West Bloomfield Township

Welcome to West Bloomfield Township

With its rolling hills and sprawling homes, West Bloomfield Township still hearkens back to the days when it was made mostly of farmhouses and apple orchards. Now, situated about 10 miles northwest of Detroit, West Bloomfield Township is one of Michigan’s largest townships at 31.2 square miles. (A charter township is an organized government to which the state has granted a charter, allowing it certain rights and responsibilities that are not as broad in scope as a city.) The township was born in 1833, when Bloomfield Township was divided in two; today, it’s one of Money Magazine’s Top 100 Small Cities. And if you look at some of the houses, it’s not hard to see why.

On the top end, you’ll find homes with six, seven, and even eight bedrooms spanning over 7,000 square feet on one of West Bloomfield’s numerous lakes. A more typical home is the 4-bedroom, 3-bathroom home between 2,000 and 3,000 square feet. Neighborhoods usually have a sense of serenity about them, and you’ll find trees, trees, trees, everywhere, both on the large lots and placed abundantly throughout the township. The township’s 25 lakes – which cover about 1,800 acres – mean that West Bloomfield gets to claim it has more lakes and ponds than all but one other township in the entire country. Sometimes referred to the “lake township of Oakland County,” West Bloomfield’s bodies of water not only give residents places to play and enjoy nature, but also require more curved roads, making the township feel rural and organic.

And while it’s certainly possible to feel like you’re living in nature, the modern conveniences of suburban life are not far. Orchard Lake Road, one of the city’s main thoroughfares, is unabashedly commercial, with large shopping complexes and some high-end restaurants. A few miles away, Troy is home to some of the finest restaurants in the region, and downtown Birmingham, with its boutiques, spas, and cafes, is a great place to spend a day unwinding.

If you’re into golf, West Bloomfield Township has seven golf courses. To be more in tune with the land, enjoy one of the township’s eight parks, many of which include hiking trails, baseball fields, soccer fields, and volleyball courts. There’s a community center and an aquatic center, the latter of which features indoor and outdoor pools. And fairly unique to the region is the West Bloomfield Trail Network, a 28-acre, 4.25-mile greenway traversing the township; it’s often used for biking, cross-country skiing, and nature walks.

Ten buildings make up the West Bloomfield School District; all ten schools have been named National Exemplary Schools. 94% of high school graduates go to college. And thanks to 24 Advanced Placement courses, they’re ready for higher education. The district has received several Oakland Schools In Excellence in Education Awards, and its fine arts program is extensive: Instrumental Music, Vocal Music, AP Music Theory, AP Studio Art, and numerous choirs, bands, and an orchestra give students opportunities to grow their artistic skills.