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Basement Risk Index™ · Community Report

Basement Flood Risk in Ray Township, Michigan

Ray Township’s Basement Risk Index is 42/100 (ELEVATED). 39% 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.

42BRI / 100
ELEVATED RISK
Ranked #52 of 116 metro Detroit communities

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

Ray Township, Michigan carries a Basement Risk Index of 42 out of 100, ranking #52 of 116 metro Detroit communities, just above the metro median of 37. Ray Township is a comparatively young community, its housing peaking in the nineteen-fifties, after sump pumps and perimeter drains became common, which holds its Index down even on the region's clay soil. Among Ray Township and its five nearest neighbors it carries the highest modeled risk; its housing is mostly owner-occupied and middle-income for the region.

Water in your basement in Ray 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.

Ray Township basement risk at a glance

Basement Risk Index42 / 100 (ELEVATED)
Metro rank#52 of 116
Homes built before 196039%
Peak building era1950s (19% of homes)
Median year built1972
Median home value$377,700
Median household income$117,917
Owner-occupied86%
Neighborhoods analyzed1

Ray 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 Ray Township was built

Ray Township's housing is spread across several decades, peaking in the nineteen-fifties at about 19% of today's homes; some of the stock, 39%, 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.

2020 or later
3%
2010s
5%
2000s
11%
1990s
12%
1980s
8%
1970s
13%
1960s
8%
1950s
19%
1940s
1%
Before 1940
19%

How basement risk varies inside Ray Township

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

0Very High
0High
0Elevated
1Moderate
0Lower

What this means for Ray Township homeowners

Ray Township sits above the lighter end of the scale. The averages hide block-to-block variation, so the most useful step is finding out where your specific home stands. Among its immediate neighbors, Ray Township scores higher than Washington Township, so the block next door is a better guide than any metro-wide average.

Why Ray Township homes face basement risk

Basement risk in Ray Township comes down to two things: how old its houses are and the clay beneath them. With some of its homes, 39%, built before 1960 and the biggest share going up in the nineteen-fifties, many sit on original clay drain tile, and southeast Michigan's dense clay holds water against those foundations rather than letting it drain.

How Ray Township compares

Ray Township's Index of 42 ranks #52 of 116 communities region-wide and sits above the metro Detroit median of 37. It runs higher than its nearby neighbor Macomb 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. Compare your block on the metro map to see how your specific area compares within the community.
  2. Walk the basement after the next hard rain for dampness, white mineral lines, or a musty smell.
  3. Extend downspouts and check grading so water flows away from the foundation. More on keeping a basement dry.

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

Concerned about this score?

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

Nearby communities

Washington Township · 7Macomb Township · 1Armada Township · 34Lenox Township · 9Bruce Township · 23

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 Ray Township rank for basement-flood risk among nearby communities like Washington Township and Macomb Township?

Ray Township scores 42 out of 100, ranking #52 of 116 metro Detroit communities (ELEVATED risk). Among its five nearest neighbors it carries the highest risk: Washington Township scores 7 and Macomb Township scores 1.

Are Ray Township's homes older than those in nearby Washington Township and Macomb Township?

39% of Ray Township homes were built before 1960 (median year built 1972, with the largest share in the nineteen-fifties). In Washington Township, 10% predate 1960 (median year built 1995). Older housing means more basements plumbed before sump pumps, weeping tile, and backwater valves were standard.

What is the biggest basement-flood driver in Ray Township versus Macomb Township?

Housing age and clay soil. 39% of Ray Township homes predate 1960, and southeast Michigan's dense clay holds water against older foundations rather than draining it. Ray Township scores 42 and Macomb Township 1, so the same prevention steps apply, sized to each home.