City Profile

Southfield, Michigan

USA · Comprehensive city data and intelligence

Overall Score

Southfield, Michigan, is a prominent commercial and residential suburb located in Oakland County, functioning as a key economic hub in the Detroit metropolitan area. Known for its distinctive skyline featuring numerous high-rise office buildings along major thoroughfares like 10 Mile and Evergreen Roads, the city blends corporate prominence with established residential neighborhoods. People are drawn to Southfield for its central location, diverse community, and excellent access to major highways connecting the entire region.

About Michigan

Michigan, known as "The Great Lakes State," offers a diverse landscape with extensive freshwater coastlines and a distinct four-season climate, featuring warm summers and cold, snowy winters. Its economy, historically driven by the automotive industry, is diversifying into advanced manufacturing, healthcare, life sciences, and technology. The cost of living in Michigan is generally lower than the national average, particularly for housing, making it an affordable option for many. Residents enjoy a lifestyle that often includes abundant outdoor recreation opportunities, from water sports on the Great Lakes to winter activities and extensive trail systems.

76,500

Population

$68K

Avg Salary

Cost Index

61.5

Quality Score

How this 62/100 was calculated five components, with every reading behind them

Component	Readings used	Points	Weight	Contributes
Safety	Safety score: 68 / 100	68.0	30%	20.4
Affordability	Cost of living index (100 = national baseline): 96.0	48.8	25%	12.2
Economy & jobs	Median household income: $74,000 Income needed to live here: $52,000 Unemployment rate: 4.3%	74.6	20%	14.9
Growth	Population growth rate: 0.5% Job growth rate: 1.8%	46.8	15%	7.0
Business climate assessment	Business climate assessment: 70 / 100	70.0	10%	7.0
Overall score				61.5

Provenance. These figures were produced by the research pass recorded as Gemini (ungrounded) (q=54, partial — below threshold), last refreshed 16 October 2026. They are researched estimates drawn from public sources, not a licensed data feed.

Each component is scored against fixed published endpoints, so this number is comparable with any other city and does not move as the dataset grows. Scoring framework 2026.10 — full methodology, weights and accepted ranges.

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Performance

Quality Scores

Business

Livability

Affordability

Growth

Expenses

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Southfield is generally close to or slightly below the national average, making it an attractive option for families and professionals seeking suburban comfort without exorbitant expenses. Housing costs, including both renting and buying, remain relatively moderate compared to other major metropolitan hubs across the United States. Everyday expenses such as groceries and utilities align closely with regional benchmarks, though transportation costs can be higher due to the city's car-centric layout.

Average Rent

$1,450/mo

Groceries

$410/mo

Transport

$130/mo

Utilities

$175/mo

Healthcare

$240/mo

Gym membership (monthly)

$45.00

Cinema ticket

$13.00

Restaurant meal (mid-range)

$25.00

Monthly groceries

$410.00

Doctor visit (without insurance)

$140.00

Income

Salary Insights

Southfield boasts a robust and diversified job market, heavily anchored by professional services, automotive corporate functions, healthcare, and technology. Major employers and corporate headquarters find the city's infrastructure and business-friendly environment appealing for long-term operations. While remote work trends have shifted office dynamics, the local commercial real estate sector continues to adapt through mixed-use developments and revitalization efforts.

The average salary in Southfield is $68,000 per year. You would need approximately $52,000 to live comfortably.

Employment

Top Industries

Retail Trade +1.00% Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services +2.10% Healthcare and Social Assistance +2.80% Finance and Insurance +1.60% Manufacturing and Automotive Engineering +1.40%

Weather

Climate

🌡️

50°F

Avg Temp

☀️

82°F

Summer High

❄️

17°F

Winter Low

🌧️

32.40"

Annual Rain

💧

66.00%

Humidity

🌤️

246

Sunny Days

Mobility

Transport

Getting around Southfield heavily relies on automobiles, as the city is intersected by major freeways including I-696, US-10, and M-10. While public transit options like SMART bus routes exist, walkability is generally low outside of specific commercial developments, making a personal vehicle essential for daily commuting. Traffic congestion is common during peak rush hours along major arteries like Northwestern Highway and Evergreen Road.

26 min

Avg Commute

42.00/10

Transit Score

45.00/10

Walkability

High

Car Dependency

At a Glance

Pros & Cons

Advantages

Strategic location in Oakland County with direct access to major freeways like I-696 and US-10

Robust commercial hub hosting numerous corporate headquarters and professional service firms

Diverse and welcoming community with strong cultural representation and active local engagement

Excellent healthcare infrastructure anchored by Ascension Providence Hospital

More affordable housing options compared to neighboring affluent Oakland County communities

Drawbacks

High car dependency with limited walkability and transit scores outside central corridors

Property tax rates can be relatively high compared to some surrounding townships

Traffic congestion along major commuter arteries during peak rush hours

Varying crime rates and safety profiles depending on the specific neighborhood

Older housing stock in some areas may require significant maintenance or updates

Head to Head

Compare Southfield

Southfield VS Cincinnati Southfield VS Binghamton Southfield VS Sterling Heights Southfield VS Grand Blanc

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Nearby Cities

Dearborn Heights

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Community Q&A

Questions about Southfield

What people ask about living in and moving to Southfield, Michigan.

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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Urblytica benchmarks its Cost of Living Index against a United States national average baseline of 100. A score of 115 means a city is approximately 15% more expensive than the national average, while a score of 85 indicates it is 15% more affordable. This composite calculation is weighted across six primary expenditure categories: housing, utilities, grocery items, transportation, healthcare, and miscellaneous goods.

Urblytica aggregates housing data from multiple authoritative sources, including Multiple Listing Service (MLS) feeds, municipal property tax registries, the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS), and verified historical deed transactions. This multi-tier aggregation ensures precision in tracking median home values and rental rates.

A municipality must meet minimum data-density thresholds—including consistent reporting population samples from the U.S. Census and active residential or commercial real estate transaction feeds—to ensure statistical significance before a complete scoring profile is published.

When primary agencies (such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics or U.S. Census Bureau) issue historical data revisions or benchmark corrections, Urblytica's data pipeline automatically re-indexes affected historical archives to maintain longitudinal trend accuracy.

U.S. affordability calculations incorporate federal income tax brackets, state-specific income tax rates, and local municipal tax variations to evaluate the true net tax drag on median household earnings across different states and cities.

Local county and municipal property tax millage rates are factored directly into the housing component of the cost-of-living index to reflect recurring annual tax burdens for homeowners.

The platform aggregates state sales taxes alongside county and city surtaxes to measure consumer basket purchasing power parity accurately across different retail jurisdictions.

Utility calculations apply regional seasonal consumption weightings, incorporating high summer air conditioning loads in southern states and heavy winter heating demands in northern states.

The index tracks average out-of-pocket healthcare expenses, routine outpatient visit costs, and regional health insurance premium benchmarks published by federal health agencies.

Educational metrics aggregate state standardized testing benchmarks, student-to-teacher ratios, high school graduation rates, and per-pupil expenditure data published by state departments of education.

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