Highland Township basement risk at a glance
| Basement Risk Index | 23 / 100 (MODERATE) |
| Metro rank | #77 of 116 |
| Homes built before 1960 | 19% |
| Peak building era | 1970s (23% of homes) |
| Median year built | 1980 |
| Median home value | $330,800 |
| Median household income | $96,574 |
| Owner-occupied | 90% |
| Neighborhoods analyzed | 6 |
Highland Township's score is modeled from U.S. Census housing data; no municipal flood records are integrated yet. The Basement Risk Index is built from U.S. Census housing data and documented flood records. See our full methodology.
When Highland Township was built
Highland Township's housing is spread across several decades, peaking in the nineteen-seventies at about 23% of today's homes; relatively few of the stock, 19%, predates 1960. These are mid-range homes for the metro, and basements built before the 1960s typically lack the sump pumps, perimeter drain tile, and backwater valves that became standard later, leaving many on their original clay drain tiles.
How basement risk varies inside Highland Township
We score 6 individual neighborhoods inside Highland Township, and the pattern is skewed to the lower bands: 0 fall in the high or very high band, 1 are elevated, and 5 are moderate or lower. The number that matters is the one for your own block, not the city average.
What this means for Highland Township homeowners
Highland Township scores in the moderate band, but moderate is not zero on clay soil. Prevention is cheap relative to a flooded basement, and a free check tells you what you are working with. Among its immediate neighbors, Highland Township scores higher than White Lake Township, so the block next door is a better guide than any metro-wide average.
Why Highland Township homes face basement risk
Basement risk in Highland Township comes down to two things: how old its houses are and the clay beneath them. With relatively few of its homes, 19%, built before 1960 and the biggest share going up in the nineteen-seventies, many sit on original clay drain tile, and southeast Michigan's dense clay holds water against those foundations rather than letting it drain.
How Highland Township compares
Highland Township's Index of 23 ranks #77 of 116 communities region-wide and sits below the metro Detroit median of 37. It runs higher than its nearby neighbor Milford Township.
Does insurance cover it?
Often not. Standard Michigan homeowners policies commonly exclude sewer backup and groundwater unless you carry a specific endorsement. Before the next storm, it is worth reading our guide on whether insurance covers sewer backup in Michigan and checking your declarations page.
What to do about it
- Lower risk is not zero risk on the region's clay soil, a free prevention check takes about 30 minutes.
- Watch for symptoms after storms; what you see at your own home matters more than any average.
- Maintain gutters and grading, the two cheapest protections any Michigan home has.
Hiring in Highland Township?
We keep public-record profiles of metro Detroit basement waterproofing contractors, drawn from their own listings and Michigan licensing records. No ratings and no pay-to-play, just the record. Browse the contractor records →
See Highland Township on the full metro Detroit Basement Risk Index map →