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You've been scrolling Highland Township and Clarkston listings for weeks. They both show up in the same price band, both promise acreage and water, and both feel like "the country life" on Zillow. But the $29K median price gap between Highland ($449K) and Clarkston ($420K) hides differences that'll shape your commute, your kids' schools, and whether you're on well water or city sewer for the next decade. Highland vs Clarkston Michigan homes look interchangeable from a search page. They aren't. Highland gives you half-acre lots with Milford-adjacent charm along the M-59 corridor. Clarkston gives you a walkable village core with quick I-75 access. One fits your actual life. Here's how to figure out which.
Key Takeaways
- Highland's median home price runs roughly $29K higher than Clarkston's at $449K vs $420K (Realtor.com, 2026)
- Highland lots average 0.5-1.0 acres; Clarkston subdivisions average 0.25-0.5 acres
- Huron Valley Schools (Highland) and Clarkston Community Schools serve these areas with different K-12 profiles
- Highland skews 70%+ well/septic; Clarkston's Independence Township lots increasingly connect to municipal water
- Commute corridors split: M-59/I-96 for Highland vs I-75 for Clarkston
How do Highland and Clarkston compare on price and lot size?
Highland Township's $449K median sits about $29K above Clarkston's $420K, according to October 2026 data on Realtor.com. But you're buying more dirt for that premium. Highland's residential zoning heavily favors half-acre-to-one-acre parcels, especially in subdivisions like Highland Hills Estates and Axford Acres along Milford Road. Many listings off Duck Lake Road and Wardlow push past an acre.
Clarkston (specifically Independence Township, where most "Clarkston" homes actually sit) clusters tighter. Subdivisions like Deerwood and Clarkston Bluffs run 0.25 to 0.5 acres, with the Village of Clarkston itself sitting on compact village lots. You can find acreage in Clarkston, but you'll pay well above the median. In Highland, half an acre is the baseline.
The price-per-acre math flips the sticker shock. Highland's $449K buys a 0.75-acre average lot, working out to roughly $599K per acre of land. Clarkston's $420K on a 0.33-acre average lot runs closer to $1.27M per acre. If land is the priority, Highland delivers nearly double the dirt per dollar.
What's the real difference between Huron Valley Schools and Clarkston Community Schools?
Clarkston Community Schools posted a 90% graduation rate and a 40.6% college readiness index on the most recent Michigan School Data dashboard (MI School Data, 2025-2026). Huron Valley Schools, which covers Highland, posted 88% graduation and a comparable readiness profile. Both districts are solid. The difference is in the feel.
Clarkston High School has about 1,800 students and runs deep athletic programs (their football program is a perennial D1 contender in MHSAA). Huron Valley splits students between Lakeland High School in White Lake and Milford High School. Highland kids attend Lakeland, which runs about 1,300 students. Smaller building, tighter community.
The elementary picture
Highland families in the Lakeland feeder pattern start at Highland Elementary or Country Oaks Elementary, both small K-5 buildings under 400 students. Clarkston's elementary schools (Springfield Plains, Independence Elementary, Pine Knob) run larger, 500+ in several buildings. If small class environments matter to you, Highland's Huron Valley campuses skew that direction.
"I've worked with buyers who chose Highland Township specifically because their kid would be one of 22 in a classroom at Country Oaks instead of 28 at a larger Clarkston elementary," says Robert Harrell.
How does lake access actually work in each township?
Oakland County has over 1,400 lakes, but the access model varies block by block (Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner, 2026). Highland's lake access runs through private lake subdivisions. Dunham Lake, White Lake (the body of water, not the township), and Woodruff Lake all have neighborhood-specific lake associations with private beaches, boat launches, and annual dues ranging from $200 to $600. If you buy in a Dunham Lake subdivision, you get Dunham Lake. Period.
Clarkston's signature water is Deer Lake, and access works differently. Deer Lake Beach is a public Independence Township park with a swim beach, though boat launching is restricted to residents of lakefront or deeded-access parcels. There's also Lake Oakland and Walters Lake, but private frontage dominates.
Over 30 years selling Oakland County lake homes, I've watched buyers assume "lake access" means the same thing everywhere. In Highland, you're typically buying into a private association with a shared waterfront. In Clarkston, you're more likely either paying lakefront prices (often $550K+) or settling for a nearby home with no deeded water rights at all. The middle ground is thinner.
Which commute corridor fits your job?
Highland connects to the M-59 (Highland Road) corridor, which feeds I-96 westbound toward Brighton and Howell or eastbound toward Pontiac and eventually I-75. Your commute to Novi (a major employment center) runs about 25 minutes via M-59 to Wixom Road. Getting to downtown Detroit takes 55-65 minutes on a good day.
Clarkston sits directly on the I-75 corridor. Sashabaw Road and Dixie Highway both drop you onto I-75 within minutes. That means 40-45 minutes to downtown Detroit, 25 minutes to Troy's Big Beaver corridor, and 20 minutes to Auburn Hills (home of Stellantis HQ). If your job is anywhere along the I-75 spine, Clarkston saves you 10-20 minutes each way compared to Highland.
The split is clear. M-59/I-96 jobs favor Highland. I-75 jobs favor Clarkston. A Waterford commuter lands almost exactly between them.
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How common is well water and septic in Highland vs Clarkston?
Highland Township runs roughly 70-75% well and septic, based on Oakland County parcel data and utility service maps. Municipal water reaches parts of Highland along the M-59 corridor and near the Commerce Township border, but most residential areas south of Clyde Road and east of Hickory Ridge rely on private wells. Septic inspections at point of sale are required under Oakland County Health Division rules (Oakland County Health Division, 2026).
Independence Township (Clarkston) has expanded municipal water and sewer connections significantly over the past two decades. Subdivisions built after 2000 are almost universally on municipal services. Older neighborhoods near Sashabaw and Maybee roads still have pockets of well/septic, but the percentage is probably closer to 35-40%.
This matters for your budget. A new septic system in Highland runs $15,000 to $25,000 if the inspection fails. A new well, if needed, adds $8,000 to $14,000. In Clarkston, you're more likely paying quarterly sewer bills ($150-$250) instead. Factor this into your true cost of ownership, because the $29K Highland premium can evaporate fast with a failed septic field.
The head-to-head comparison table
| Factor | Highland Township | Clarkston (Independence Twp) |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | ~$449K | ~$420K |
| Typical lot size | 0.5-1.0 acres | 0.25-0.5 acres |
| School district | Huron Valley (Lakeland HS) | Clarkston Community |
| Lake access model | Private lake associations, $200-$600/yr dues | Limited public beach (Deer Lake); mostly private frontage |
| Primary highway | M-59 → I-96 | I-75 direct |
| Well/septic prevalence | ~70-75% | ~35-40% |
| Walkable downtown | No (rural-residential) | Yes (Village of Clarkston) |
| Nearest adjacent charm | Milford (2 miles from west Highland) | Downtown Lake Orion (15 min) |
| Character | Quiet, land-focused, equestrian-friendly | Village energy, restaurant row, Friday night football |
Who should buy in Highland and who belongs in Clarkston?
Highland is for the buyer who wants land as a daily experience. You want to walk outside and not see your neighbor's kitchen window. You want Milford's downtown (one of the prettiest in Oakland County) a five-minute drive away without paying Milford prices, which have pushed past $500K median. You commute along M-59 or work remotely. You don't mind a well and septic system. You probably have a dog, or horses, or both.
Clarkston is for the buyer who wants the feeling of a small town with the infrastructure of a suburb. Friday nights at the high school stadium. Walking to Clarkston Union for brunch on Saturday. Getting on I-75 and being in Troy in 25 minutes. You want a nice lot, but you don't need a half-acre.
Both are excellent. The question is which version of Oakland County country life matches how you actually spend your weekday mornings and Saturday afternoons.
Frequently asked questions
Is Highland Township more expensive than Clarkston in 2026?
Yes. Highland's median home price sits around $449K versus Clarkston's $420K, a gap of roughly $29K (Realtor.com, 2026). But Highland delivers significantly larger lots per dollar. The premium buys acreage, not necessarily a bigger house.
Which school district is better, Huron Valley or Clarkston?
Both are strong. Clarkston Community Schools reports a 90% graduation rate, while Huron Valley sits at 88% (MI School Data, 2025-2026). Clarkston's larger high school offers deeper extracurricular programs. Huron Valley's Lakeland High runs smaller class sizes. "Better" depends on your kid.
Can you get lake access in Highland without buying lakefront?
Yes. Highland's private lake subdivisions (Dunham Lake, Woodruff Lake) offer deeded lake access through homeowners' associations with annual dues of $200 to $600. You don't need frontage. You need to buy in the right subdivision, which means knowing which streets carry the deeded rights.
Do Highland homes have well water?
Approximately 70-75% of Highland Township homes rely on private wells and septic systems (Oakland County Health Division, 2026). Municipal water is limited to areas near M-59 and the Commerce Township border. Budget for a well inspection and potential septic evaluation during your purchase.
How far is Highland from Milford?
Western Highland Township borders Milford directly. Homes along Milford Road and Hickory Ridge Road sit within a 5-minute drive of downtown Milford's shops and restaurants. This Milford-adjacent positioning is a major draw for Highland buyers who want the charm without the price tag.
Your next step
Pull up Highland and Clarkston listings side by side. Filter for lot size, not just bedrooms. Check whether the listing says "public sewer" or "septic." Look at the school assignment, not just the district name, because a Highland address could feed into Lakeland or Milford depending on the parcel. And if a listing says "lake access," find out which lake association and what the annual dues are before you drive out to see it. That one question saves you from the most common mistake buyers make in northern Oakland County. If you want someone who knows which Highland streets carry Dunham Lake rights and which Clarkston subdivisions still sit on well water, that's a conversation worth having before your next showing.
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