About Waterford
The city of Waterford, MI is a charter township in Oakland County. It has a population of more than 72,000. The area is made up of 35.3 square miles of land and 4.0 square miles of water. There are 34 lakes in Waterford. There is a public library and the city operates its own fire and police department.
The household median income in Waterford is over $55,000 and the median income for a family is more than $64,000. The per capita income was $27,432 as of 2000.
Waterford Homes
Waterford Neighborhoods and Subdivisions
- Waterford Meadows – This subdivision in Waterford, MI is located off Cooley Lake Rd in the southwest corner of Waterford. It is located near West Bloomfield and Union Lake, MI with convenient access to M-5 North to I-275. The neighborhood has underground utilities, which means no hanging wires, and protected wetlands with lots of wildlife. There are sidewalks on sides; which means residents are free to walk, run, jog, or bike right in their neighborhood.
- Pine Creek – Pine Creek is approximately 40 miles north of Detroit, MI. It is a condominium subdivision situated in the southwest corner of Oakland County in Waterford, MI. The building of the community began in 1995 and was completed in 2000 with 75 single-family units. There are underground utilities, and sidewalks. The community also consists of three cul-de-sacs.
Waterford History
Lewis Cass, who was the third governor of Michigan, established the boundaries of Oakland County. The city of Waterford was established in 1834. It’s earliest settlers included Oliver Williams, who in 1818 purchased land for two dollars an acre and Archibald Phillips and Alpheus Williams who purchased 161.40 acres of land. The areas where they bought land would later become Waterford Village. Oliver Williams established in the first farm settlement in 1818 on the banks of Silver Lake. A year later, Alpheus Williams built his home on the north bank of Clinton River. Archibald Phillips would eventually build his family home across from the south corner. This pair would also build the first dam where the Clinton River and Saginaw Trail intersect. They also erected the first sawmill at this location.
The name Waterford earned its name because of the number of lakes covering the area.
Waterford Real Estate
The median home value in the city of Waterford is $174,000. The home values in Waterford went up 2.4% in the past year and they are predicted to go up 1.7% in the next year. The area’s median list price is $136 per square feet. This makes it more than the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn-Metro average, which is $133 per square feet. The median price of homes listed in Waterford is $185,150 with a median price of those that sold at $171,800. Median rent prices are $1,300 per month, placing it higher than the rent in metro Detroit.
Waterford Schools
- Cooley Elementary School – (grades K-5) Cooley Elementary is considered to be an above-average public school in Waterford, MI. There are 482 students with a student-teacher ratio of 19 to 1. State tests scores indicate that 63% of the students are proficient in math and 58% in reading.
- Sashabaw Middle School – (grades 6-7) The school is located in Clarkston but Sashabaw serves students in the Waterford area. There are 1,157 students and a student-teacher ratio of 20 to 1. 46% of the students are proficient in math and 61% are proficient in reading.
- Clarkston High School – (grade 9-12) Clarkston is an alternative public school in nearby Clarkston, MI with 1,893 students. The school test scores indicate a proficiency level of 50% in math and 73% in reading. The school has a 97% graduation rate.
$171,800
Median Home Price
$1,300
Median 1-Bedroom Rent
2.4%
Estimated Price Increase Next Year
Waterford Parks and Recreation
- Dodge State Park – This state-run park located at Cass Lake. Swimming, boating, and more activities make it possible to spend the whole day at Dodge Park.
- Hess-Hathaway Park – It is a park on a farm with a beautiful community garden, a play area with lovely walking trails. Live concerts are also held at Hess-Hathaway park.
- Pontiac Lake Recreation Area – This is a nature lover’s park due to its vast wooded areas. There are lots of hiking and bike trails. Families picnic here and camp here, as it offers the facilities for both.
Waterford Restaurants, Bars, and Shopping
Thinking of doing some shopping in Waterford. Here are some places to visit nearby.
Great Lakes Crossing Outlets – Located in nearby Auburn Hills, this mall is a favorite amongst visitors and locals. There are more than a dozen retail shops that offer reduced rate items, such as décor, clothing, shoes, and specialty items.
There are plenty of dining options in and around Waterford, MI.
- Lions Den – This is a moderately priced, family-friendly restaurant in Waterford. The restaurant serves American cuisine with favorites such as mussels, pizza, steak, lobster mac n’ cheese, and Monte Cristo sandwiches.
- Green Apple Restaurant – Another favorite in Waterford is the Green Apple Restaurant. Although they serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner, they are known for the great breakfast they serve. It is a locally family-owned restaurant that serves traditional breakfast items, like pancakes, grits, and hash browns.
Waterford Points of Interest
- Pontiac Lake Recreation Area – This is a nature park, with lots of wildlife along the lake. It is a state-run park with beautiful nature trails, camping, and a beach area. There is even horseback riding offered at the Pontiac Lake area.
- Oakland County Farmers Market – Open on select days of the week, including Saturdays, this local farmers market has just about everything you can imagine, flowers, food, drink, art, crafts, and more. If you’re looking for something for lunch, stop by the farmer’s market food trucks.
- Waterford Oaks Waterpark – Waterford’s waterpark is great for the entire family. It has a wave pool, with tubes provided by the park, lifeguards on duty, a raft slide, and so much more. Bring the family out for a day of fun at the waterpark.
- Rustic Leaf Brewing – Looking for a local watering hole to go to after a hard day at work, visit rustic leaf brewing. The brewery offers a large variety of craft beers, games, and food, provided by local food vendors.