Neighborhood guideOakland County
Living in Troy, MI: A Local’s Guide
Troy is the largest city in Oakland County, with about 87,000 residents (2020 census), and it runs on a different logic than the walkable Woodward suburbs to its south. This is the suburb people pick for the schools, the space, and a short commute to corporate jobs. You trade a downtown main street for top-ranked public schools, bigger lots, and easy access to one of Metro Detroit's largest business corridors. It sits roughly 15 miles north of downtown Detroit, about 20 to 30 minutes by car.
See homes for sale in TroyWhat Troy is known for
Three things, mostly: schools, shopping, and corporate jobs. The Troy School District is one of the highest-ranked districts in Michigan. The Somerset Collection is one of the region's best-known malls, with 180-plus stores across two buildings joined by a skywalk. And Big Beaver Road is a corporate corridor lined with office towers, hotels, and headquarters, which keeps housing demand steady from people who want a short drive to work.
Practical and family-first. Troy is a city of established residential neighborhoods rather than one central downtown, so daily life is organized around schools, parks, and the business and shopping corridors rather than a single walkable core. The character shifts block by block: some areas are mid-century ranches on quiet streets, others are larger newer homes. For a lot of buyers, the draw is straightforward, which is the school district plus the space plus the commute.
Troy, by the numbers
median sale price
$450K
avg days on market
26
price yoy
-2.4%
active listings
172
Troy prices move with location and school boundary, so a home in one attendance area can price very differently from a similar home across town. For an accurate number on a specific house, we run a free valuation off real local comps, not an algorithm.
Getting around
Getting around
Troy's location is a big part of the pitch. It sits in central Oakland County with quick access to I-75 and major surface roads, putting downtown Detroit roughly 20 to 30 minutes south and neighboring suburbs minutes away. The Big Beaver Road corridor is a major employment center in its own right. Kelly Services keeps its global headquarters here on West Big Beaver, and Magna International runs its U.S. operations out of Troy (its global headquarters is in Aurora, Ontario). Flagstar has a large Troy presence and operations center, though its corporate headquarters moved to Hicksville, New York after the 2022 merger with New York Community Bancorp. For a lot of residents, that mix of offices means a commute measured in minutes.
Things to do in Troy
Somerset Collection
One of Metro Detroit's best-known shopping and dining destinations, 180-plus stores across the skywalk-connected buildings.
Stage Nature Center
A 100-acre preserve with about two miles of trails through meadow, forest, marsh, and river, plus a nature building. Free to enter and hike.
Troy Historic Village
11 restored buildings, including an 1840 log cabin and an 1877 one-room schoolhouse, that tell the story of the area's settlement.
Parks
A deep set of neighborhood parks including Raintree, Redwood, Beaver Trail, and the Troy Skate Park.
Is Troy a good place to buy?
For buyers who put schools and space first, it is one of the strongest options in Oakland County. The combination of a top-ranked district, large established neighborhoods, and a major job corridor inside the city keeps demand steady and supports resale. The tradeoff is the one Troy makes on purpose: you are not buying a walkable downtown, you are buying schools, lots, and commute. If that is your list, Troy is built for it.
The homes
Troy housing is mostly traditional ranches and colonials, with larger homes in the quieter pockets and a mix of renovated mid-century houses and newer construction. The city covers about 33.6 square miles, so it is geographically large and the housing varies widely from one part of town to another. Micro-location matters here more than in a small walkable suburb: two homes a few minutes apart can sit in different school attendance areas and different price tiers.
Schools
This is the headline for most Troy buyers. The Troy School District serves most of the city and ranks among the top public districts in Michigan, third in the state and inside the national top 100 in Niche's 2026 rankings. It runs two comprehensive neighborhood high schools, Troy High School and Athens High School, plus two specialty options (the International Academy East and Troy College and Career High School), along with four middle schools and a dozen elementary schools, serving more than 12,000 students.
Resources
Top questions, answered
The stuff people actually ask us. (No fine print.)
How much are homes in Troy?
The median sale price is currently $450K, with homes averaging 26 days on market. Prices vary a lot by location and school boundary, so the honest answer for your home is a quick comp-based valuation.
How are the schools in Troy?
Troy School District ranks third in Michigan and inside the national top 100 in Niche’s 2026 rankings, with two comprehensive neighborhood high schools, Troy and Athens, and more than 12,000 students. Schools are assigned by address, so confirm the boundary before you buy.
How far is Troy from downtown Detroit?
About 20 to 30 minutes by car, roughly 15 miles south via I-75.
What kind of homes are in Troy?
Mostly ranches and colonials, with larger homes in quieter areas plus renovated mid-century houses and newer construction.
Is Troy walkable?
Not in the downtown sense. Troy is organized around residential neighborhoods and business and shopping corridors, so most trips are a short drive rather than a walk.
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