Southgate Apartments and Rentals

Southgate is in Wayne County in the southeastern area of Michigan, located roughly 11 miles southwest of the bustling city of Detroit. Southgate apartments for rent are excellent ways to join the population of more than 30,000 people living across the 6.86 square miles of land.

Southgate is positioned inside the Detroit metropolitan area, and census data indicates there are roughly 12,800 households within city limits. The city's prime location affords residents quiet suburban living with close proximity to the major urban scene of Detroit. Approximately 91 percent of the population is white, but other major races that are represented in Southgate's population include Hispanic, black, American Indian and Asian.

Southgate city was originally part of the Ecorse Township, and officially became incorporated as a city in October 1958, the last city in Ecorse to do so. People living in Southgate apartments can take pride in their city slogan of "The Symbol of Progress Downriver," which was adopted at the time of its incorporation as people saw the slogan to best describe more than 135 years of history for the community.

In the earliest years of Southgate's history, the area was inhabited by the great Potawatomie and Wyandot Indian tribes. Beginning with French explorer Rene Robert Cavalier Lasalle in 1679, French explorers, traders and missionaries flocked to the area. When the Erie Canal was completed in 1830, Southgate's area saw rapid development and expansion. Today, the city has continued its expansion through community efforts to repave municipal parking lots as well as to construct the Southgate Fun & Fitness Centre.

Southgate apartments are attractive options for business professionals and students in and around the city. The top employers in the city of Southgate include Meijer's, Southgate Community School District, American Sunroof, the City of Southgate, Sam's Club and National City Bank. The most prevalent industries in Southgate are manufacturing, educational, health and social services and retail trade. Data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau revealed that there are nearly 15,700 Southgate residents making up the local labor force.

Students can take advantage of a variety of higher education options in Southgate, including the Dorsey Business Schools, which enrolls roughly 155 full-time students, as well as the Viking School of Real Estate. There are a number of colleges and universities close to Southgate, including Davenport University, Henry Ford Community College, University of Michigan, Dearborn; Wayne County Community College District, Wayne State University, Marygrove College and University of Detroit Mercy.

According to data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau, Southgate rentals have a vacancy rate of 5.2 percent, and median rent was valued at $761 as of 2010. Roughly 38.6 percent of all renters fall in the gross rent range of $750 to $999, and an additional 38.3 percent of all renters fall in the range of $500 to $749. Nearly 91 percent of all renters sit in the wider gross rent range of $500 to $1,499. The data further indicated that roughly 33.6 percent of all renters reported spending 35 percent or more of their household income on gross rental costs.

City-Data information revealed that in March 2012, the cost of living in Southgate was assigned the value of 90.1 points, which is 9.9 percent less than the national average of 100 points.

There are numerous historical sites that residents and visitors of Southgate apartments can enjoy, such as the Fox Theater Building, the Historic Fort Wayne and the Pewabic Pottery. There are a number of museums in the area and nearby worth a visit, including the Detroit Historical Museum, the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Dossin Great Lakes Museum and the Dearborn Historical Museum. Other notable nearby attractions include the Detroit Zoo, Grace Church, Hall's Billiards and Howard Park. 

Residents and visitors can take part in some community recreation at more than 74 acres of park land that consists of nine neighborhood parks and playfields as well as two community parks. The Southgate Recreation Department also offers a variety of special outing and trips and has sponsored the skating rink at the Southgate Civic Center Arena.

To find your next rental apartment or house in Southgate, take a look at our listings on Rent.com®.