Birmingham Real Estate and Community Information

Located a half-hour north of Detroit, about an hour east of Ann Arbor, and less than an hour from the shores of Lake Erie (and only 20 minutes from Lake St. Clair), Birmingham has garnered accolades for its prosperity and livability. The city has been named by Travel + Leisure as one of the “Coolest Suburbs Worth a Visit” and by U.S. News and Money Magazine as one of the country’s “Best Places to Retire.” Birmingham has a population of around 19,000.

History

Named after Birmingham, England, European settlers arrived here in the early 19^th century. The village was incorporated in 1864, and the major industry was farming. Detroit residents built summer homes in the area, and the town later transitioned into a bedroom community. Today, Birmingham’s 4.73 miles encompasses a bustling pedestrian-friendly downtown and pretty neighborhood streets, earning it a place on Walk Score’s “Top 20 Walkable Communities.”

Shopping and Dining

Birmingham’s compact size belies the fact that it has nearly 300 locally owned and national retailers. The downtown area is considered to be the jewel of the city; there are a plethora of clothing and antiques stores, galleries, coffee shops, bakeries, and more. Anthropologie, Linda Dresner, lucy activewear, Tender, Jos A. Bank, Carl Steer, The Custom Shop, bec & sam’s, Sam and Lola, and The Purple Bear are a few of the women’s, men’s, and children’s retailers.

Antiques stores and galleries include Crimson Rose Antiques, Dede and Jim Taylor Antiques, DeWinter’s Antiques Art Gallery, and Merwin’s Gallery. For coffee, locals enjoy Biggby Coffee, Starbucks, and Zuma’s Coffee House. The Cupcake Station and Townsend Bakery are two must-stop patisseries. Birmingham draws award-winning chefs to this “foodie” town, which hosts an annual Restaurant Week to showcase its great cuisine. Favorites include 220 Restaurant, Café Via, Cameron’s Steakhouse, Commonwealth Café, Cosi, Dick O’ Dow’s, Elie’s Mediterranean Cuisine, Fleming’s, Forest Grill, La Feast, Leo’s Coney Island, Luxe Bar & Grille, Max & Erma’s, Mitchell’s Fish Market, New Bangkok Thai Bistro, Old Woodward, Olga’s Kitchen, Peabody’s, Phoenicia, Salvatore Scallopini, Shish Kabob, South, Stacked Deli, Streetside Seafood, Sy Thai Café, Tallulah Wine Bar and Bistro, The Community House Café, Toast, Tokyo Sushi, Toss-Ups, and Zazios.

Parks and Recreation

Birmingham has a number of neighborhood parks with playgrounds, sports fields and courts, and other amenities. Parks include Shain Park, Booth Park (which hosts Movie nights in the summer), Barnum Park, Linden Park, St. James Park, Lynn Smith Park, Pump House Park, Crestview Park, Kenning Park, Lincoln Well Site, and Howarth Park. The local golf courses are Springdale and Lincoln Hills. Birmingham hosts a Farmers Market May through October; an Annual Art Birmingham in May; In the Park Concert Series June through August; the aforementioned Movie Night at Booth Park in summer months; an annual Pumpkin Patch & Halloween Parade in October; Open Ice Skating; Holiday Tree Lighting in winter; Magic of Birmingham during the holiday season; and the highly popular Restaurant Week in February.

Living

Oakland County is one of the state’s wealthiest, and Birmingham’s cost of living, median home prices, median income, schools, health care, and low crime rate are just some of the factors that have made this city a desirable location to live. Birmingham homes for sale are commonly found in established, tree-lined neighborhoods. Buyers will find a range of styles and sizes, and numerous historic homes. Because lots are limited, many people renovate and rebuild existing properties. The median household income is just under $94,000, and the median home price for all units is around $500,000. Birmingham homes for sale include detached homes in the $550,000 range and townhouses in the $350,000 range.

Schools, Health, Transportation

Birmingham is served by Birmingham School District, and there are 13 elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as an Environmental Center, Alternative High School, and Early Childhood Center. Private schools include Roeper Schools, Eton Academy, Holy Name School, Our Shepherd Lutheran School, Gateway Montessori, and Cranbrook Educational Community. More than 98% of Birmingham students graduate from high school, and many schools have received GreatSchools’s highest rating.

St. Joseph Mercy Hospital and Crittenton Hospital serve the city. Birmingham also supports sustainable transportation, and offers extensive information and programs for walking, cycling, and carpooling. Transportation services and organizations include Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART), Detroit Region Aerotropolis, Transportation Riders United (TRU). Train riders appreciate the presence of an Amtrak station in Birmingham; for air travel, Oakland County International Airport, Coleman A Young International Airport, and Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport are nearby. The major arterials are Interstates 275, 75, 696, 96, and 94.

If you are thinking about buying or selling a home, give us a call at (248) 912-9799 or send us an email to explore your options and to find out when is the best time for you to make a move.