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Living in
South Lyon.
About
Life in South Lyon
South Lyon is a community of 11,825 people in Michigan. The median household income is $92,467, median rent runs about $1,310 per month, and median home values are around $294,600. Unemployment is low at 3.9%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
South Lyon at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
41.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
4.0%
Foreign-Born
6.5%
Broadband Internet
94.1%
of households
Population Growth
+3.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics6.5% foreign-born, most often from Other Western Asia
Who lives in South Lyon: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In South Lyon, the largest foreign-born group is from Other Western Asia (24.9%), and 1.8% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.5%
of residents
65 and Older
17.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
24.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
30.0%
of households
Married Couples
50.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.39
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 16% above MI average
Rent, home values, and income in South Lyon
In South Lyon, rent runs 16% above the MI average, and home values are 27% above the MI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
35.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
12.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
100.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,044
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
81.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1991
median year built
Home Value Trend
Latest: $474,745 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.3 pts below MI average
Unemployment in South Lyon and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Oakland County, which includes South Lyon, is 1.3 percentage points lower than the MI average.
Unemployment rate
South Lyon: Oakland County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Oakland County (county-wide) · Annual averages
South Lyon is less than 1% of Oakland County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What South Lyon Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area
Commute31.7 min avg
How South Lyon residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In South Lyon, most residents drive alone to work (77%), and 45% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 23 mi
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)
Major hub16.3M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 85% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in South Lyon runs 85% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
48.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
348.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
South Lyon Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 13 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
97.5 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Oakland County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Oakland County, which includes South Lyon, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 13 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $40,500 |
| 2024 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $20,000 |
| 2023 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $18.0M |
| 2022 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | $85,000 |
| 2021 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | $17.9M |
| 2020 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.0M |
| 2019 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.0M |
| 2018 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $11.0M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
2 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Oakland County, county-wide
South Lyon is less than 1% of Oakland County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality41 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Oakland County, which includes South Lyon, is typically good — 242 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
41
Good Days
242
per year
Moderate Days
99
per year
Unhealthy Days
2
per year
Oakland County, county-wide
South Lyon is less than 1% of Oakland County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate79°F summers, 17°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
South Lyon has mild summers (avg high 79°F) and very cold winters (avg low 17°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
57°/34°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
79°/57°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
60°/40°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
33°/17°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
36.0"
Annual Snowfall
61.4"
Hot Days/Year
6
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
152
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
166
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 30°F | 15°F | 2.38" |
| Feb | 34°F | 14°F | 2.07" |
| Mar | 44°F | 24°F | 2.43" |
| Apr | 57°F | 34°F | 2.99" |
| May | 69°F | 45°F | 3.65" |
| Jun | 77°F | 54°F | 3.72" |
| Jul | 82°F | 59°F | 3.38" |
| Aug | 79°F | 58°F | 3.34" |
| Sep | 74°F | 50°F | 3.11" |
| Oct | 60°F | 40°F | 2.80" |
| Nov | 47°F | 30°F | 2.48" |
| Dec | 35°F | 22°F | 2.11" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in South Lyon
Uninsured
2.5%
of residents
No hospitals inside South Lyon's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Henry Ford Health Brighton Center for Recovery
Acute Care Hospitals · 4.5 mi away · Brighton
Huron Valley-sinai Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 11.9 mi away · Commerce Township
VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available · 12.4 mi away · Ann Arbor
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education17.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in South Lyon
South Lyon's student/teacher ratio is 17.9:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 47.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
47.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near South Lyon (within 15 miles)
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
13.3 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 34,177 students · in-state tuition $18,346 · 94% graduate · median earnings $92,832 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 10,055 students · in-state tuition $17,004 · 54% graduate · median earnings $55,390 (10 yrs after entry)
Schoolcraft Community College District
11.7 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 7,511 students · in-state tuition $4,736 · 20% graduate · median earnings $45,652 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,632 students · in-state tuition $29,580 · 59% graduate · median earnings $60,349 (10 yrs after entry)
Concordia University Ann Arbor
13.1 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 702 students · in-state tuition $36,260 · 60% graduate · median earnings $61,992 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: River Raisin National Battlefield Park, 40 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for South Lyon
South Lyon has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being River Raisin National Battlefield Park (40 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
River Raisin National Battlefield Park
National Battlefield Park
40 mi awayPerry's Victory & International Peace Memorial
Memorial
70 mi awayCities Near South Lyon
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to South Lyon?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
South Lyon FAQ
Is South Lyon, Michigan affordable?⌄
South Lyon's median rent is $1,310/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $92,467/year. Median home value is $294,600.
Is South Lyon, Michigan safe?⌄
South Lyon's violent crime rate was 49 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 348 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in South Lyon, Michigan?⌄
Oakland County, which includes South Lyon, has an unemployment rate of 3.9%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in South Lyon, Michigan?⌄
The cost of living in South Lyon is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,310/month and median household income is $92,467/year. The median home value is $294,600. About 36% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in South Lyon, Michigan?⌄
The average commute in South Lyon is 32 minutes, which is longer than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from