Question 1

Is Royal Oak, MI or St. Clair Shores, MI cheaper to buy in?

Accepted Answer

St. Clair Shores, MI is cheaper. The median home price in Royal Oak, MI is approximately $293,200 and in St. Clair Shores, MI it is approximately $184,500 — a difference of $108,700.

Question 2

Is Royal Oak, MI or St. Clair Shores, MI safer?

Accepted Answer

St. Clair Shores, MI scores higher on safety. Royal Oak, MI has violent crime rated Moderate and property crime rated Moderate. St. Clair Shores, MI has violent crime rated Low and property crime rated Moderate.

Question 3

Is Royal Oak, MI or St. Clair Shores, MI more walkable?

Accepted Answer

Royal Oak, MI is more walkable. Royal Oak, MI has a Walk Score of 42/100 and St. Clair Shores, MI has a Walk Score of 27/100.

Question 4

Which has better schools, Royal Oak, MI or St. Clair Shores, MI?

Accepted Answer

Royal Oak, MI has higher-rated schools. Royal Oak, MI has a school rating of 6.8/10 and St. Clair Shores, MI has a rating of 6.6/10.

Question 5

Should I live in Royal Oak, MI or St. Clair Shores, MI?

Accepted Answer

Both neighborhoods have distinct trade-offs — review the data above to find your best fit.

Category	Royal Oak, MI	St. Clair Shores, MI
Housing
Verdict	Good for now	Good for now
Median Price	$293K	$185K ✓ Lower price
Median Rent	$1K	$1K ✓ Lower rent
Median Income	$103K ✓ Higher income	$74K
Price Volatility	Moderate	Moderate
Getting Around
Walk Score	42/100 ✓ More walkable	27/100
Transit Score	30/100 ✓ Better transit	28/100
Bike Score	31/100 ✓ More bikeable	N/A
Commute	19 min ✓ Shorter commute	27 min
Safety & Environment
Safety Grade	D+	B ✓ Safer
Violent Crime	Moderate	Low ✓ Lower risk
Property Crime	Moderate	Moderate
Flood Risk	Low	Low
Air Quality	Moderate	Moderate
Community
Schools	6.8/10 ✓ Better schools	6.6/10
Best for	FamiliesProfessionalsStudents	FamiliesSuburban commutersBudget buyers

Royal Oak, MI vs St. Clair Shores, MI

Bottom line