South Lyon 83 Exceptional
South Lyon Livability #46 ranked city in Michigan#953 ranked city in the USARanks better than 96% of areas
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Pros and Cons of Living in South Lyon

PROS
  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    Everyday cost of living expenses like goods and services, housing, groceries, transportation, health care and utilities are far below the national average.

  • Crime Crime

    This area boasts a crime rate that is far below the national average, making it a very safe place to live. These crime statistics encompass both property and violent offenses.

  • Employment Employment

    With higher than average median household income, income per capita and lower unemployment rates, this area scores extremely well in the employment category.

  • Housing Housing

    Impressive scores in the housing category characterize this area, potentially attributed to the availability of affordable housing, strong appreciation rates and high home values.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    Accessible health facilities like hospitals, doctors offices, clinics and nursing homes as well as good air quality are all factors that have led to a high score in this category.

CONS
  • Commute Commute

    Low commute scores could be due to limited access to public transit in this area, as well as longer-than-average work commute times for residents.

What's it like Living in South Lyon?

South Lyon is a medium-sized city located in the state of Michigan. The city has a population of 12,155 people. South Lyon has a population density of 3,249 people per square mile. This would be considered well above the national population density level. At 92%, the majority of the South Lyon population is White; this is followed by 2% Asian and 1% Black. Something to be aware of when living in South Lyon are the above average commute times. If you're looking for a short commute to work, this might not be the right area for you. With one way commute time of 32 minutes, this comes in much higher than the national average of 26 minutes.

Living in South Lyon can be a positive experience for anyone moving to the area. Having said that, in the state of Michigan, there are many amazing places to live, so choose wisely! When searching for a new neighborhood, several factors play a vital role in determining its suitability. Safety should be a top priority, ensuring a secure environment with low crime rates. Proximity to your workplace or school helps minimize commuting time and allows for a better work-life balance. Availability of essential amenities such as parks, coffee shops, restaurants, grocery stores, and healthcare facilities contributes to convenience and well-being. Access to reliable public transportation options facilitates easy commuting and connectivity. Additionally, considering the sense of community and the overall atmosphere that resonates with your lifestyle and preferences fosters a harmonious living experience. To help you find the best places to live in and around South Lyon, AreaVibes has created a livability score using key metrics like crime, health & safety, education, employment, housing and more.

With a livability score of 82/100, South Lyon is ranked #1,008 in the United States and #49 in Michigan. Based on this score, South Lyon would be considered a very livable city! The cherry on top is that South Lyon also ranks in the top 10 percent of all cities. If we dig down a little deeper into each category within the livability score, we see that South Lyon has higher than average grades for the following: crime (A+), cost of living (A-), education (B), employment (A) and housing (A+).

Ensuring a sense of security is paramount for the majority of residents in any area. Low crime rates exert a positive influence on various aspects, including home prices, rates of home appreciation and the cultivation of positive community dynamics and social cohesion. In the case of South Lyon, it boasts a notably low violent crime rate of 58 crimes per 100,000 residents, which significantly outperforms the national average.

The South Lyon unemployment rate of 2.7% has continued to decrease over the years and is now well below the national average. The result could lead to reduced poverty and inequality in the area, higher wages and increased economic growth. This is a positive sign in the overall health of the local economy.

A healthy real estate market serves as a key economic indicator. It could signify overall local economic strength, stability and reflects consumer confidence in the area. Based on multiple factors including: median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability, South Lyon has received high marks in the housing category. Based on these calculations, the apartment rental and real estate market appears to be very healthy.

Assuming that South Lyon meets all of your requirements like low crime rates, good schools and great local amenities, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in South Lyon. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in South Lyon are simply unattainable. Median real estate prices in South Lyon come in at $381,885, which is 61.9% higher than the Michigan average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In South Lyon, the home price to income ratio is 3.5, which is 9.4% higher than the Michigan average.

Best Places to Live in and Around South Lyon

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Compare South Lyon, MI Livability

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      South Lyon transportation information

      Statistic South Lyon Michigan National
      Average one way commute32min24min26min
      Workers who drive to work83.5%82.5%76.4%
      Workers who carpool6.5%8.8%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.1%1.4%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.0%0.5%0.6%
      Workers who walk1.5%2.2%2.8%
      Working from home7.8%3.7%4.6%
      Source: The South Lyon, MI data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.