

dont worry! the best town around there is grosse pointe. fab schools and lowest crime rate around (close to none)
hope i helped!
-lena

carrotcrackers

unlike Detroit, the suburbs are quite nice, generally. most of the cities that border detroit are generally like detroit (ie warren and roseville) except for the grosse pointes (where i live, which are one of the richest suburbs in the world with some of the best public schools). the northern suburb (ie Farmington, Birmingham, and Chesterfield Twp) are also nice.

don't listen to the stories, they only concern the city of detroit, not the suburbs. i would move to a city that is midway between port huron and detroit, they are newer and cheaper and safer.

KIMA

I can tell you they are much better than Detroit!

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