Living in Royal Oak

What is the Cost of Living in Royal Oak?

For data on cost of living, we can turn to Sperling’s Best Places.
This website ranks cost of living on a scale where the US average is represented by 100. Numbers above 100 represent higher costs of living, and numbers below 100 represent lower costs of living.

On this scale, Royal Oak receives a cost of living score of 104.6. That means that living here is only marginally more expensive than living elsewhere in the United States on average.

Indeed, some cost of living in Royal Oak are less than the nationwide average, including the costs for healthcare, groceries, and utilities.

What is the Cost of Housing in Royal Oak?

The cost of housing in Royal Oak is just slightly above the nationwide average according to Sperling’s. The nationwide median housing cost is $231,200. In Royal Oak, it is $247,100.

But actually, the US Census lists a lower median value for homes in Royal Oak: just $210,200. Regardless of which figure is closer to the current median housing cost, housing in Royal Oak is affordable.

Employment Opportunities in Royal Oak

The reasonable cost of living in Royal Oak becomes even more impressive when you consider that salaries in this area are higher than they are in the US on the whole, and unemployment rates are also significantly lower. Sperling’s reports an unemployment rate of just 2.5% for Royal Oak versus 3.7% for the US.

Household income in Royal Oak averages out to $74,140, which is much higher than the $57,652 average for the US.

So, living here brings you abundant financial opportunity.

Royal Oak Crime Rates Are Low

Another advantage of living in Royal Oak is that this area boasts low crime rates.
Sperling’s rates crime on a scale where 1 represents the lowest crime and 100 represents the highest crime.

On that scale, the US average for violent crime is 22.7, but in Royal Oak, it is just 12.4.

The property crime rate in Royal Oak is also lower. It is only 20.8 compared to the US average of 35.4.

Royal Oak Education

If you have a child attending public school, it will be in the Royal Oak Neighborhood Schools system. Shrine Catholic private high school is also available.

For higher education, options in this region include the Oakland Community College, the Wayne County Community College, Marygrove College, St. Clair College – Windsor Campus, the Henry Ford College, Washtenaw Community College, and others.

Getting Around Royal Oak

Public transportation is offered by Amtrak, the Canadian National Railway, and the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART). You can commute to work over rail or via bus.

Only around 0.7% of people in Royal Oak use mass transportation to commute. 4.4% of the population work from home, 5.6% carpool, and the remaining 87.1% drive by themselves to get to work.

The average commute time one direction in Royal Oak is 24.5 minutes. That is a little bit less than the 26.4 minutes it takes an average to commute one way throughout the US.

How is the Weather in Royal Oak?

The Sperling’s Comfort Index rates climate on a scale of 1-10, where 10 is best and the US average is 7. Royal Oak receives a rating of 6.9, making it roughly average.

Lows in the winter can drop down to around 18 degrees Fahrenheit, and highs in the summer can rise up to around 83 degrees Fahrenheit. So, the location is somewhat cool on the whole, but still temperate, with four distinct seasons.

If you enjoy precipitation, you will be glad to hear that you can expect around 33 inches of rain annually and around 32 inches of snowfall.

Leisure and Entertainment in Royal Oak

There is a lot to do right in Royal Oak. If you like theater, you can attend the Royal Oak Music Theatre, the Landmark Main Art Theatre, and Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle.

Detroit itself has also become a big deal from a tourism standpoint, being recognized by publications like Lonely Planet and The New York Times in recent years. So, the region has a lot to offer in terms of entertainment, events, sports and landmarks.

You are also close to the Great Lakes living here, so if you prefer outdoor activities, you can enjoy boating, fishing, swimming, hiking, and much more.