Southgate 84 Exceptional
Southgate Livability #29 ranked city in Michigan#643 ranked city in the USARanks better than 97% of areas
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Pros and Cons of Living in Southgate

PROS
  • Amenities Amenities

    Conveniently located, the area boasts a variety of amenities, including grocery stores, shopping, coffee shops and entertainment options all within walking distance.

  • Commute Commute

    The high commute score in this area could imply easy access to public transportation, as well as shorter-than-average commute times to your workplace.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Ratings Ratings

    According to recent surveys and polls, locals had excellent ratings for walkability to nearby amenities, safety, access to public transit and the overall sense of community in the area.

CONS
  • Crime Crime

    Reporting high crime rates per 100,000 people, this area may be perceived as an unsafe place to reside. These statistics encompass both violent and property crime rates.

What's it like Living in Southgate?

Located in the state of Michigan, Southgate is a medium-sized city with a population of 30,149 people. Southgate has a population density of 4,388 people per square mile. This would be considered well above the national population density level. According to the most recent Census, 86% of Southgate residents are White, 6% Black and 3% Asian. The average American spends about 26 minutes on their one way commute to work each day. Lower travel times can increase overall happiness and allow for more time to be spent with family and friends. While living in Southgate, your commute times will be about average, with a one way commute time of 26 minutes.

Whether you’re moving to a new area to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Southgate could be a positive experience compared to other cities in Michigan if you know where to look. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. Finding the best places to live in Southgate and nearby areas is a much easier task when you can rely on information and data from the livability score, which includes amenities, cost of living, commute and other important metrics.

With a livability score of 85 out of 100, Southgate is ranked #466 in the United States and #22 in Michigan. This is a great score, as Southgate ranks well in multiple categories! Another exciting tidbit, is that Southgate ranks better than 90% of all US cities! If we examine each of the categories on their own, we see that Southgate ranks well for amenities (A+), cost of living (A+) and employment (B-). There is at least one category that did not score well in Southgate. The following was graded with a discouraging score: education (D).

Southgate has many conveniently situated amenities and captivating attractions that adds to the continuous enjoyment of your everyday life. Having the assurance of abundant conveniences and a wide array of activities ensures your easy access to nearby grocery stores, restaurants, bars, fitness facilities, coffee shops and exciting entertainment options. This not only simplifies daily routines but also fosters a vibrant and dynamic lifestyle within the community. With a wealth of resources at your fingertips, you can savor the convenience and variety that Southgate has to offer, making it a desirable destination for those seeking both accessibility and enjoyment in their daily lives.

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, Southgate 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 Southgate 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 Southgate. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in Southgate are simply unattainable. The median home price for Southgate homes is $220,518, which is 6.5% lower than the Michigan average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Southgate, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 2.5, which is 21.9% lower than the Michigan average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Southgate

See all the best places to live around Southgate

How Do You Rate The Livability In Southgate?

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Compare Southgate, MI Livability

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      Southgate transportation information

      Statistic Southgate Michigan National
      Average one way commute26min24min26min
      Workers who drive to work84.7%82.5%76.4%
      Workers who carpool7.3%8.8%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.8%1.4%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.1%0.5%0.6%
      Workers who walk0.8%2.2%2.8%
      Working from home5.4%3.7%4.6%
      Source: The Southgate, 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.