Detroit vs Royal Oak
Detroit, Michigan versus Royal Oak, Michigan: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Royal Oak edges out Detroit on overall objective livability (58 vs 47 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Detroit | Royal Oak |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $38k | $93k |
| Cost of Living | $43k | $43k |
| Home Value | $67k | $290k |
| Monthly Rent | $989 | $1k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $1k | $2k |
| Property Tax Rate | 2.04% | 1.37% |
| Income Tax | 6.70% | 4.30% |
| Sales Tax | 6.00% | 6.00% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 12.29% | 10.56% |
| Unemployment | 14.7% | 3.0% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 26°F | 25°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 74°F | 73°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.9 in | 29.9 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 30.8 in | 36.0 in |
| Sunny Days | 244 days | 244 days |
| Summer Humidity | 61°F | 61°F |
| Comfortable Days | 105 days | 101 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 17.7 | 27.5 |
| Air Quality | 60 AQI | 50 AQI |
| School Quality | 86.9 | 71.6 |
| Violent Crime | 4531/100k | 554/100k |
| Property Crime | 4488/100k | 799/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 636,787 | 58,053 |
| Median Age | 35.0 | 35.9 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.38 | 0.27 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.91 | 1.05 |
| Political Leaning | D+39 | D+39 |
| White (%) | 10.1% | 83.0% |
| Black (%) | 77.4% | 5.5% |
| Hispanic (%) | 7.5% | 4.4% |
| Asian (%) | 1.6% | 3.5% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 3.4% | 3.7% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 26 min | 25 min |
| Walkability | 14.9/20 | 8.1/20 |
| Airport Distance | 16 mi | 23 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 79.4% | 93.0% |
| Amenities Nearby | 15.56 | 138.84 |
| Park & Nature Access | Limited | Limited |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Detroit or Royal Oak more affordable?
- Royal Oak has the lower cost of living: its index is $43k, compared with Detroit's $43k and Royal Oak's $43k. Median rent is $989 in Detroit versus $1k in Royal Oak.
- Is Detroit or Royal Oak safer?
- Royal Oak has the lower violent crime rate. Detroit reports 4531/100k and Royal Oak reports 554/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Detroit or Royal Oak?
- The median home value is $67k in Detroit and $290k in Royal Oak, so homes are more affordable in Detroit.