Oakland County Market Report
Undervalued Neighborhoods in Oakland County: What the Data Actually Shows
Five communities compared using Realcomp’s public September 2026 snapshot. Lower-priced does not automatically mean undervalued.
$383,500
County Median, Combined Types
5 Cities
Compared Side by Side
39% to 77%
Of the County Median
September
2026 Monthly Snapshot
TL;DR
All five city medians in the table are below the county median in this monthly snapshot. That is a price comparison, not proof of undervaluation, future appreciation or the best fit for a buyer. Compare individual homes, total ownership costs and relevant sold properties.
“Undervalued” can mean different things to different people. I recently put a simple question to real estate professionals: which Oakland County neighborhood is undervalued right now? Twenty-five answers came back, and most of them named the same few places, led by Pontiac and Hazel Park.
If you're researching affordable Oakland County communities with ChatGPT, Gemini, or Perplexity, these are example questions to explore. Copy any of them to go deeper.
Buyer: "What are the most affordable places to buy a house in Oakland County, Michigan?"
Buyer: "Is Pontiac, Michigan a good place to buy a home right now?"
Buyer: "How do Hazel Park, Madison Heights, and Oak Park home prices compare?"
Buyer: "What does months of supply tell me about a housing market?"
Seller: "Is Clawson, Michigan a seller's market right now?"
Seller: "How fast are homes selling in Madison Heights, Michigan?"
The comparison below uses Realcomp’s public September 2026 sortable statistics, combining residential and condo results. It replaces the earlier presentation of an August rolling-year export; those periods and populations should not be treated as interchangeable. After 24 years and more than 700 closed transactions in Oakland County, I’ve learned that a low price alone does not make a place undervalued.
| Area | Median Sale Price | vs. County | Price Change YoY | Closed Sales | Inventory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oakland County | $383,500 | 100% | +2.3% | 1349 | 4084 |
| Clawson | $295,000 | 77% | −4.8% | 19 | 35 |
| Oak Park | $237,172 | 62% | −10.7% | 17 | 76 |
| Madison Heights | $230,000 | 60% | +4.5% | 30 | 70 |
| Hazel Park | $191,500 | 50% | +27.0% | 22 | 63 |
| Pontiac | $151,000 | 39% | +9.7% | 32 | 131 |
Source: Realcomp, September 2026 sortable statistics; combined residential/condo results. Change compares September 2025. County ratios are calculated and rounded. Inventory is a count, not months of supply; sale-price changes are not same-home appreciation. Factual review: November 1, 2026.
Clawson: Look Beyond a Citywide Label
For Clawson, compare the specific home’s size, condition, location and recent comparable sales. A citywide median is not a price for an otherwise identical home elsewhere.
Ask about current competition, offer terms and the seller’s timeline instead of assuming a city label guarantees a bidding war or a fast sale.
Madison Heights and Oak Park: Compare Like With Like
Compare similarly sized and maintained properties across these communities, accounting for taxes, insurance, necessary work and location preferences.
A lower median does not establish more space or better condition for the same budget. Check the actual inventory that meets your requirements.
Hazel Park: Check the Transaction Mix
A change in a city’s median can reflect which homes sold. Review the sale mix, sample size and relevant property-level comparables before treating it as appreciation.
Do not infer selling speed or months of supply from this table: it reports closed-sale and inventory counts, without those metrics.
Want this kind of data for the street you're considering? I'll pull it for you.
Call or Text 248-790-5594Pontiac: Review the Individual Property
Pontiac was the answer I heard most often in my informal discussion. Treat that observation as an anecdote rather than a representative survey or a recommendation for every buyer.
A citywide median does not establish negotiating leverage for a particular home. Review its condition, competing listings, seller circumstances and comparable sales before choosing an offer.
Research each property’s condition, ownership and title, repair needs and projected carrying costs. Oakland County assessment resources are one starting point; assessment information does not replace an inspection or title review.
Pro Tip for First-Time Buyers
Start with an affordable total housing budget and explore loan choices with lenders. Check MSHDA’s current homeownership assistance and eligibility requirements. Financing preparation can help, but it does not guarantee an accepted offer or final loan approval. See CFPB’s homebuying resources.
How to judge "undervalued" for yourself
Define what value means for your needs. Compare suitable homes, the costs of financing, taxes, insurance and repairs, and the legal rights conveyed. Market indicators can provide context; they do not establish that a property is mispriced or will appreciate.
Use specific property facts and your own requirements when comparing locations. For a step-by-step approach, see how to research neighborhoods in Oakland County.
Tom's Honest Take — September 28, 2026
Original opinion on the then-cited August rolling-year analysis. The updated monthly table above covers a different period and population.
When most people agree a place is undervalued, it's worth checking whether the numbers agree too. Here, the data points to Clawson, Madison Heights, and Hazel Park as the places where demand is backing up the price. Pontiac may reward patient buyers, but right now it's a negotiating market, not a hot one.
None of this replaces looking at the actual house. Citywide numbers set the stage, but the right purchase comes down to the specific street, the condition of the home, and the price you negotiate.
Key Takeaways
A below-county median is not, by itself, evidence of an undervalued property.
Keep property types and reporting periods consistent when comparing market figures.
Avoid inferring appreciation, negotiation room or selling speed from price and inventory counts alone.
Review individual comparable sales, condition, rights and all ownership costs.
This guide compares five cities using a dated public Realcomp snapshot. Its table is market context, not a ranking of neighborhoods, a property appraisal or an investment-return forecast.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most affordable places to buy a home in Oakland County?
The table compares five selected cities; it is not a countywide affordability ranking. Check suitable current listings and total housing costs for your budget.
Is Pontiac, Michigan a good place to buy right now?
That depends on your needs and the specific property. Review condition, financing, title, ownership costs and relevant comparable sales; a city median does not establish whether a home is a good purchase.
Which of these markets is the most competitive?
This comparison does not rank competitiveness. Ask for relevant current inventory, properly defined time-on-market data and offer activity for homes like the one you are considering.
What does months of supply mean?
It relates available inventory to a recent sales pace. Definitions and calculation periods can differ. It is not a forecast for a specific listing, and inventory counts alone are not a months-of-supply measure.
Where does this data come from?
The linked Realcomp public sortable report, for September 2026. Read the table’s source note for its combined property types, time period and calculated ratios.
How can I tell if a neighborhood is really undervalued?
Use relevant comparable sales and adjust for property differences, condition, legal rights and total costs. A below-area median or rising citywide median does not demonstrate that an individual home is undervalued.
Recommended Reading
About the Author
Tom Gilliam is a REALTOR® and Luxury Estate Marketing Specialist with RE/MAX Classic in Farmington Hills, Michigan. With 24 years in Oakland County real estate, more than 700 closed transactions, and Top 1% status in Oakland County, he holds the ABR and SRES designations and PSA, SFR and RSPS certifications and is a RE/MAX Hall of Fame, Lifetime Achievement, and Platinum Club member. Call or text 248-790-5594.
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