South Lyon sits in southwest Oakland County with quick connections to Novi, Brighton, and Ann Arbor. The community mixes established neighbourhoods with newer subdivisions and a small, walkable downtown. If you plan to live in South Lyon, this guide pulls together current cost of living data, with dates and sources, so you can decide if moving to this suburb fits your budget and quality of life goals.
Is It Expensive To Buy a Home in South Lyon, MI?
South Lyon’s housing costs run higher than the average for Michigan, but the gap depends on what and where you buy. Zillow’s Home Value Index pegs the typical South Lyon home value at about $462,700 in September 2025, up roughly 5 percent year over year. Zillow’s data shows the U.S. typical home value was about $363,500 in September 2025. That level lines up with steady demand across the Detroit, Warren, and Dearborn metro area.
On recent closings, Redfin puts the City of South Lyon near $323,000 for August 2025, while the wider 48178 ZIP, which includes township areas, landed around $565,000 for the same month. That spread reflects different product mixes, from in-town condos to larger homes in Lyon Township that share the South Lyon ZIP. When comparing price in South Lyon, make sure you check whether a listing is inside city limits or in nearby township neighborhoods, since taxes and utility providers can differ.
What is the Average Rent in South Lyon, MI?
Numbers differ a bit by dataset. Zillow pegs the average advertised rent around $2,500 as of late September 2025 for all beds and home types. RentCafe, which skews toward apartments, reports about $1,389 in August 2025. In practice, houses and townhomes tend to rent for more, and garden-style apartments track nearer to the state norm. Both snapshots are useful. Single-family and townhome rentals usually sit at the higher end, while garden-style apartments land closer to the Michigan state average.
What Are the Taxes in South Lyon, MI?
Michigan property taxes combine county, city or township, school, community college, and special millages. Rates differ by jurisdiction and homestead status. Oakland County Equalization publishes official apportionment reports each year, and the Michigan Department of Treasury maintains millage data and estimator tools. For South Lyon addresses, verify whether the home is in the City of South Lyon or Lyon Charter Township, and which school district applies.
How High are Property Taxes in South Lyon, MI?
For the Lyon Township portion of the South Lyon Community Schools area, the township lists a total homestead rate of 31.2665 mills for Summer 2025 and Winter 2024 bills combined. Non-homestead properties show 49.2665 mills.
Within the City of South Lyon, totals vary based on city millage and the same school and county components. Oakland County’s 2024 municipal millage tables and the South Lyon clerk can provide the exact current components for a given parcel. As always, a South Lyon real estate purchase should include a check of the parcel’s current taxable value and the school code on the tax bill.
What are the Average Monthly Utility Bills in South Lyon, MI?
Electric service in South Lyon is typically from DTE Electric. Michigan’s average residential electricity price was about 20.56 cents per kWh in July 2025 according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. At that rate, a household using 650 kWh per month would spend roughly $133 per month before fees and taxes. Actual bills vary with season and usage.
For natural gas, most South Lyon addresses are served by DTE Gas. DTE’s rate card shows a regulated Gas Cost Recovery of about $0.38–$0.41 per CCF in mid-2025, plus distribution and other surcharges, and a monthly customer charge of $14.50. Monthly totals depend on weather and home efficiency, but a winter bill for a 1,800-square-foot home can be several times higher than a summer bill.
Water and sewer are billed by the City of South Lyon inside city limits and by Lyon Township for township systems. Lyon Township’s published notice lists a water usage charge of $18.06 per 1,000 cubic feet, billed quarterly, along with meter charges.
City residents should expect quarterly billing as well, with recent city documents confirming enterprise-fund operations for water and sewer. Trash collection inside the city is billed on the utility account and, as of mid-2025, appears on a quarterly schedule. Check your address provider, since ZIP codes can cross city and township lines.
How Much Should I Budget for Groceries in South Lyon, MI?
Grocery costs track the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn CPI. The BLS Detroit area “food at home” index rose 0.6 percent from June to August 2025 and 12-month comparisons show modest year-over-year increases through August 2025. That means a typical South Lyon grocery basket has been edging up this year. Households using a cost of living calculator will want to use the Detroit CPI series for a regional view of goods and services.
For context, national CPI data for August 2025 show food at home up 2.9 percent year over year, which is in line with what shoppers see locally. Store choice matters too. You will find smaller, locally owned markets near downtown, with larger chains and warehouse clubs in Novi, Brighton, and along I-96.
How Much Does Transportation Cost in South Lyon, MI?
Most residents drive. The AAA Michigan tracker typically shows regular gasoline prices that move with the season. In late September and early October 2025, statewide averages have hovered near recent monthly levels, so plan your commuting budget accordingly.
Public transit options are expanding countywide after the 2022 transit millage. The SMART system continues to add service and microtransit in western Oakland County, and People’s Express provides curb-to-curb rides in South Lyon, Lyon Township, Novi, Wixom, Commerce, Milford, Wolverine Lake, and nearby areas. If you split commuting between South Lyon and Novi or Brighton, the mix of driving and on-demand rides can help control costs.
For insurance and maintenance, Detroit-area CPI components for motor vehicle insurance and services have run above overall inflation in 2025. If you are comparing the cost of living in South Lyon to the national average, remember that vehicle ownership costs in Michigan can be higher than in some U.S. regions due to insurance trends.
What is the Median Household Income in South Lyon, MI?
The most recent third-party aggregation of ACS 1-year data shows South Lyon’s median household income at about $83,822 in 2023, with a household count near 5,000. That trails Oakland County’s countywide figure but remains higher than the average for Michigan overall. Always pair income with housing costs in your own budget. South Lyon’s mix of housing types gives you options to align median income and monthly living expenses.
What is the Recommended Income to Live in South Lyon, MI?
A common rule of thumb is to keep total housing costs at or below 30 percent of gross income. Using Zillow’s city-level typical value of about $462,700 in September 2025 and assuming 10 percent down at current conventional rates, a buyer would want a minimum annual income in the mid-$90,000s to low-$100,000s to keep payment, property tax, utility, and insurance within that threshold. Renters can run the same check. With apartment averages around $1,389 per month in August 2025, a household income around $55,000 to $60,000 keeps rent near that 30 percent guideline, while single-family rentals around $2,300 to $2,500 imply $95,000 to $105,000. Your exact figures will vary with debt, down payment, and the utility profile of the home.
How Does the Cost of Living in South Lyon, MI Compare to the National Average?
Housing in South Lyon runs a bit higher than the national average, mostly because home prices and single-family rentals sit above U.S. medians. Groceries and basic household items in South Lyon cost about what you’d expect anywhere around metro Detroit. Prices have inched up over the past year, but not more than what most people are seeing nationwide.
Getting around tends to cost a little more or less depending on gas prices and what you pay for car insurance, which can vary quite a bit across Oakland County. Michigan’s recent CPI data show vehicle-related categories rising faster than the U.S. index at times in 2025. If you plan to move to South Lyon, build a budget that reflects the local mix of housing costs, utility usage over four seasons, and your commuting pattern.
FAQs
What ZIP codes cover South Lyon addresses, and why does that matter for costs?
Most South Lyon addresses use ZIP 48178, which includes the City of South Lyon and parts of surrounding townships. Utility providers, tax rates, and school codes can differ across the ZIP. Always confirm whether a property sits in the city or township before you compare living expenses or run a cost of living calculator.
Are property taxes lower than the national average in South Lyon?
Michigan taxes use millage rather than a national benchmark, so comparisons work best at the local level. In the Lyon Township, South Lyon Schools area, the total homestead rate equals 31.2665 mills for the 2025 summer and 2024 winter cycle. City totals have different components. Check Oakland County Equalization and the City of South Lyon clerk for the parcel’s exact millage and taxable value.
What are typical monthly utilities per month in South Lyon over four seasons?
Plan for electric around $130 per month at 650 kWh using Michigan’s July 2025 average price of 20.56 cents/kWh, with higher usage in summer if you run central air. Natural gas is billed per CCF with a DTE Gas regulated commodity near $0.38–$0.41 per CCF in 2025, plus delivery and surcharges, so winter heating months will be higher. Water and sewer are billed quarterly and differ by provider. Lyon Township lists $18.06 per 1,000 cubic feet plus meter charges, while City of South Lyon accounts follow city enterprise-fund rates.
How do childcare costs affect the cost of living in South Lyon?
State-level analyses show Michigan center-based infant care commonly totals over $12,000 per year in 2024, with county and provider variations. Households should add childcare to their living expenses when they compare the average for Michigan to their South Lyon budget. The state’s market rate study and national advocacy reports are helpful planning references.
Does South Lyon have public transit, or will I need a car?
Most households drive, but service is expanding. SMART operates regional routes and microtransit across Oakland County, and People’s Express provides curb-to-curb rides in South Lyon and nearby communities. For many commuters, that means you can mix driving with on-demand trips when it makes sense.
How do South Lyon schools and crime rates factor into cost of living?
School boundaries can affect taxes and daily logistics. For official information, review South Lyon Community Schools and MI School Data. For public safety, use primary sources like the City of South Lyon Police annual materials and the Michigan Incident Crime Reporting portal. These official portals provide neutral, fact-based context without relying on third-party scores.
Which nearby areas should I compare with South Lyon?
Many buyers compare Novi, Brighton, and Green Oak Township alongside South Lyon. Prices and millages vary, and each area offers different mixes of suburban feel, community events, and access to parks like Kensington Metropark. Rents also vary across the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn metro area, so review a current cost of living index or cost of living score alongside your own calculator results to capture goods and services, utility, and transportation differences.
