Several theories exist on how Center Line got its name, but the generally accepted one claims that the name comes from the middle of three Indian trails which once ran between the fort at Detroit and trading posts to the north, which cut through the city along present-day Sherwood Avenue.
Center Line is a city within a city
Several theories exist on how Center Line got its name, but the generally accepted one claims that the name comes from the middle of three Indian trails which once ran between the fort at Detroit and trading posts to the north, which cut through the city along present-day Sherwood Avenue.
Center Line is a city within a city. Incorporated in 1936, Center Line is completely surrounded by the city of Warren, a suburb of Detroit. Packing a whopping 8,257 residents into its mere 1.7 square miles, Center Line is pretty densely populated. You'd think that means that there would be a lot of high-rise apartment buildings, but that is not the case at all; 97 percent of all housing in Center Line is single family homes. If you're looking for an urban setting with a strong community feeling and lots of charming older homes, then Center Line just might be your place
Rentals to the west of Van Dyke Avenue tend to fetch a few more bills than properties to the east, and there tends to be more vacancies on that side, as well. This could be attributed to a lot of things, but let's just assume it is because you can get the same size house on the east side for considerably less cash. It won't take a lot of money to secure a house rental in Center Line regardless of whether you're an east-sider or hang it on the west side, though, as rents run anywhere from 40-90 percent lower than in other Michigan cities. You can rent an entire four bedroom house here for the price of a closet inside of a studio apartment in Manhattan.
If you are looking for a studio for rent, or are dreaming of luxury apartments, you're not going to be happy with the rental options in Center Line. Other than a couple of apartment complexes, some of which cater to seniors only, and all of which require a lengthy application process, you're not likely to find an apartment easily. Duplexes for rent are much more common in the area, as well as those inexpensive detached single-family homes that the town is known for.
Renter Beware: A lot of these homes were built before 1970, so be sure to check them out thoroughly before moving in. On the upside, if your new rental home has busted pipes or a non-working furnace, as a renter, you won't have to pony up for the repairs. On the downside, as the tenant, you're the one who comes home to all your stuff floating down the hallway, or wakes up freezing, in January, in Michigan.
Center Line is so small, it's considered a neighborhood itself. We've gone through the east vs. west argument above, so just to add to that: the east side of Van Dyke Avenue tends to have more college students than other parts of the city. There are nine colleges and universities within 15 miles of Center Line, so with the affordability of housing and the relatively low crime rate, it makes sense that some of these students would make Center Line their temporary home. It doesn't quite elevate to the status of "college town," though, so no luck if you were hoping for packed bars of underage freshman trying to get in and apartment clearances at the beginning of summer. You can't have everything in life!
With a Walk Score of 58, you can actually run a lot errands on your own feet, meaning pretty much anywhere you decide to settle will put you within a few blocks of shops and restaurants. If you'd like to keep your walking to a minimum, look for a home near the center of town at the intersection of Van Dyke Avenue and East 10 Mile Rd. Essco Square shopping center sits on the northwest corner of the intersection and provides everything from tax prep and sandwich shops to dollar stores, banking, and pharmacies. In a city this size, though, you could live on the "outskirts" of the city center and still be less than a mile away.
If walking just isn't your thing at all, Center Line does has bus service through SMART, the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation. There aren't a ton of stops within Center Line, but again, no matter where you rest your weary bones at the end of the day, you're going to be fairly close to one stop or another.
Because it is a lower-cost and lower-income city, don't look for any four-star restaurants just down the road. The locals tend to favor their pizza joints and the Dairy Freezzz. For outdoor recreation, there are a couple of parks within the city limits, and the beaches of Lake St. Clair a short 20 minute drive east.
