What to Know Before Moving to Fenton, MI

Founded in the 1830s, Fenton was named for William M. Fenton after he won the town in a high-stakes poker game. Mr. Fenton later became the lieutenant governor of Michigan, and the city of Fenton became one of southeastern Michigan’s most charming historical towns! A short drive from Michigan’s major cities like Detroit, Ann Arbor, and Flint, many people settle here for its family-friendly atmosphere and convenient location. 

But history and charm aren’t the only things that make Fenton fun. There are plenty of other reasons that people settle here, too, from its outstanding schools to its surprisingly contemporary downtown. If you’re scouting the area, stay tuned, we’ll give you the 411 on what you should know before moving to Fenton, MI.  

It’s Affordable

Whether you’re looking for a single-family home, a cozy rental apartment, or a trendy downtown loft, you won’t have to worry about going broke in Fenton. The average rent in the city is $1,245, which is about $450 less than the national average. The overall cost of living is -0.7% lower than the national average. 

It’s Pretty Outdoorsy

Fenton has nine major parks with beautiful outdoor recreation options, whether you like hiking, fishing, boating, or just spending the day at the park. Silver Lake Park is a popular destination for families and boasts 300 feet of beachfront for volleyball, swimming, and sunbathing. If you time your trip just right, you can catch a performance by the Silver Lake Waterski Club!

If you’re up for a journey into the wilderness right in the middle of the city, check out Dauner Martin Nature Preserve. With hundreds of acres of trails and footpaths, you can spend a peaceful day in the woods communing with the native flora and fauna.

It Has Plenty of Dinner Date-Night Options

Whatever you’re in the mood for, there are fabulous places to drink and dine in downtown Fenton! The Laundry is upscale yet low-key and serves bistro-style Americana fare for brunch, lunch, dinner, and dessert. You can opt for stylish Italian food paired with the perfect wine at Ciao, amazing tacos and tequila at Xolo, or authentic Korean BBQ at Goki Goki. Regardless of where you choose, you can count on these charming, locally-owned restaurants to show you a good time and impress your date, too. 

It’s a Great Place to Be a Beer, Wine or Soda Lover

There are plenty of places to indulge in a frosty brew or a relaxing glass of wine in Fenton, but imbibing is an event at the Fenton Winery & Brewery. The menu rotates, but the brewery offers a dozen or so locally crafted beers at any given time, and the winery offers 20 house wines plus seasonal and specialty wines to sip. If alcohol isn’t your thing, you can enjoy house-made sodas, too.

Settle in with artisanal pizzas, sandwiches, charcuterie, and snacks in the public taproom overlooking the brewery, or if the weather’s nice, park it in the outdoor beer garden with over an acre of space to eat, drink, lounge, and play yard games. 

It Has Plenty of Culture

The city of Fenton has plenty of things to do for lovers of art, music, theater, and culture! You can stroll through the outdoor sculpture gallery downtown, enjoy a concert from the Fenton Community Orchestra, or catch a show by the Fenton Village Players. If you’d like to learn about the town’s history, take one of the fascinating tours the Fenton Historical Society offers. 

The Schools Here Are Top-Notch

From preschool to post-graduate, education is a huge priority in Fenton. Fenton’s public schools rank in the top 20% of all of Michigan’s 864 public school districts for math and reading proficiency, and they have a high school graduation rate of 89%. That’s 4% higher than the national average. 

There are so many great public and private university options for the recently graduated as well. Fenton and its surrounding areas house 36 colleges, including Kettering University and the University of Michigan in Flint. 

There Are Plenty of Eclectic Shopping Options

There’s no shortage of great shopping locations in Fenton! Whether you’re looking for on-trend home decor, quirky clothes for kids, or designer duds, there are plenty of places to browse. You can shop for quaint antiques at Yesterday’s Treasures or go mainstream at Silver Pointe Shopping Center.

You’ll Fall in Love with Fenton

If you’re looking for a slower, more laid-back way of life with a flair for the finer things, Fenton is a great place to be! And it does have a little bit of everything: nature, nightlife, culture, and family-friendly activities are everywhere. And when you come to visit, don’t be surprised if you end up making a friend or three (or four); a lot of our city’s charm comes from the friendly people who call Fenton home.