Oakland County, Michigan
Healthy Home Assessments in Highland Township
Lakes-and-hills township in western Oakland County where Edsel Ford's former country estate anchors a nearly 6,000-acre state recreation area. Air, moisture, water and ventilation, read together.
What Highland Township is built of
A local distinction: Home of Haven Hill, one of only 12 National Natural Landmarks in Michigan, holding every principal forest type in the southern part of the state.
The building stock
Owner-occupancy sits at 90.2%, and 83.0% of all units are detached single-family homes, per 2023 five-year Census figures. Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher come to 32.2%. The record of building starts around 1931, so the assessment reads an older envelope.
At 90.2% owner-occupancy the person booking usually controls roof, basement and ducts together, so the walkthrough follows them in one pass.
What stands in Highland Township:
- Haven Hill (Edsel Ford estate). Hilltop retreat Edsel Ford built by 1931 on a 1,134-foot ridge, with a 6,900-square-foot lodge, toboggan run, and working farm; sold to the state by Eleanor Ford after his death.
- Haven Hill Natural Area. 721-acre National Natural Landmark (1976) containing every principal forest type in southern Michigan, from cedar-tamarack swamp to oak-hickory.
- Highland Recreation Area. 5,903-acre state park unit created in 1972 across the township's hills and lakes.
- Highland Recreation Area trails. Hiking, equestrian, and mountain-bike trail systems across the state recreation area.
- Haven Hill trail network. Interpretive trails through the Ford estate ruins and the natural area's forests.