Living in Birmingham MI, Michigan

Birmingham is a small city just north of Detroit in southern Oakland County. It borders Royal Oak, Bloomfield Hills, and Troy. The downtown is compact and walkable and somewhat famous in Metro Detroit for its fancy shops and displays of wealth. It shapes daily life and the "brand" of the city more than in most suburban areas in the metro.

Home prices are the highest in Michigan. They have been for years, although recent spikes have attracted national attention. Inventory is usually tight, especially near downtown. Homes tend to sell quickly when they come on the market.

Birmingham is changing, and it’s changing upward. Prices have brought in a wealthier population over time. Smaller homes are often bought and replaced with larger ones. Downtown keeps adding newer, more expensive housing. Longtime residents notice the shift, especially as the city becomes less mixed than it once was. Historically, Birmingham was the less snooty alternative to neighboring Bloomfield Hills, but as suburbs with downtowns got more popular, some locals argue it's giving Bloomfield a run for its money in that department. Regardless of reputation, this is a beautiful city, with arguably the best downtown among the Michigan suburbs, excellent public schools, and more public parks than locals know what to do with. What's not to love?

Most community activity in Birmingham centers on the downtown blocks along Old Woodward.

People typically drive in, park once, and walk between restaurants, bars, the movie theater, and shops. Weeknights are busy at places like Townhouse, Social, and Adachi. The crowd skews older than nearby Royal Oak or Ferndale. Evenings are active but not late. It has energy, but is fancier than the younger local crowds would typically choose.

During the day, downtown stays in use. Shain Park sits at the center of the city and functions as a shared outdoor space and community gathering spot, including a summer concert series. People pass through it on errands, hang out on benches, or stop and play during walks. The Birmingham Public Library and nearby sidewalks see steady use, especially after school and on weekends.

Parks are a real part of daily life here, especially for families. Booth Park is heavily used for general kid play, with a cool, award-winning summer and winter play space. Linden Park, Poppleton, and Barnum Park & Ice Rink are also big hits for sports fields and general play areas for younger kids. These parks are busy after school, on weekends, and during sports seasons.

Seasonal events matter more than nightlife. The Birmingham Farmers Market runs weekly and draws residents from across the city. Summer concerts in Shain Park bring families downtown early in the evening. The winter holiday season centers on downtown lighting events and shopping weekends rather than late-night activity.

Birmingham is very walkable once you’re downtown, but expect to see walkers throughout the city enjoying the nice, wide sidewalks.

Most locals work outside the city.

Common commute destinations include downtown Detroit, Troy, Southfield, Auburn Hills, and offices along Woodward Avenue and I-75. Some people commute daily. Many work hybrid schedules. Remote work is common, especially among households with school-age children.

Industries include professional services, finance, law, healthcare administration, consulting, and automotive-related roles. Birmingham does not have a visible startup or creative job scene, as high commercial rates downtown have pushed these businesses to lower-cost nearby cities or downtown Detroit.

Downtown Birmingham has offices above the retail and professional services businesses, so that is certainly an option. These bring weekday foot traffic but do not reflect the broader job market.

Commutes are manageable by metro Detroit standards. Woodward provides direct access north and south, though traffic can slow during peak hours. Pontiac, sitting directly north of the city, has seen recent growth in the startup and creative sector, in a rebound from the collapse it absorbed in the auto-industry decline.