New Baltimore basement risk at a glance
| Basement Risk Index | 15 / 100 (LOWER) |
| Metro rank | #99 of 116 |
| Homes built before 1960 | 21% |
| Peak building era | 2000s (31% of homes) |
| Median year built | 1995 |
| Median home value | $323,200 |
| Median household income | $106,033 |
| Owner-occupied | 84% |
| Neighborhoods analyzed | 3 |
New Baltimore'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 New Baltimore was built
New Baltimore's housing is concentrated in a single era, peaking in the two-thousands at about 31% of today's homes; some of the stock, 21%, 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 New Baltimore
We score 3 individual neighborhoods inside New Baltimore, and the pattern is skewed to the lower bands: 0 fall in the high or very high band, 0 are elevated, and 3 are moderate or lower. The number that matters is the one for your own block, not the city average.
What this means for New Baltimore homeowners
New Baltimore scores toward the lower end of the metro range, largely because of its newer housing. Risk is still real on clay soil, so watch for symptoms after heavy rain. Among its immediate neighbors, New Baltimore scores higher than Chesterfield Township, so the block next door is a better guide than any metro-wide average.
Why New Baltimore homes face basement risk
Basement risk in New Baltimore comes down to two things: how old its houses are and the clay beneath them. With some of its homes, 21%, built before 1960 and the biggest share going up in the two-thousands, many sit on original clay drain tile, and southeast Michigan's dense clay holds water against those foundations rather than letting it drain. New Baltimore sits on Anchor Bay on Lake St. Clair, and low-lying ground near the water keeps the seasonal water table close to basement floors, so hydrostatic seepage can matter as much as sewer capacity here. If a backup has already put water on a floor here, Michigan law leaves a narrow window to file a written claim: how to file a sewer-backup claim in metro Detroit →.
FEMA disaster assistance after June 2021
26 New Baltimore households registered for FEMA disaster assistance after the June 2021 floods (DR-4607-MI), and FEMA approved 2 of those claims for a combined $6,008, according to FEMA's OpenFEMA Housing Assistance data (pulled July 2026). That count is a floor, not a ceiling: it only includes households who applied to FEMA, not every home that took on water.
How New Baltimore compares
New Baltimore's Index of 15 ranks #99 of 116 communities region-wide and sits below the metro Detroit median of 37. It runs higher than its nearby neighbor Lenox 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 New Baltimore?
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 New Baltimore on the full metro Detroit Basement Risk Index map →