Lakeland High School, 2011
White Lake Township’s story
190 years in pictures
The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 2011 and a map from 1985 on.
- 1836White Lake Township is settled
White Lake TownshipMI
A town of 31,377, settled in 1836.
4 bordering townsMap →
Photo: Dwight Burdette · CC BY 3.0
Population
31,377
2025 Census estimate · +1.4% since 2020
Typical home
$394K
+3.3% in a year
Household income
$95K
median
Median age
43.8
years
Jobs based here
4,245
A commuter town
TownGrade
A−
#189 of 697 in MI
Is White Lake Township a good place to live?
For most people who can afford it, yes. White Lake Township grades A− overall, 189th of 697 graded towns in Michigan. It has 78 miles of trail and 26% conserved land. Crime is low: it reports less per resident than 87% of U.S. towns and its schools outperform 79% of the state's. The trade-off is money: homes are expensive, about $394K for a typical one and 5.1 times the Detroit metro’s $77K median household income. 26% of the land in White Lake Township is conserved, above both Michigan’s towns (4.4%) and U.S. towns (4.3%). Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area, at 3,232 acres with 36.3 miles of trail, is the biggest park or preserve. Only 104 of Michigan’s 1,265 towns score lower on civic life.
What makes White Lake Township stand out
Where White Lake Township beats most towns.
Get outside
78 miles of trails in White Lake Township
25.5% of the town is conserved land, across 12 parks and preserves.
Trails © OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
How White Lake Township grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Michigan), ordered by how far White Lake Township is from typical.
Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 16% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listAOpen →SafetyAOpen →Cost of livingC−Open →SchoolsA−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 6.3 of 20; 3% of households have no car; 0.7% of workers walk, bike or ride transitCOpen →HealthHuron Valley-Sinai Hospital 4.4 miles awayB+Open →Jobs & income$95K median household incomeB+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
OutdoorsAOpen →History1 notable person born hereB−Open →Civic life2.3 library visits per resident; 2.1 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsCOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to White Lake Township: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in White Lake Township, and how to reach them.
PowerDTE20.2¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterWhite Lake Township water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers99% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have White Lake Township’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Michigan you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereWhite Lake Township ClerkThe town itself; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Nov 2025
ZIP codes48386, 4838348386 57% · 48383 43%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 12, 2025.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in White Lake Township.
White Lake Township sees little violent crime, but it has commutes longer than most of Michigan and has many renters stretched by housing costs.
OutdoorsA
Conservation land takes up nearly a quarter of White Lake Township
78 miles of trail in 12 parks and preserves. White Lake Township’s density of trails stands at 2.1 miles per square mile, above both the Michigan town median (0.3) and the median of U.S. towns (0.4). Parks and preserves here: 12, covering 5,632 acres.
#42for trails in MI
25.5%
conserved · 6,006 of 23,574 acres
78 mi
of trails · 2.1 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area | 36.3 mi | 3,232 |
| 2. Highland State Recreation Area | 20.1 mi | 1,623 |
| 3. Indian Springs Metropark | 5.2 mi | 649 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
SchoolsA−
White Lake Township’s grade for schools is an A−
The Huron Valley Schools runs its public schools. Three of the 10 schools are below, and why each made the list. Public school enrollment in White Lake Township: 1,576 students across 4 schools.
79%of MI districts it outscoresA−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| White Lake Middle SchoolLargest public middle schoolGrades 5–8 | Grades 5–8 | 525 | B+ |
| Lakeland High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 6–12 | Grades 6–12 | 1,012 | B+ |
| Dublin ElementaryTop results in townGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 467 | A |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within MI on state tests and graduation
HousingCost of living grade C−
White Lake Township’s grade for cost of living is a C−
68.8% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, against 50.4% across Michigan.
Among households in White Lake Township, 88% live in a home they own. Homes in the town are typically worth about $394,000, up 3.3% in a year, 50% above the Michigan typical home. For White Lake Township, the median rent is $1,516 a month.
$394KZillow home value
| White Lake Township | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,516 a month | $1,045 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 88% | 84% | 73% |
Typical home value
White Lake Township$394K
Michigan$264K
+3.3%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
SafetyA
White Lake Township’s grade for safety is an A
Violent crime is rare: 18 reported in 2025, 0.6 per 1,000 residents.
For White Lake Township, the rate of thefts and burglaries is 3.9 per 1,000 residents. In White Lake Township, the level of violent crime is 0.6 per 1,000 residents.
87%of U.S. towns report more crimeASafety Grade
| White Lake Township | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 0.6 per 1,000 residents | 1.9 | 1.6 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 3.9 per 1,000 residents | 8 | 9.9 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
White Lake Township0.6
Michigan4.3
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
White Lake Township3.9
Michigan13
U.S.15.5
87th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
91st
percentile among MI towns
18
violent crimes reported in 2025
123
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A
White Lake Township faces a very low natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Expected damage from storms and floods is lower here than in 84% of U.S. communities. Federal aid has come to White Lake Township households in 4 declared disasters; the latest was in 2023. The town has had 6 paid flood insurance claims since 1993.
16risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesCold waves
6
paid flood claims since 1993
4
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B+
White Lake Township has 0.3 jobs per working resident, so most workers leave town for work
The average commute for its 13,915 working residents takes 31.6 minutes, against 24.2 across Michigan. Jobs based here grew from 3,248 in 2011 to 4,245.
White Lake Township’s typical journey to work comes in at 32 minutes. Between 2011 and 2021, jobs in the town rose by 997, to 4,245. For half of commuters, work is under 16 miles away. The top destinations are Waterford Township (6%), Southfield (5%) and Detroit (5%).
4%work in town
| White Lake Township | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 32 minutes | 25 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $95,000 | $77,000 | $80,000 |
| Work from home | 13% | 10% | 11% |
Where working residents work
In White Lake Township4%
Waterford Township6%
Southfield5%
Detroit5%
Farmington Hills4%
16 mi
median commute distance
4,245
jobs based in White Lake Township
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
C
Walkability grade: more walkable than 27% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2021 · ACS
HealthB+
White Lake Township ranks healthier than 72% of the country’s towns
Two figures for adults in the town: 21% get no exercise outside work, 33% have obesity. White Lake Township: 17% of adults report frequent mental distress.
72%healthier than U.S. townsB+Health Grade
| White Lake Township | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 32% | 34% | 36% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 25% | 25% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 33% | 37% | 35% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 24% | 27% | 23% |
32 measures vs. Michigan
10 better22 too close to call0 worse
| What stands out | White Lake Township | MI |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 9% | 11.9% |
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 6.6% | 8.7% |
Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital
4.4 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
75th
percentile among MI towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Climate
In White Lake Township, expect snowy winters and pleasant summers
The typical July afternoon high in White Lake Township is 82°F.
62″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter18–33°
Spring36–57°
Summer58–80°
Fall41–60°
Oct 20
typical first frost
Apr 29
typical last frost
+1.7°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Who lives here
No age group stands out in White Lake Township against Michigan
Just over a third of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more in White Lake Township. No broad age group is more than 4 points off the Michigan average. Its midpoint age stands at 43.8 years.
43.8median age · MI 40.2
| White Lake Township | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 35% | 26% | 29% |
| Median age | 43.8 years | 42.5 years | 40.5 years |
White Lake TownshipMichiganUnited States
Ages · share of residents
16%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma6%
High school25%
Some college22%
Associate’s12%
Bachelor’s23%
Graduate12%
Women and men · all residents
50% women, 50% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±1.5 points. Across Michigan, 50.4% of residents are women. Median age: women 45.3, men 42.8.
| White Lake Township | MI | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 10.6% | 11.2% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 10.7% | 10.1% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 7.1% | 9.2% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 11.4% | 13.2% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 11.6% | 12.2% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 13.6% | 12% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 15.9% | 13.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 10.9% | 11.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 8.1% | 7.4% | 7% |
| No diploma | 6.3% | 7.9% | 10.4% |
| High school | 25.2% | 28% | 26% |
| Some college | 21.9% | 21.9% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 11.7% | 9.8% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 23.3% | 19.7% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 11.6% | 12.7% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Keep exploring
Everything we know about White Lake Township
20pages on White Lake Township
The big questions
SchoolsA−Beat 79% of MI districts · 10 schoolsSafetyA0.6 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthB+Better than MI on 10 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingC−$394K typical home · up 3.3% in a yearWork & commuteB+$95K median household income · 4,245 jobs hereNatural hazardsAFEMA risk higher than 16% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
4 within 15 miles of the center of White Lake Township
Michigan School of PsychologyUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Farmington Hills13.4 miOakland Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Auburn Hills14.1 mi$3,020 in-state tuitionOakland UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Rochester Hills14.5 mi$15,262 in-state tuition
About 4 of every 100 White Lake Township residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Michigan.
A commuter town
96% of working residents leave White Lake Township for work
Where White Lake Township’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
4,245jobs based in White Lake Township
4%of working residents work in town
16 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2021
About White Lake Township
Charter township in Michigan, United States
White Lake Charter Township is a charter township of Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. Together with its two unincorporated communities, the township makes up part of the Detroit metropolitan area outskirts. As of the 2020 census, the township population was 30,950. The Huron River rises in White Lake Township.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 37 sq mi
- Elevation
- 958 ft
- ZIP code
- 48383, 48386
White Lake Township’s neighbors
4 towns share a border with White Lake Township.
Springfield TownshipCommerce TownshipWaterford TownshipHighland TownshipWhite Lake Township
How the neighbors grade
| Town | MI rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White Lake Township | #189 | A− | C− | A | A− | B+ |
| Springfield Township | #102 | A | C− | A | A− | A− |
| Commerce Township | #85 | A | C− | A− | A | A |
| Waterford Township | #346 | B | C+ | B− | B− | B+ |
| Highland Township | #113 | A | C | A | A− | A− |
Questions about White Lake Township
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is White Lake Township, MI a good place to live?
For most people who can afford it, yes. White Lake Township grades A− overall, better than 76% of U.S. towns and #189 of 697 in Michigan. It grades B+ for health, A for safety and A− for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a C−.
Is White Lake Township, MI safe?
Yes, by national standards. White Lake Township reports less crime per resident than 87% of U.S. towns, an A Safety Grade: 18 violent and 123 property crimes in 2025.
Is White Lake Township, MI expensive?
Yes. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C−.