Fenton receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Fenton
Southfield
Opportunity
64 · Top 33%
vs48 · Bottom 34%
Growth
63 · Top 28%
vs50 · Bottom 49%
Climate
60 · Bottom 15%
vs63 · Bottom 28%
Physical resilience
92 · Top 10%
vs94 · Top 5%
Housing affordability
97 · Top 14%
vs82 · Top 48%
Schools
67 · Top 31%
vs21 · Bottom 13%
Access
78 · Bottom 20%
vs93 · Top 47%
Economic stability
74 · Top 20%
vs53 · Bottom 37%
Measured values
| Metric | Fenton | Southfield | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 11,906 | 76,236 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $80,000 | $68,166 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $46,080 | $41,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,790/sq mi | 2,903/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $235,900 | $236,200 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,275 | $1,340 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 63.1% | 53.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.2% | 6.7% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 1.2% | 1.2% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 39.2% | 40.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 6.9% | 10.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 49 | 82 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 4.1 | 1.1 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 600.0% | 645.5% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 82°F | 84°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 16°F | 20°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 32.0" | 29.9" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 44 mi | 19 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 34.0 min | 25.3 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 38.8 | 42.3 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 8 | 19 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 16.66 | 16.35 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 43.8% | 16.1% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 61.3% | 31.6% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 31.2% | 67.7% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Fenton
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind.
Southfield
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Fenton
74
Your Score
74
Area Score
Southfield
63
Your Score
62
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Fenton, MI · Southfield, MI · How this is calculated: methodology