Detroit, Michigan, is steeped in history and diversity. Many know it for its resilience, stunning architecture, music scene, and dynamic atmosphere. Each neighborhood in Detroit has its personality and strong sense of community.
Regarding the LGBTQ community, Detroit is one of the best places to live and visit. LGBTQ bars, restaurants, and resources are abundant in the community. For example, the Ruth Ellis Center supports LGBTQ youth and strives for racial equity across Michigan, showing the region’s commitment to a brighter and more equitable future.
Thanks to the friendly neighborhoods and shows celebrating the LGBTQ community, approximately 131,000 queer individuals thrive in Detroit. The city is also quickly becoming one of the most diverse places in the country: a 2020 study found that no city grew more in diversity across the United States than Detroit.
There’s so much to love about the Motor City, especially its affordability. If Detroit is on your shortlist, here are some top neighborhoods to consider.
Royal Oak
Royal Oak is on the northern edge of Downtown Detroit. This historic neighborhood has completely transformed into an inclusive community, with the streets lined with modern and historic buildings. Located in the lush Woodward Corridor, the area gives immediate access to plentiful shopping and dining options, and it’s also very walkable.
The neighborhood is known to accept people from all walks of life, with several LGBT-owned businesses, bars, restaurants, and inclusive establishments. The main attraction in Royal Oak is the Downtown area. It’s eclectic, has plenty of youthful energy, and a progressive atmosphere.
Best Spots and Events in Royal Oak
There’s so much to do and see in Royal Oak. Whether you prefer the party scene, visiting the theater, or low-key gatherings, there’s something for you here. Some of the best spots are:
Dance the night away at Pronto!
Catch a performance at the Royal Oak Music Theatre
Celebrate at the Royal Oak Pride Festival
Our Favorite Spot in Royal Oak
Pronto! is at the top of our list of places to visit in Royal Oak. This lounge and show bar has been a local favorite since its opening in 1991. It features shows like VIP karaoke, live DJs, fiesta Fridays, Lesbian nights, and drag shows.
Moving to Royal Oak
About 59,000 people live here. The vibrant culture and great schools are huge draws to the area. It’s near the business district, so those commuting to work are in a great spot. If you’re considering buying a home here, the average home price is $323,999.
Ferndale
Ferndale is a neighborhood located north of metro Detroit in the Woodward Corridor, with 9 Mile Road as its main thoroughfare. Originally a laid-back and quiet residential area, the neighborhood has grown into a major place to shop, dine, and play. It’s similar to Royal Oak in that it has evolved into a bustling neighborhood that takes pride in its diverse community. Now, Ferndale is known as the most LGBTQ-friendly neighborhood in Detroit.
The LGBT community has grown substantially here in the last few years, making it an accepting place to call home. People love walking around its revitalized downtown, where you can find cute coffee shops, The Ringwald Theatre, and art galleries.
Most importantly, Ferndale has one of the highest numbers of same-sex couples in the area, only second to Pleasant Ridge; in fact, two of its former mayors are openly gay.
Best Spots and Events in Ferndale
What we like about Ferndale is that you can find laid-back things to do but also embrace LGBTQ life. Some of the best things to do and occasions to attend in Ferndale are:
Enjoy a slice of Detroit-style pizza at Como’s
Watch a performance at The Ringwald Theatre
Attend Ferndale Pride and their DIY Street Fair
Our Favorite Spot in Ferndale
Soho is a bar in the heart of the neighborhood’s entertainment district. The atmosphere shifts from relaxed to lively depending on the day and time you visit. We love the welcoming atmosphere, karaoke nights, dance parties, and many bars.
Moving to Ferndale
Ferndale is on the smaller side regarding the neighborhood populations in Detroit. With 20,000 people living there, the average home costs around $250,000. Great schools surround it, and it isn’t far from the metro Detroit area.
Palmer Park
Palmer Park is the original gayborhood in Detroit and is fiercely competing for the title of the most LGBTQ-friendly neighborhood in metro Detroit.
This neighborhood served as the epicenter of the city’s LGBTQ advocacy movement during the 70s and 80s. The Ruth Ellis Center, which serves at-risk LGBTQ youth, is located here and has been praised by many openly out celebrities, including Whoopi Goldberg and Wanda Sykes. The neighborhood is 89% Black and 10% white, and it has a mix of people of all ages, making it very welcoming to young families.
In addition to its rich history of advocacy, the area is famous for its historic architecture, stately mansions, and beautiful apartment district. The art scene is vibrant here, with many local artists living or showcasing their work around the neighborhood.
The park is host to Hotter than July, the Black LGBTQ celebration that draws queer people of color from across the Midwest during the summer.
Although the area is filled with retail shops and many bars, the main attraction is the beautiful green space.
Best Spots in Palmer Park
You’ll find many more laid-back activities in this neighborhood of Detroit than others. A few things you can do here are:
Attend the Palmer Park Pride Picnic
Enjoy a picnic at the park
Admire artwork at the Palmer Art Fair
Our Favorite Spot in Palmer Park
Menjo’s is one of the oldest LGBTQ places in Detroit. It is located in the Palmer Park hot spot in a large complex with three businesses: the Eagle Leather Bar, Menjo’s Bar, and the Olympic Theater. You can go for happy hour, Sunday tea, karaoke, or rock the dance floor.
Moving to Palmer Park
This Detroit neighborhood has a smaller population, with around 10,000 people living there. It’s a quaint area with cozy coffee shops, a good school district, and close to Downtown and employment opportunities. The median home price is $180,000.
Indian Village & West Village
Indian Village and West Village are two small neighborhoods adjacent to each other on the city's east side. Both are considered welcoming to the LGBTQ+ community. This area is famous for its elegant and historic mansions and other structures.
The overall atmosphere of these neighborhoods is casual and cozy. There are several unique retail shops, restaurants, bars, and cultural spots to stop at. Those who live here boast about how inclusive and tight-knit the area is.
Best Spots and Events in Indian Village & West Village
Even though they’re smaller neighborhoods, there are still plenty of exciting things to do in Indian Village and West Village:
Participate in the West Village Home Tour
See the historic Delos C. Gamble House
Walk along the river at Gabriel Richard Park
Our Favorite Spot in Indian Village & West Village
You can't miss Detroit Vegan Soul if you're vegan or open to trying vegan food. It’s an LGBTQ-owned vegan spot. People come for the food but stay for the welcoming space and sense of community the owners have created.
Moving to Indian Village & West Village
Indian Village and West Village have about 8,000 residents. Even with a smaller population, the average home price is higher than some other areas, with many costing around $300,000. Its proximity to the Palmer Park area and Downtown makes it a highly desirable spot to live.
Midtown
Midtown, sometimes considered part of Downtown Detroit, is ideal for those who enjoy a more urban lifestyle as it is easily accessible to Detroit’s center. It’s also a very diverse area: 49% of the population is Black or African American, and the population tends toward working professionals.
Gay men and women love living and working in this area because of the neighborhood's accepting attitude, great nightlife, sporting matches, movie theaters, and museums. Detroit Public Theatre is located here and serves as the epicenter of the Michigan arts movement, serving up LGBTQ-oriented entertainment all year.
Woodward Avenue is one of the major highways that runs through Detroit and is sometimes called Detroit’s Main Street. This road is home to many of the neighborhood’s main attractions, such as cultural landmarks and museums.
Best Spots and Events in Midtown
The best part of moving to Midtown is that there’s never a shortage of things for you to do and occasions to attend. Here are a few to consider:
Catch a show at the comedy club Detroit House of Comedy
Join the festivities of Motor City Pride in June
Spend the day at the Detroit Institute of Arts
Our Favorite Spot in Midtown
Almost anywhere associated with gay life is fun to hang out at, but there’s something different about visiting a city’s first real gay bar. Gigi’s is located in Midtown and has been an LGBTQ+ community center since 1973. We love that they often throw themed dance parties.
Moving to Midtown
Nearly 17,000 people live in Midtown, and despite being the urban center, the average home cost is only around $250,000. It’s close to great schools, including Wayne State University. It’s in the perfect spot to travel throughout the rest of the city and is ideal for young professionals.
Corktown & Woodbridge
Like Indian Village and West Village, Corktown and Woodbridge are adjacent neighborhoods. Corktown is the oldest neighborhood in the city, dating back to the 1830s. It’s well-known for its Irish influence and Victorian architecture.
In recent years, Corktown has gone through a total revitalization, including the redevelopment of the Michigan Central Station by Ford Motor Company. Niche gives it a A rating for diversity, and it also has a significant population of children under 18, making it a great place to raise a family in a close-knit, revitalized neighborhood. Woodbridge is close behind with a diversity rating of A-.
Most people would agree that the main attraction to these Detroit neighborhoods is the vibrant restaurant and entertainment scene. It’s a foodie’s haven on Michigan Avenue. There are LQBTQ bars that offer live music for you to enjoy.
Best Spots in Events in Corktown & Woodbridge
Much like other neighborhoods in Detroit, there’s a little bit of everything in Corktown and Woodbridge. If you’re looking for inspiration on what to do, some things are:
Enjoy a meal at PJ’s Lager House
Visit the original site of the Tigers stadium
Walk along the Detroit Riverwalk
Our Favorite Spot in Corktown & Woodbridge
Our favorite spot in Corktown and Woodbridge isn’t exclusively for LGBTQ individuals, but the restaurant is incredibly accepting of the LGBTQ community. Mink is known as one of the best restaurants in the city. It offers a five-course tasting menu featuring ethically and sustainably sourced seafood.
Moving to Corktown & Woodbridge
Both neighborhoods combined have a total population of 6,000 residents. The average cost of a home here is comparable to the other inclusive neighborhoods, costing around $280,000. It’s perfect for foodies, families, and people of all ages who want a combination of suburban and urban life.
Be a Local to One of Detroit’s Best Gay Neighborhoods
Detroit’s bustling urban center has great nightlife, plus smaller neighborhoods surrounding the city offer plenty of charm. As one of the best cities representing the LGBTQ community center, dozens of establishments accept and celebrate those within this flag.
As an added benefit to moving to Detroit, the echoes of the auto industry mean that the city is connected by many major highways, making it possible to quickly head off for vacation in another Midwest city if you so choose.
If you’ve been wanting to move to one of the most LGBTQ-friendly cities in the United States, Detroit is ready with open arms.
The cost of living in the Metro Detroit area is far more affordable than other metropolises across the country, with the average home selling around $85,000. With home prices averaging around 80k, you’re better off buying than renting.
If you’re willing to pay private mortgage insurance in exchange for lower upfront costs, we can help you find mortgages with low down payment requirements, sometimes as low as 3% to 5%. It’s often recommended that you make a 20% down payment to avoid the higher cost of private mortgage insurance. However, we understand this can be a significant cost for future homeowners.
Pride Lending is here to help. We have access to a variety of down payment assistance programs, including ones set up by the City of Detroit to encourage permanent residency.
Depending on your income and current homeownership status, you may be qualified for up to $25,000 in down payment and closing costs assistance; thanks to the low cost of housing, you could be well on your way to achieving your dreams with this program. Additionally, we’ll help you find national programs you may qualify for.
Our team will also help you choose the right mortgage program for your needs, whether that’s an FHA loan or VA loan.
Pride Lending is the first mortgage brokerage in the United States with a specific focus on LGBT individuals. All of our staff are allies or members of marginalized communities, including the LGBTQ+ and BIPOC communities. Our goal is to help everyone, no matter their identity, find the right home loan for their needs.
Whether you prefer to live in the city or suburbs, plenty of LGBTQ+-friendly neighborhoods are available. If you are ready to learn more about your mortgage options or start the pre-approval process, contact us today! Email us at Andrew@Pridelending.com or give us a call at 725-231-0192.
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