Best Neighborhoods in the Ann Arbor Area

*Best Neighborhoods in the Ann Arbor Area*

“Best” is one of those words that means something different for everyone, so instead of ranking neighborhoods against each other, it’s more useful to look at what each one actually does well. Here are six that consistently stand out across the Ann Arbor area, each for a different reason.

Barton Hills Village is the one people ask about most, and it’s worth understanding what it actually is. It sits just northwest of the city along the Huron River, and technically it isn’t part of Ann Arbor at all. It’s been its own incorporated village since 1973, with its own police and fire service, and it consistently ranks as the wealthiest community in Michigan by household income, which has topped $220,000. Lots typically run two to three acres, and most home sales land well above $1 million. If privacy, acreage, and a genuinely small, close-knit community are what you’re after, this is about as good as it gets in Southeast Michigan.

Ann Arbor Hills is the closest thing inside the actual city limits. Southeast of downtown, it’s known for winding, tree-lined streets and half-acre-plus lots, with homes ranging from 1920s traditional to newer custom builds. Median prices run around $1.25 million, and it’s zoned for some of the district’s strongest schools, including Huron High. It’s a short walk or bike ride to the Arb, Gallup Park, and Huron Hills Golf Course, so you get space and privacy without actually leaving the city.

Burns Park is the neighborhood families keep landing on, and it shows up on nearly every best-of list for a reason. It’s built around the park of the same name, with playgrounds, sports fields, and an elementary school that consistently ranks among the best in the district. Homes are mostly early-to-mid-century, prices typically run from the mid $600,000s to $900,000 or more, and the whole area has a genuinely welcoming, kid-heavy atmosphere.

The Old West Side pairs that same walkability with more history. Homes here date back to the 1850s through the 1920s, tree-lined streets, front porches, a real sense of permanence, and it’s still only a 10-to-15-minute walk from downtown and Central Campus. Prices generally run $550,000 to $800,000 depending on how much a home has been updated, which makes it a bit more attainable than Burns Park while offering a similar lifestyle.

Kerrytown is the pick for anyone who wants to leave the car parked. It sits just north of downtown, built around the farmers market, with brick storefronts, boutique shops, and some of the best restaurants in the city all within a few blocks. It’s dense, social, and full of character, though it comes with a price tag to match, generally above $500,000.

And if budget is the priority, Arbor Hills, on the northeast side off Green Road, is worth a look. It’s a straightforward subdivision built in the mid-1990s, recent sales mostly in the high $400,000s to low $500,000s, still inside the Ann Arbor Public Schools district, and genuinely close to real green space, including Arbor Hills Nature Area and Kilburn Park. It won’t turn heads architecturally, but it delivers a lot of practical value for the price.

Put side by side, the pattern is pretty clear. Space and privacy point toward Barton Hills Village or Ann Arbor Hills. Family life and schools point toward Burns Park. History and walkability point toward the Old West Side. Food and culture point toward Kerrytown. And value points toward Arbor Hills, or further out toward Ypsilanti, Belleville, or Van Buren Township, where you’ll often find similar character at a noticeably lower price.

If you want to see how any of these actually compare for your budget and priorities, I’m happy to walk you through it.