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Basement Risk Index™ · Community Report

Basement Flood Risk in Plymouth Township, Michigan

Plymouth Township’s Basement Risk Index is 22/100 (MODERATE). 15% 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.

22BRI / 100
MODERATE RISK
Ranked #79 of 116 metro Detroit communities

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

Plymouth Township, Michigan carries a Basement Risk Index of 22 out of 100, ranking #79 of 116 metro Detroit communities, well below the metro median of 37. Plymouth Township is a comparatively young community, its housing peaking in the nineteen-seventies, after sump pumps and perimeter drains became common, which holds its Index down even on the region's clay soil. Among Plymouth Township and its five nearest neighbors it carries a middle-of-the-pack modeled risk; its housing is mostly owner-occupied and middle-income for the region.

Water in your basement in Plymouth 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.

Plymouth Township basement risk at a glance

Basement Risk Index22 / 100 (MODERATE)
Metro rank#79 of 116
Homes built before 196015%
Peak building era1970s (27% of homes)
Median year built1977
Median home value$400,800
Median household income$116,883
Owner-occupied85%
Neighborhoods analyzed10

Plymouth 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 Plymouth Township was built

Plymouth Township's housing is spread across several decades, peaking in the nineteen-seventies at about 27% of today's homes; relatively few of the stock, 15%, 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
3%
2000s
7%
1990s
19%
1980s
12%
1970s
27%
1960s
16%
1950s
9%
1940s
3%
Before 1940
3%

How basement risk varies inside Plymouth Township

We score 10 individual neighborhoods inside Plymouth Township, and the pattern is highly uneven: 1 fall in the high or very high band, 2 are elevated, and 7 are moderate or lower. The number that matters is the one for your own block, not the city average.

0Very High
1High
2Elevated
3Moderate
4Lower

What this means for Plymouth Township homeowners

Plymouth 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, Plymouth Township scores lower than Plymouth, so the block next door is a better guide than any metro-wide average.

Why Plymouth Township homes face basement risk

Basement risk in Plymouth Township comes down to two things: how old its houses are and the clay beneath them. With relatively few of its homes, 15%, 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 Plymouth Township compares

Plymouth Township's Index of 22 ranks #79 of 116 communities region-wide and sits below the metro Detroit median of 37. It runs higher than its nearby neighbor Northville 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 Plymouth 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 Plymouth Township on the full metro Detroit Basement Risk Index map →

Concerned about this score?

We connect Plymouth 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 Plymouth Township on the interactive metro map →
Read the published methodology →
Browse all 116 communities ranked →

Nearby communities

Plymouth · 56Northville Township · 6Northville · 43Northville · 43Canton Township · 6

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 Plymouth Township rank for basement-flood risk among nearby communities like Plymouth and Northville Township?

Plymouth Township scores 22 out of 100, ranking #79 of 116 metro Detroit communities (MODERATE risk). Among its five nearest neighbors it carries a middle-of-the-pack risk: Plymouth scores 56 and Northville Township scores 6.

Are Plymouth Township's homes older than those in nearby Plymouth and Northville Township?

15% of Plymouth Township homes were built before 1960 (median year built 1977, with the largest share in the nineteen-seventies). In Northville Township, 5% predate 1960 (median year built 1993). Older housing means more basements plumbed before sump pumps, weeping tile, and backwater valves were standard.

What is the biggest basement-flood driver in Plymouth Township versus Northville Township?

Housing age and clay soil. 15% of Plymouth Township homes predate 1960, and southeast Michigan's dense clay holds water against older foundations rather than draining it. Plymouth Township scores 22 and Northville Township 6, so the same prevention steps apply, sized to each home.