Is Livonia Safe? Crime Rates & Safety Report

Livonia, Michigan, offers one of the most historically protected parks in the Detroit region while being just two miles from the Detroit urban boundaries.

The city is due west of Detroit and is home to 95,000 people.

Livonia sits at the crossroads of I-295 and I-96, offering a convenient way to explore the greater metro area while still having excellent hotel options just off the interstate, surrounded by suburban shopping areas.

An upscale mall, several local parks, and historic buildings make up the excitement in Livonia, but Farmington and Farmington Hills just to the north expand those options.

You can also be in Ann Arbor rooting on the Wolverines within 30 minutes.

HEADS UP:

Livonia, Michigan, is named after Livonia, New York, which is named after the former Russian province of Livonia.

There are also places named Livonia in Minnesota and Missouri.

When searching for information, use the phrase “Livonia Michigan” or “Livonia, MI.”

Warnings & Dangers in Livonia

OVERALL RISK: LOW

For such a safe place, Livonia sure reads like a dangerous city. Shocking crime allegations and random shootings on roads and interstates prompt a pause when considering a stay here. However, even with an increase since 2017, crime data is still 40% lower than the national average.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW

SMART bus service serves the suburbs of Detroit, with several stops in Livonia. Detroit's public transportation system, D-DOT, also has one stop in Livonia. Rideshares, taxis, and rental cars are all available.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW

The biggest theft risk here is shoplifting; just two were reported in 2021. However, you'll be shopping among thieves, so keep the regular safety steps to protect your valuables and personal information.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM

Detroit can get intense winter weather with sub-zero temperatures and scorching summer days with tornado warnings. The risk is medium, but you won't feel as worried if you're familiar with watches, warnings, and severe weather safety. The Wayne County Emergency Management Department has great guides to prepare for all risks.

MUGGING RISK: LOW

This is a low risk, with just 13 robberies in 2021, all of which were in a home or at a business.

TERRORISM RISK: LOW

The Livonia Police Department has an emergency management division with all the information you need to learn about terror risks at the local, state, and national levels. Detroit will also be a potential target, but leaders learned a lot after the 2009 Underwear Bomber attempt on a Christmas Day Detroit-bound plane.

SCAMS RISK: LOW

Look under the crime prevention category on the police department's website to find the most recent scams. Since this is mostly a residential area, there's a low risk you'll be impacted, but it's better to be educated than scammed.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

Crime data from 2021 shows women at 8% more likely than men to be a victim of a crime. While the risk is still low, you should know that some of the crime here spills over from much more dangerous parts of Detroit. If you meet new people, don't risk going into a bad part of the community.

TAP WATER RISK: LOW

The 2021 Water Quality Report gets high marks across the board, with no violations and full compliance with all state and national standards.

Safest Places to Visit in Livonia

Despite all the hotels located in Livonia, this isn’t a city geared toward tourists, so you’ll need to dig to find great places to visit.

The Pure Michigan official website does have a Livonia section.

The city website has some helpful sections under:

• Parks & Rec
• Greenmead Historical Park
• Our Community

Between Six Mile Road and Seven Mile Road on I-275, there is a grouping of hotels, restaurants, and shops on the Livonia city boundary.

Laurel Place Park is on the Livonia side, with Northville Village Shopping Center across the interstate.

Two movie theaters are also in this area, along with name-brand stores and outdoor/sporting goods stores.

Greenmead Historical Park is a must-see in Livonia, stretching across 95 acres and housing buildings up to 200 years old.

There are 13 historical buildings, a nature trail, and a community garden.

You can see videos of the property on LivoniaTV’s YouTube channel.

Look for special events like parlor games in the winter or outdoor festivals in the summer.

The Wilson Barn tells the story of a successful dairy family from the 1800s.

The site itself is a great Instagram moment but look for local events like pumpkin festivals, classic car shows, and farmer’s markets throughout the year.

Newburgh Point sits along Newburgh Lake and connects to two fishing piers, hiking/biking trails, and a boat launch site among 152 acres of water.

Look for year-round canoe rentals on the shores and call 844-WE-KAYAK to make a reservation.

You can also email rentals@simpleadventures.net.

Nearby Nankin Lake recently underwent a renovation project to remove sediment from the lake and improve the green spaces.

There’s also a recreation area and a seasonal nature center that celebrates the mill history of this lake.

You can learn more on the Friends of Nankin Mills website.

Nearby communities you can explore by reading the articles on this website include Dearborn, Farmington Hills, Pontiac, and Ann Arbor.

Places to Avoid in Livonia

When you look at Detroit’s metro as a whole, it’s laughable to think any Livonia neighborhood is dangerous.

There are parts of Detroit city you shouldn’t dare walk in or drive through day or night as an average tourist.

As I often say, poverty is not a tourist attraction.

The farther northeast you are in Livonia, the safer the neighborhood will be by Livonia crime standards.

You should watch out for car break-ins and being caught in a shoplifting incident in the shopping areas.

Let’s talk about Eight/8 Mile Road.

Eight Mile Road runs on the northern boundary of Livonia, but this isn’t Eminem’s 8 Mile.

While the road is technically the same, the name switches from Eight Mile Road to 8 Mile Road as you cross Woodward (which is when you should strongly reconsider taking that road).

Eight/8 Mile Road is known as the boundary between the impoverished and historically segregated part of the city of Detroit and the surrounding more affluent suburbs.

You can safely drive Eight Mile Road in Livonia and through Redford Township, but don’t go further.

In fact, if you want to get to downtown Detroit, use I-96 for a straight shot into the city and a safer route for all.

Downtown Detroit’s tourist areas are well-policed, but the surrounding neighborhoods can be dangerous.

Learn more in our article “How Safe is Detroit for Travel?”

Safety Tips for Traveling to Livonia

So... How Safe Is Livonia Really?

Livonia’s crime rate is 40% lower than the national average, which is impressive within itself.

Still, compared to Detroit’s crime rate, which is 600% higher than the national average, it’s darn near incredible.

Even thefts are nearly 20% lower than the national average, and half of Livonia’s thefts are shoplifting.

Another 27% are related to car burglaries or car accessory thefts.

All that said let’s focus on the “how safe is it… REALLY?” part of the question.

It’s important to know the crime rates NOW, but it’s really important to look at trends. Since 2017, Livonia’s violent crimes have doubled from 111 in 2017 to 227 in 2021.

Should that trend continues, by 2026, the violent crime rate will be 15% higher than the current national average.

This is why it’s important to report suspicious activity.

While underserved, poverty-stricken, and minority communities in Detroit face the highest crime rates, Livonia doesn’t have a good reason why crime is increasing so much.

The average income here is $86,000, with a poverty rate of less than 5%.

It’s one of the least diverse communities, with 85% of residents being Caucasian.

We can’t blame the pandemic since this dates back to 2017, and staffing has been an issue, but 31 new officers were hired in 2022.

That effort could keep crime trends from getting into the danger zone.

Again, Livonia is safe to visit in 2023 and beyond by all comparisons, but even safe cities can have random crime.

From a brief glance at crime in 2022, it might look like Livonia isn’t that safe:

• December 2022: A Taco Bell customer was angry with a worker; he was accused of coming back 30 minutes later and shooting across traffic into the building. He was arrested.
• April 2022: A local state representative was arrested when police say she was driving drunk with two flat tires on a Livonia highway.
• September 2022: A second-grade student brought a pocket knife to school and reportedly threatened to kill other students on the playground.

Livonia is also two miles from a more dangerous part of Detroit, with Redford Township being between them (which has a higher crime rate than Livonia but is much lower than Detroit).

Nearby Farmington Hills and Farmington are much safer communities compared to the above.

How Does Livonia Compare?

Useful Information

Visas

The U.S. State Department oversees the visa process, which has been backlogged since the pandemic. New policies enacted in 2023 should speed up the process, but start planning as soon as possible and make your first stop at the Visa Waiver program to see if you are eligible. You'll also need a passport that is not within six months of expiring.

Currency

Since this is a big shopping area, you'll want to use a credit card as much as possible for fraud protection and tracking purchases. All transactions will be in U.S. Dollar currency. If you want to exchange foreign currency, you can do that before your trip to get the lowest possible fees on conversion rates.

Weather

Metro Detroit gets four distinct seasons, with extremes possible in all of them. You'll need warm winter clothing starting in late fall through early spring. Spring also brings storms and tornado season, so bring a rain jacket. Summers will be warm and humid. Wear comfortable shoes for all your walking, and don't forget the bug spray.

Airports

Livonia is 24 minutes from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, but that's without traffic. You'll hit a lot of stoplights on the fastest route, so add about 15 minutes to that drive time. You can also use the SMART bus system to get there, which will take at least an hour on the bus.

Travel Insurance

Since this area has a risk of weather that can cause travel delays throughout the year, it's a good idea to get insurance on your airfare at least and consider optional insurance to get back hotel deposits in the event of bad weather.

Livonia Weather Averages (Temperatures)

Average High/Low Temperature

Michigan - Safety by City