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Basement Risk Index™ · Community Report

Basement Flood Risk in Milford Township, Michigan

Milford Township’s Basement Risk Index is 20/100 (MODERATE). 20% of homes here were built before 1960 (U.S. Census ACS 2020-2024, updated Jul 2026), the biggest driver of basement-flooding risk in this region.

20BRI / 100
MODERATE RISK
Ranked #86 of 116 metro Detroit communities

Data confidence: C, modeled from housing-age measures; no local flood records integrated yet. How the score is built →

Milford Township, Michigan carries a Basement Risk Index of 20 out of 100, ranking #86 of 116 metro Detroit communities, far below the metro median of 37. Milford Township is one of the metro's newer communities, its housing peaking in the nineteen-nineties, well into the era of modern basement waterproofing, the main reason its Index sits toward the lower end of the range. Among Milford Township and its five nearest neighbors it carries the second-highest modeled risk; its housing is mostly owner-occupied and middle-income for the region.

Water in your basement in Milford Township right now?

  1. Don’t enter standing water if the power is on. Cut it at the breaker only from a dry spot, or call an electrician.
  2. Photograph and video everything before you move or clean up anything, insurance and city claims both turn on this.
  3. Michigan law gives you about 45 days from discovery to file a written damage claim with your sewer authority. Start today.
  4. Once it is safe, call a licensed waterproofing contractor. Do not wait for it to dry on its own.

Milford Township basement risk at a glance

Basement Risk Index20 / 100 (MODERATE)
Metro rank#86 of 116
Homes built before 196020%
Peak building era1990s (16% of homes)
Median year built1986
Median home value$425,400
Median household income$109,657
Owner-occupied85%
Neighborhoods analyzed4

Milford 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 Milford Township was built

Milford Township's housing is spread across several decades, peaking in the nineteen-nineties at about 16% of today's homes; some of the stock, 20%, predates 1960. These are higher-value 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.

2020 or later
1%
2010s
11%
2000s
16%
1990s
16%
1980s
14%
1970s
16%
1960s
6%
1950s
7%
1940s
2%
Before 1940
10%

How basement risk varies inside Milford Township

We score 4 individual neighborhoods inside Milford Township, and the pattern is skewed to the lower bands: 0 fall in the high or very high band, 1 are elevated, and 3 are moderate or lower. The number that matters is the one for your own block, not the city average.

0Very High
0High
1Elevated
1Moderate
2Lower

What this means for Milford Township homeowners

Milford 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, Milford Township scores higher than Wixom, so the block next door is a better guide than any metro-wide average.

Why Milford Township homes face basement risk

Basement risk in Milford Township comes down to two things: how old its houses are and the clay beneath them. With some of its homes, 20%, built before 1960 and the biggest share going up in the nineteen-nineties, many sit on original clay drain tile, and southeast Michigan's dense clay holds water against those foundations rather than letting it drain.

How Milford Township compares

Milford Township's Index of 20 ranks #86 of 116 communities region-wide and sits below the metro Detroit median of 37. It runs lower than its nearby neighbor Highland 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

  1. Lower risk is not zero risk on the region's clay soil, a free prevention check takes about 30 minutes.
  2. Watch for symptoms after storms; what you see at your own home matters more than any average.
  3. Maintain gutters and grading, the two cheapest protections any Michigan home has.

Hiring in Milford 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 Milford Township on the full metro Detroit Basement Risk Index map →

Concerned about this score?

We connect Milford Township homeowners with one licensed, insured basement waterproofing contractor for a free, no-obligation assessment. Your information goes to one local pro, never to lead lists.

Request your free assessment →

See Milford Township on the interactive metro map →
Read the published methodology →
Browse all 116 communities ranked →

Nearby communities

Wixom · 12Highland Township · 23Commerce Township · 13Lyon Township · 1South Lyon · 10

Homeowner guides

Does insurance cover sewer backup?What to do when your basement floodsWhat waterproofing costs in metro DetroitHow to choose a waterproofing contractorSump pump costs in MichiganBackwater valves: cost and who needs oneThe 2021 metro Detroit floodsWhat keeps a Michigan basement dry

Frequently asked questions

Where does Milford Township rank for basement-flood risk among nearby communities like Wixom and Highland Township?

Milford Township scores 20 out of 100, ranking #86 of 116 metro Detroit communities (MODERATE risk). Among its five nearest neighbors it carries the second-highest risk: Wixom scores 12 and Highland Township scores 23.

Are Milford Township's homes older than those in nearby Wixom and Highland Township?

20% of Milford Township homes were built before 1960 (median year built 1986, with the largest share in the nineteen-nineties). In Wixom, 5% predate 1960 (median year built 1983). Older housing means more basements plumbed before sump pumps, weeping tile, and backwater valves were standard.

What is the biggest basement-flood driver in Milford Township versus Highland Township?

Housing age and clay soil. 20% of Milford Township homes predate 1960, and southeast Michigan's dense clay holds water against older foundations rather than draining it. Milford Township scores 20 and Highland Township 23, so the same prevention steps apply, sized to each home.