Thinking of Moving to Royal Oak? Here's 16 Things You Should Know

There are a few things you might not know about Royal Oak unless you've lived here a few years. So, we asked Royal Oak Patch Facebook readers to share their experiences—negative or positive—about living in Oaktown with people considering moving here.

Here's the local scoop, from taxes to playgrounds, to public safety and noise.

[Click here for a daytrip guide of things to do in our town.]

1. Make an offer quick!

Debra Barnett: It's a great place to live. If you find the right house, put in your offer and expect to have 15 people right behind you doing the same.

2. 20 minutes from anywhere

Virginia L. Robinson You can get anywhere in metro Detroit in 20 minutes or less from Royal Oak! 

Lynn Bascom Huber: We're situated at the intersection of major north-south and east-west highways so you can get anywhere in the metro Detroit area efficiently. 

3. 'Downtown flair'

Angela Allen Clemence: It is a great place to live. It has a vibrant downtown, close-knit neighborhoods and is close to everything. It is a secret gem.

Tiffany L.S.: I lived in Royal Oak for three years now and I love it! I love the downtown flair and it's easy access to highways.

4. Amazing businesses

Jan Coppola Bills: Passionate business owners are committed to their community and actively paying it forward! 

Kathy Couet: Thank You Jan Copolla Bills. I'm not downtown, but on Woodward, and your statement made me smile, it is so true. Thank You.

Rachel Klaus: Tania's Pizza has some of the most amazing pizza you'll ever taste. I send all my new-to-area friends there first!

John Davids: We've lived in the same house in Royal Oak since 1990 and one of our favorite parts of the neighborhood is Niki’s, which acts as a home away from home for many of our neighbors. The food is absolutely the best homemade meals that you can find.

5. Advice for young families

Jeannie Dolson: I've lived here 23 years and it's a great place to live! If you have small children check out the 50 parks, many have playgrounds and they're mostly all different. Lots of fun!

Sara Ventimiglio: My husband and I bought our home in the neighborhood behind Shrine in the summer of 2011. We love every second of it! While we aren't walking distance to downtown, we can ride bikes when it's nice outside. We are close to Woodward for the Dream Cruise, which I happen to enjoy. For newcomers, do your research and think ahead. For us, we plan on starting a family soon and living downtown was not ideal. Rewind five years ago, we may have chose to live near downtown. But now we are walking distance to the local elementary and our neighborhood is quiet and family friendly.

Allison Torrance Adams: There are a couple things that young families should know about. Our community has a fantastic children's library, which was totally remodeled. Also, we have the best community theater in the state - Stagecrafters! It also has a youth theater program for ages 8 and up. Some people drive their kids 45 minutes to work in a show. It is in our backyard!

Rachel Klaus: With all the parks, the farmers market, and the fantastic schools, it's a great city to raise a family in. The downtown is great if you like busy cities, but the neighborhoods are pretty quiet if that's more your preference.

Lynn Bascom Huber: There are great services for families - well organized youth sports programs, movies, shops activities walking distance from mid-south end, community centers, Boys and Girls Club and great schools that are safe and thoughtfully managed.

6. Taxes

Marlene Konkoly: The millage (passed in November) significantly increased taxes and most listings don't reflect the new tax rates.

7. Know your neighbors

Dan Chioreanu: Do your research and learn as much as you can about your neighbors! I live near downtown between a rental and a what can only be considered a "frat house," haven't slept in years!

Jill Andrea: Having moved from Royal Oak over a year ago....I would say approach the neighbors, ask questions. I loved living in Royal Oak, just not by the homeowner-Royal Oak business owner who had parties til all hours of the night and got away with it because of his standing in the community. 

Patrick S Thornton: I live on Fourth Street and if you're ever looking for a party, stop on by. It’s a fun community were communication and friendships go further than closed-door-finger-pointing and crotchety neighbors. We all have to respect our neighbors but, having lived in many other places, I have found the chillness and laid back casualness of Royal oak, refreshing and very enjoyable.

Lynn Bascom Huber: There is a great sense of community in Royal Oak and people are very neighborly if you make a point of reciprocating. 

8. Drive slow

Alison Vick Pilatti: Drive slow. I'm new and have to remind myself.

9. Public safety

Rachel Klaus: And while I hope that you won't ever have to find this out, the Royal Oak Police Department and Fire Department have great response times and have always been very caring and easy to work with.

John Davids: I slipped off my porch on an icy day four years ago and broke my ribs. The fire department responded so quickly. They got me in the ambulance and were reassuring.

Holly Beth Jenkins: Cut backs eliminated the police department's accident investigation team. A woman hit my car and took off. Even though I got her license plate and filed a report they don't follow up unless there is an injury. 

10. Avoid the noise

Virginia L. Robinson: If you live downtown, you need to accept that it has a bar crowd on the weekends. Don't buy one of the condos if you're going to whine about car exhaust and noise.  

John Davids: If you live near Main Street, noise can be a problem on motorcycle nights in the summer. Some people can get used to it, others never do. It’s something to think about.

11. Dream Cruise lasts more than one day

Kathy Arnold: While many people enjoy the Woodward Dream Cruise, those moving anywhere near Woodward need to realize the related traffic lasts for weeks, not just one day.

12. Walkers, bikers, joggers welcome

Lynn Bascom Huber: There's lots of foot traffic and I love to see people out enjoying our town, lots of people also have big front porches and take pride in keeping their yards nice so you see neighbors outside regularly in the warm weather. Sidewalks, lots of residential streets and tons of parks encourage walking, biking, jogging throughout the community.

Kelly Fitzgibbon: Our neighborhood is unaffected by the Dream Cruise traffic near Woodward and the bar crowd downtown. But we're also not exactly walking distance from downtown or the Dream Cruise, which may be a negative for some people.

13. Rat Problem

Katie Stone: I moved into the neighborhood a year and a half ago. I was surprised to see rats roaming around people's garbage cans. I would have liked to know about the "rat problem" in Royal Oak. Aside from the rats, I do love living in downtown Royal Oak. 

Bradley Ather III: The rat issue should be told to buyers in the areas where it's been reported. (It wouldn't be such a problem if people would take care to remove places rats enjoy staying.)

Kathy Arnold: The positives definitely outweigh the negatives for sure. Many people would be surprised to see how extensive the rodent problem is, but it is manageable if you get the whole neighborhood involved in prevention.

Inez Thornton: I have lived in Royal Oak for most of my life, 44 years, and its been pretty good most of the time, but we do have a serious rat problem. My next-door neighbor has three dogs and does not clean up their leavings often enough. The city comes and observes their yard from my yard, leaves them a notice. They will clean it up once and then they leave it again for weeks.

Jan Smith: I lived in Royal Oak for the first 55 years of my life and was always happy there. Good neighbors, good shopping, nice, well-kept houses. We never had rats in the neighborhoods until after 2000. The downtown restaurants attracted them and the condo construction chased them into the neighborhoods.

14. Snow removal

Kara Rucinski: I love Royal Oak but snow removal in the neighborhoods stinks. Be prepared for yucky streets, even though other cities have already plowed their streets.

15. There once was a community farm

Jennifer Payne: I love Royal Oak! But I am greatly disappointed that the city government did not see value in donating land for the community farm to continue. That says a lot to me about the city's values - if it doesn't pay cash immediately, it's not worth it. Sad.

Terri Garrett: I agree with Jennifer Payne; we miss the Royal Oak Community Farm. It was a fabulous opportunity for people of all ages to meet and network in the community. Imagine, teens in the city, putting down their cell phones to volunteer and communicate in person!

Tom McCullough: I love the idea of the community farm. Sad to see it go. Do you think the community would be willing to participate if the garden were on a church property?

16. 'A great place to live!'

Katie Wedge Meller: I bought a cute condo in Royal Oak and lived there for six years. I loved every minute of it. Great city!

Kelly Fitzgibbon:  Most of the houses in my neighborhood have large enough backyards for gardens. Our neighbors have gorgeous flowerbeds, their backyard looks like a park! We have enough room for a large vegetable garden and the neighbors on the other side have a pool (and their home is for sale). There really is something for everyone in Royal Oak!

Lynn Bascom Huber: Overall Royal Oak is a great town for any age person/family/seniors. There is lots to do for young adults - huge social scene downtown and activities to get involved in such as sports, churches and more... As with any urban community there are always going to be some annoying things too (rats if you leave stuff around that attract them, snow not plowed as quickly as we'd like), but I've lived here 20 years and overall highly recommend Royal Oak as a great place to live!

Mary Hickman Kruszewski: Get involved - everyone is so friendly. Kind of a "best kept secret" 

TELL US: What should people thinking of moving to Royal Oak know? Share your thoughts by commenting below or uploading a photo or video.