The Town FilesSouthfield, Michigan
City in Oakland County · population 76,618 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $236,200
- Household income
- $68,166
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 36 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 42.3
Southfield is a city of 76,618 people in Oakland County, Michigan. The median home is worth $236,200, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks more vibrant than 97% of Michigan towns, better transit than 97% of Michigan towns, better for young professionals than 96% of Michigan towns.
How Southfield ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Southfield is worth $236,200, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $68,166, which is more affordable than 19% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,340 a month. 53.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Southfield | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $236,200 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,340 | $955 |
| Median household income | $68,166 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 53.4% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.1% | — |
Who lives in Southfield
| People | Southfield | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.3 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.6% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 40.7% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.3% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 5.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.1% | — |
| Work from home | 17.0% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 23.7 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.9% | 88.8% |
Weather in Southfield
July highs average 82.9°F and January lows 15.6°F. About 33.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 36.0 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 146 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Southfield since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 20, 1976 about 6.3 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 161 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 5, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 44 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 2, 1983.
Severe weather in Oakland County since 1996
Oakland County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 8, 2024 | Flood | DR-4757: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 15, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4607: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| September 25, 2014 | Flood | DR-4195: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Oakland County
Oakland County had 723,862 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $77,917 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Southfield itself the ACS puts it at 6.9%.
Public schools in Southfield
16 public schools with 6,785 students, about 17.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southfield High School for the Arts and Technology | 9-12 | 1,190 | 19.5 |
| Laurus Academy (charter) | K-8 | 786 | 29.1 |
| Bradford Academy (charter) | PK-12 | 768 | 22.6 |
| Dr Joseph F Pollack Academic Center of Excellence (charter) | K-8 | 608 | 15.2 |
| Adlai Stevenson Elementary School | K-5 | 498 | 19.2 |
| Alice M Birney K8 School | PK-8 | 443 | 13.4 |
| AGBU AlexMarie Manoogian School (charter) | K-12 | 431 | 18.0 |
| Glenn W Levey Middle School | 6-8 | 351 | 13.5 |
| Thompson K8 International Academy | K-8 | 348 | 11.6 |
| Morris Adler Elementary School | K-5 | 335 | 16.8 |
| Crescent Academy Elementary (charter) | 2-5 | 316 | 15.8 |
| McIntyre Elementary School | 1-5 | 283 | 15.7 |
Towns near Southfield
- Lathrup Village, MI2.0 mi · 4,088 people · home $310,600
- Southfield, MI3.2 mi · 14,886 people · home $544,100
- Beverly Hills, MI3.5 mi · 10,584 people · home $511,000
- Franklin, MI3.8 mi · 3,139 people · home $774,900
- Oak Park, MI4.0 mi · 29,560 people · home $212,300
- Berkley, MI4.1 mi · 15,194 people · home $316,700
- Huntington Woods, MI4.7 mi · 6,388 people · home $473,900
- Birmingham, MI5.3 mi · 21,813 people · home $698,300
Southfield questions
Is Southfield, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Southfield scores better for retirees than 20% of Michigan towns and quieter than 4%. 22.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.3).
How much does a house cost in Southfield?
The median owner-occupied home in Southfield is valued at $236,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $68,166, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $1,340 a month.
What is the weather like in Southfield?
July highs average 82.9°F and January lows 15.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.0 inches of precipitation a year and 36.0 inches of snow.
Does Southfield get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Southfield since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on March 20, 1976. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)