Sylvan Lake is a city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. A northern suburb of Detroit, Sylvan Lake is located roughly 26 miles (41.8 km) from downtown Detroit, and borders Pontiac to the east. As of the 2020 census, Sylvan Lake had a population of 1,723. With a land area of 0.51 square miles (1.32 km2), Sylvan Lake is the fourth-smallest city by land area in the state after Clarkston, Petersburg, and neighboring Keego Harbor.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Town numbers

ZIP codeSign in to add

Area code248

Living in Sylvan Lake

Housing in Sylvan Lake

$377K▲ 2% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Sylvan Lake home is worth about $377,000, up 2% in a year, 41% above the Michigan typical home.

A strong seller's market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s

Days on market21

Sale-to-list95%

Sold in May7

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Sylvan Lake

A⁻

Safety Grade A-

Sylvan Lake reports less crime per resident than 81% of the U.S. towns and cities we grade.

Violent crime per 1,000

Sylvan Lake 0

Michigan 4.3

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Sylvan Lake 5.3

Michigan 13

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Sylvan Lake

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Sylvan Lake for work: only 3% work in town. The top destinations are Troy (8%), Detroit (8%) and Waterford (6%). Half commute less than 10 miles.

Troy

Detroit

Waterford

Farmington Hills

3%Work in townlive and work in Sylvan Lake 10 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 632Jobs based herebalanced

Census LEHD 2021 · ACSWork & commute in Sylvan Lake →

Health in Sylvan Lake

Health Grade A

Healthier than 93% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with Michigan

25better than MI·1worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 6 are too close to call.

Conditions 7▲ 1▼ 4 close Habits 3▲ 1 close Care 6▲ 1 close Mind 5▲ 0 close Everyday needs 4▲ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

7%Fewer adults facing food insecurityMI 15.4% · better 4.7%Fewer older adults who have lost all their teethMI 10.2% · better 10.9%More adults who have had cancerMI 8.9% · worse

Care nearby

Mclaren OaklandPontiac · 2.6 mi · ER

Family Medicine CenterPontiac · 1.6 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careNo shortage

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthNo shortage

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Sylvan Lake · CMS · HRSAHealth in Sylvan Lake →

Natural hazards in Sylvan Lake

Low

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 30% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🌪️ Tornadoes🥶 Cold waves

0Does Sylvan Lake flood?no paid flood claims on record 2Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Sylvan Lake MapSylvan Lake vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Sylvan Lake →

Climate in Sylvan Lake

Full climate →

Sylvan Lake has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 83°, a January night drops to 16°, and about 36 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

33° / 19°Winter

57° / 36°Spring

80° / 59°Summer

60° / 42°Fall