Schools
Nearly all of these fall within Airport Community Schools, Monroe County's largest district by area (~9 schools, ~2,800 students, including Airport Senior High School).
Monroe County, Michigan
Mortgage Broker in Carleton, MI
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Buying a home in Carleton
Tucked into northeastern Monroe County's Ash Township, Carleton is a village of roughly 2,286 residents that grew up around a still-active rail line and farmland in 1872. Today the town runs less on agriculture and more on commuters: families who work the auto, logistics, and healthcare floors of Monroe, Flat Rock, and Ann Arbor while paying south-of-Detroit prices. The biggest growth story sits at I-275 and Will Carleton Road, where the Detroit Region Aerotropolis industrial zone is reshaping local job prospects. With a median household income of about $73,365 and Airport Community Schools as the largest in-town employer, Carleton draws first-time buyers and investors who want acreage and a small-town pace without surrendering metro-Detroit access. Align Lending helps these buyers structure financing that fits a rural-commuter market.
By the numbers
Carleton housing and mortgage snapshot
Values move. Treat these as orientation and let us pull current figures for the address you are considering.
$285,000
Typical home value, from the market research on this page
+40%
Typical rise in taxable value the year after a home sells in Ash Township, 2026 Uncapping Study
1
Residential ZIP codes
What financing looks like in Carleton
To comfortably carry the ~$290,000 median home, plan on roughly $90,000-$100,000 in household income, factoring 10-20% down, prevailing rates, and Monroe County property taxes near 2.0% of value under Airport Community Schools and Ash Township levies. Since the local median income is about $73,365, many buyers stretch with dual incomes or larger down payments. First-time buyers should look hard at MSHDA down-payment assistance paired with FHA financing, both fit Carleton's price point well. With most homes well under the 2026 conforming loan limit, jumbo financing is rarely a factor here; conventional, FHA, VA, and even USDA rural loans on the township's outer parcels are the workhorses. Always confirm exact millage via the Monroe County Apportionment Report.
Nearly every Carleton purchase fits well under the 2026 conforming limit of $832,750, so loan size is rarely the constraint.
The market
The Carleton housing market
Home values in 48117 cluster around $285,000-$300,000. Homes.com reports a 12-month closed-sale median near $300,600, while Realtytrac lists figures closer to $246,900, so a mid-point near $290,000 is the fairest single read. Year-over-year the market is essentially flat: closed sales tick up about 2% while list prices have softened roughly 7%. Homes sit a median of about 80 days across total inventory, down nearly 22% from a year ago, giving patient buyers real negotiating room. Demand is driven by the I-275 commuter corridor, larger lots than you find north of the county line, and the Aerotropolis development pulling jobs closer to town.
Schools and commute
Commute
Downtown Detroit is about 29-30 miles, a 40-45 minute drive via I-275 Exit 5 (Carleton-Rockwood Road) to I-75 or I-94.
Michigan property taxes
Carleton property taxes after you buy
The year after a Michigan home sells, its taxable value resets to half of the assessor's market value, so the seller's tax bill is not your tax bill.
In Ash Township, which assesses Carleton, our 2026 Uncapping Study found taxable value typically rises about 40% the year after a sale: roughly $1,350 more in first-year tax on a $300,000 home at the township's homestead millage. We build your payment on that post-sale number.
In Samantha's words
Don't build your budget around somebody else's tax bill. The seller's tax history tells us something about the property. It does not automatically tell us what your taxes are going to look like as the new owner.
Local resources
Check Carleton records yourself
The official offices behind the tax and school details on this page.
- Ash Township Assessor, for parcel records and current taxable value
- Airport Community Schools, for district boundaries and enrollment
- Monroe County Equalization, for county property tax records
What our clients say
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Individual experiences. Results vary.
Carleton mortgage questions
If yours is not here, ask it on the call. There are no dumb questions.
What is the typical home price in Carleton, MI 48117?
Home values in the 48117 ZIP code typically run around $285,000-$300,000. Closed-sale medians from the past year sit near $300,000 (Homes.com), while some trackers report figures in the $245,000-$320,000 range depending on whether they measure list prices or closed sales. It remains one of the more affordable commuter areas south of metro Detroit, near the U.S. average for affordability.
How much income do I need to buy a home in Carleton?
To comfortably afford the roughly $290,000 median home, a household generally needs about $90,000-$100,000 per year, assuming 10-20% down, prevailing rates, and Monroe County property taxes near 2% of value. With a smaller down payment, plan for the higher end. Carleton’s median household income is about $73,365, so many buyers stretch with dual incomes or larger down payments.
What are property taxes like in Carleton and Ash Township?
Effective property taxes run close to 2.0% of home value, in line with Monroe County averages. Michigan taxes the home’s taxable value (capped at the lesser of inflation or 5% annual growth while you own it), and Carleton homes fall under Airport Community Schools and Ash Township levies. Confirm your exact millage with the Monroe County Equalization apportionment report before buying.
How long does it take to commute from Carleton to downtown Detroit?
Downtown Detroit is about 29-30 miles away, roughly a 40-45 minute drive via I-275 (Exit 5, Carleton-Rockwood Road) connecting to I-75 or I-94. Ann Arbor and the airport/aerotropolis job corridor are also under 40 minutes, which is a big reason buyers choose Carleton as an affordable commuter base.
What schools serve Carleton, MI 48117?
Carleton and most of the surrounding Ash Township are served by Airport Community Schools, the largest district in Monroe County by area, with about nine schools, roughly 2,800 students, and Airport Senior High School. The district is part of the Monroe County Intermediate School District.
Is Carleton a good place for first-time buyers and investors?
Yes. Carleton offers below-average home prices for the Detroit metro, larger lots, and a stable small-town/rural character, which appeals to first-time buyers using programs like MSHDA down-payment assistance and FHA loans. With homes currently sitting around 80 days on market and softening list prices, buyers have more negotiating room, while the I-275/Aerotropolis growth corridor supports long-term investment potential.
Communities near Carleton
Monroe County overviewTalk with a local mortgage expert
Tell Samantha what you are trying to do in Carleton and she will tell you what actually matters for your situation, including whether the timing is right.
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Tell us what you are trying to do
Not what product you want. What you are actually trying to accomplish.
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We look at your situation
A licensed Align loan officer works out what matters most for you specifically.
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You leave with a plan
Your options, the tradeoffs, and your next step. No obligation to go further.
Align Lending LLC, NMLS #2041154. Samantha Shelton, NMLS 1647301. Equal Housing Opportunity. Licensed in Michigan, Ohio, North Carolina, Florida, Louisiana and Texas. Figures on this page are market research for orientation, not a quote. This page is for educational purposes only. It is not a credit decision, a preapproval, a commitment to lend, or an offer of credit.
