2027 MNM LIVABILITY INDEX

Rochester Hills

Michigan (MI)
Best for: Households seeking established northern Detroit suburbs
Rochester Hills MI 2027 livability
Small City
2027 CITY CLASSSmall City25,000–99,999 residents
Modern Livability76.0/ 100
AT A GLANCE

Everyday numbers

Population77,539
Median Home$409,800
Median Rent$1,644
Median Household Income$120,694
Cost of LivingRPP 100.3 (US=100; BEA 2024; metro area)
Average Commute24.3 min (ACS 2020-2024)
Unemployment4.1% (ACS 2020-2024; civilian labor force)
Metro AreaDetroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
2027 MODERN LIVABILITY SCORECARD

How this city actually lives

Twelve dimensions capture both hard data and the everyday experience traditional lists tend to miss.

76.0overall
Housing & Financial Reality90.0

Housing burden, taxes, insurance, utilities and what local incomes actually buy.

Ease of Living82.0

Errands, commute friction, parking, services and the effort required for daily life.

Safety & Stability88.0

Personal, neighborhood, road and environmental stability.

Economic Opportunity78.0

Jobs, wages, career mobility, employer diversity and economic resilience.

Health & Wellness83.0

Healthcare access, activity, mental wellness, healthy food and environmental health.

Beauty & Sense of Place77.0

Scenery, architecture, trees, cleanliness, public realm and distinct sense of place.

Mobility & Congestion55.0

Traffic delay, commute reliability, walking, cycling and transit usefulness.

Nature & Escape78.0

Trails, water, mountains, parks, public lands and how easily residents can escape.

Diversity & Belonging77.0

Diversity, integration, accessibility, newcomer friendliness and community connection.

Climate & Environment48.0

Comfortable weather, air quality, severe weather and environmental exposure.

Community & Culture69.0

Restaurants, arts, events, third places, recreation and social life.

Infrastructure & Connectivity79.0

Broadband, utilities, airport, highways, transit and essential connectivity.

THE THINGS OLD-SCHOOL LISTS MISS

What daily life feels like

Traffic / CongestionACS average one-way commute: 24.3 minutes (2020-2024, excluding workers at home). Workplace location and departure time still determine individual travel. This is a commute measure, not a live traffic-delay index.
Weekend EscapeBloomer Park provides local trails and outdoor recreation. Regional trips depend on travel time and seasonal conditions.
WalkabilityCitywide Walk Score 20/100 (directory checked October 2026). Many errands require a car; selected centers may be more walkable.
Airport AccessDetroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) is a regional air-travel option. Check the airport for current destinations; no drive-time estimate is assumed.
Outdoor AccessBloomer Park provides local trails and outdoor recreation.
Healthcare AccessHenry Ford Rochester Hospital in nearby Rochester provides a local or nearby hospital option. Check insurance networks, service availability and specialist access individually.
Air QualityAir quality changes by day and season. Check AirNow for local ozone and fine-particle conditions, particularly during heat or smoke events; no citywide annual AQI rating is assigned here.
Third Places / Social LifeRochester Hills's parks and recreation facilities provide public gathering spaces. A suburban city with wooded neighborhoods and rolling terrain. The mix of libraries, cafes and community activities varies by neighborhood.
EDITORIAL VIEW

More than a number

Trajectory: Broadly stable: +0.1% population change from 2024 to 2025 (same Census vintage). This describes population only, not a forecast.
WHY IT STANDS OUT

Why we chose it

Rochester Hills has 77,539 residents in the Census Bureau's July 1, 2025 estimate and is #491 in the incorporated-place population ranking used for this batch. The ACS 2020-2024 estimates report a median owner-occupied home value of $409,800, median monthly gross rent of $1,644, and median household income of $120,694. These are survey-period estimates, not current listings or asking rents. Bloomer Park provides local trails and outdoor recreation. Livability scores are provisional editorial assessments for review, not official Census ratings.

REAL LIFE

What living here actually feels like

A suburban city with wooded neighborhoods and rolling terrain.

STRENGTHS

Where it shines

Median home value below four times median household income; Access to Henry Ford Rochester Hospital in nearby Rochester; Bloomer Park provides local trails and outdoor recreation.

TRADEOFFS

Where it falls short

Car dependence, cold winters and higher purchase costs than some nearby communities.

ALL 2027 RANKINGS

Where Rochester Hills ranks