Clawson's name is actually a spelling error, as the town was named after a settler named John Lawson. Before being somewhat named for Lawson, Clawson was known as Pumachug and The Corners before assuming its current name.
Clawson calls itself the "Little City With a Big Heart," and it's easy to see why, as this Detroit suburb of 11,825 has only 2
Clawson's name is actually a spelling error, as the town was named after a settler named John Lawson. Before being somewhat named for Lawson, Clawson was known as Pumachug and The Corners before assuming its current name.
Clawson calls itself the "Little City With a Big Heart," and it's easy to see why, as this Detroit suburb of 11,825 has only 2.2 square miles of area. In that limited space is a town with considerable spunk and flavor, as its downtown area always has something going on, especially in the summer months. Its small size makes Clawson easily accessible on bike or foot for citizens and visitors alike, and City Park is the nexus of the town's many summertime recreational activities. Located in southern Oakland County, Clawson is 15 miles from Detroit and slightly further than that from Canada if scarfing down poutine is your idea of a fun time.
As with many small towns, especially ones with Clawson's down-home community feel, it's not easy to find available housing in town. Three-quarters of Clawson housing properties are owned, and the vacancy rate is only 1.8%. So if you can find apartments to rent, rental condos or houses to rent, jump on them. While supply might not be extraordinarily high, the demand won't cause ridiculous Manhattan-esque price explosions. Clawson's cost of living is slightly below the national average, although much higher than if you wanted to renovate a burned-out abandoned house in Detroit.
Home Selection
There are plenty of avenues out there for house rentals, as there are over 1,000 homes that are used as rental properties in Clawson. These houses come in a variety of sizes, though one-bedroom/one-bath houses and two-bedroom/one-bath houses make up the majority of the house rental properties. Condos are also big, especially outside of downtown Clawson, and there are also quite a few apartments to rent . While these deals don't exist across the board, some apartment complexes will pay for utilities, such as water and heat. It's not an all bills paid situation per se, but discerning, careful homebuyers can generate quite a bit of savings if they are willing to put in some legwork.
Growing Better With Age
While you won't find relics from the Revolutionary War, like you'd find in New England, be prepared to live in a place that others have resided in. Don't fret though, as houses in Clawson are generally in good order no matter the age. If you are looking for a condo and apartment to rent, you'll find a younger housing stock, as many of those type of properties were built in the 1970s or later.
Before You Move
There really isn't a time where it's better or worse to move as far as vacancies and housing stock are concerned, but it's probably best to move in the spring or early summer to avoid brutally cold winter weather (especially after the obnoxious Polar Vortex craze of this past winter). As for what you'll need to move to Clawson, bring income verification (most places ask for pay stubs dating back 30 days from the date of inquiry), and be prepared for a background check and a credit check. As long as you aren't an unemployed criminal with a terrible credit history, you should be good to go.
Even though you can hop, skip and jump around Clawson (although not in the winter, it's way too icy for such endeavors), there are a few different neighborhoods that you can choose from. Depending on where you need to go on a regular basis (mostly likely Detroit) and the type of property you are looking to rent, where you choose to live could be quite important.
Downtown Clawson: This is the best neighborhood to find studio apartments for rent. Centered around the intersection of 14 Mile Road and Main Street and bordered by Rochester Road to the east and Custer Avenue to the west, this is where the hustle and bustle of Clawson is found, with restaurants and shops dotting the area. Residents here enjoy checking out the Clawson Historical Museum on Main Street, along with doing some shopping at Leon & Lulu, a local furniture store with an artistic flair located at the site of the old Ambassador Roller Rink on 14 Mile Road.
Osborne: A small neighborhood south of downtown, Osborne is made up of mostly two- and three-bedroom houses. There are a few apartments for rent, but houses are prevalent in Osborne. Children in the area have a lot of fun at Parkland Park on Parkland Road, which features a play area for children along with a decent-sized picnic area.
Clawson: This neighborhood encompasses the majority of the town and has a wide variety of rental options. The best place for apartment and townhouse rentals are along Crooks Road on the western border of town. The northwest border of the neighborhood borders the Oakland-Troy Airport, while Maple Avenue serves as the town's northern border. The largest of Clawson's five parks, Clawson City Park, is in this neighborhood and boasts a stadium with a football field and track along with several other athletic facilities and a 0.75-mile woodchip trail for exploring.
With only 2.2 square miles of space, it's very easy to walk and bike around Clawson, and there's a lot for pedestrians to do. The downtown farmers' market is a popular Sunday pastime from July to September before moving inside to the Clawson United Methodist Church until December. Michigan might be known for its music and automobiles, but the produce from local farms makes these markets a must-visit. Main Street is filled with plenty of restaurants. Enjoy some Italian food at Due Venti, grab a drink at Tavern on the Main or Moose Winooski's or grab a tasty breakfast at the Clawson Grill. The Clawson Historical Museum on North Main is a good educational experience, while City Park, located northwest of downtown, hosts the town's Fourth of July celebration and several youth, high school and recreational sporting events. One can also drive into Detroit if they want to catch a game or a concert or head to the casino.
