What are the schools like in South Lyon, MI?

South Lyon is served primarily by South Lyon Community Schools. The district operates 8 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 17.3:1.

What is the median household income in South Lyon?

The median household income in South Lyon, MI is $82,753 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.6%.

What is the weather like in South Lyon, MI?

South Lyon has an average high temperature of 30.2°F in January and 81.7°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 36.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 61.4 inches.

South Lyon, MI Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is South Lyon, MI affordable or expensive?

South Lyon's cost of living index is 98, where 100 represents the national average. This means South Lyon is 2% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $249,800 and the median rent is $1,153 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in South Lyon, MI?

South Lyon has a violent crime rate of 58.3 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 291.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is South Lyon, MI a Good Place to Live?

South Lyon is a small city of 11,788 in Michigan, with a median household income of $82,753 and a 3.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 98 (US average = 100), which is 2% below the national average.

Strengths: South Lyon stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B+), a well-educated population.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include longer commutes. Whether South Lyon is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All South Lyon city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 98.0

South Lyon's overall cost of living index is 98.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in South Lyon costs roughly 2% less than the average American city.

Metric	South Lyon, MI	National Avg
Median Home Value	$249,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,153	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	82.9%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$82,753	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

South Lyon's violent crime rate is 58.3 per 100,000 residents — 85% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

58.3 /100k

Property Crime

291.4 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

South Lyon is served primarily by South Lyon Community Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.3:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	South Lyon, MI	National Avg
School District	South Lyon Community Schools	—
Elementary Schools	8	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	17.3:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	43.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	97.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

South Lyon sees average highs of 30.2°F in January and 81.7°F in July, with 36.0 inches of annual precipitation and 61.4 inches of snow per year.

Metric	South Lyon, MI
Average High — January	30.2°F
Average High — July	81.7°F
Annual Precipitation	36.0"
Annual Snowfall	61.4"

Demographics

Metric	South Lyon, MI	National Avg
Population	11,788	—
Median Age	46.7	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	30.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	94.2%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.9%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.8%	18.9%
Asian	1.3%	6.3%
Under 18	17.9%	22.2%
65 and over	17.4%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Whitmore Lake, MI 6 mi Wixom, MI 8 mi Brighton, MI 8 mi Novi, MI 9 mi Northville, MI 9 mi

ZIP Codes in South Lyon

South Lyon, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code:

48178

South Lyon vs Other Cities

South Lyon, MI vs Whitmore Lake, MI South Lyon, MI vs Wixom, MI South Lyon, MI vs Brighton, MI South Lyon, MI vs Novi, MI South Lyon, MI vs Northville, MI

Frequently Asked Questions

Is South Lyon, MI affordable or expensive?

South Lyon's cost of living index is 98, where 100 is the national average. That makes South Lyon roughly 2% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $249,800 and median rent is $1,153/month.

What is the crime rate in South Lyon, MI?

South Lyon's violent crime rate is 58.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 291.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in South Lyon?

Public schools in South Lyon are operated by South Lyon Community Schools. The district has 8 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.3:1. 43.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is South Lyon, MI a good place to live?

South Lyon, MI has a population of 11,788, a median household income of $82,753, and an unemployment rate of 3.6%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in South Lyon?

South Lyon averages 30.2°F in January and 81.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 36.0 inches with about 61.4 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in South Lyon?

South Lyon, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 48178.

What is the population of South Lyon?

The population of South Lyon, Michigan is 11,788 with a median age of 46.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in South Lyon?

Key numbers for living in South Lyon: cost of living index 98 (100 = US average), median home $249,800, median household income $82,753, crime index 15 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare South Lyon side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.