Neighborhood in Detroit · Wayne County

Midtown

Midtown lies north of Downtown Detroit, where Woodward Avenue’s museums meet Wayne State University and surrounding residential and commercial blocks.

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Old Main’s clock tower, brick facade and Cass Avenue frontage at Wayne State University, photographed in December 2021. — Old Main at Wayne State University — December 2021

Woodward’s museums, Wayne State’s campus and QLINE connections

About Midtown

Midtown lies north of Downtown Detroit, where Woodward Avenue’s museums meet Wayne State University and surrounding residential and commercial blocks. The Detroit Institute of Arts anchors the cultural corridor, while Old Main’s clock tower marks the university’s Cass Avenue frontage. QLINE stops serve the museum area and the Canfield Street arts and dining corridor.

Museums along the Woodward cultural corridor

The Detroit Institute of Arts is at 5200 Woodward Avenue. The QLINE’s Ferry Street stop serves the museum area, including the Detroit Historical Museum and the Detroit Public Library’s Main Branch.

Farther south, Warren Avenue station serves the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History and the Michigan Science Center. The DIA offers free general admission to residents of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties with identification; its visitor page lists exhibition and gallery-access information.

Old Main and Wayne State’s Cass Avenue frontage

Old Main’s clock tower stands at 4841 Cass Avenue, with Wayne State’s music department among the academic uses inside. The building began as Detroit’s Central High School before becoming a center of the colleges that developed into Wayne State University.

The university expanded into surrounding blocks as its campus grew. The photograph shows Old Main’s stone base, brick facade and clock tower in December 2021, giving this part of Midtown a recognizable landmark away from Woodward.

Canfield Street and the QLINE corridor

Canfield Street station serves a different cluster of Midtown destinations: the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit, the Majestic Theatre and the N’Namdi Center. These sit along the southern part of the neighborhood’s arts and dining corridor.

The QLINE follows Woodward between Downtown and New Center, with Ferry, Warren and Canfield stops serving different parts of Midtown. Rides are currently free; the operator provides a station map and real-time trip information.

Check these on a visit

Try these in person before you commit to an address in Midtown.

Use Ferry Street station for the DIA, Historical Museum and Main Branch library area.
Look for Old Main’s clock tower at 4841 Cass Avenue on Wayne State’s campus.
Explore the Canfield Street arts cluster around MOCAD, the Majestic Theatre and the N’Namdi Center.

Neighborhoods and districts near Midtown

The closest neighborhoods and districts in Detroit, measured center to center.

1.3 miCorktownCorktown’s residential streets sit south of Michigan Avenue, west of Downtown Detroit.

All Detroit neighborhoods and districts

Guides about Midtown

Schools near Midtown

The 6 closest schools within 5 miles, including any outside the city. Being nearby does not mean a home is zoned for a school: confirm attendance zones with the school or district.

All schools in Detroit

Detroit School of ArtsHigh
about 0.2 mi · Public · Grades 9–12 · 523 students
Cass Technical High SchoolHigh
about 0.5 mi · Public · Grades 9–12 · 2,493 students
Edmonson MontessoriK–8
about 0.6 mi · Public · Grades Pre-K–8 · 262 students
Spain ElementaryMiddle SchoolK–8
about 0.7 mi · Public · Grades Pre-K–8 · 403 students
Crockett Midtown High School of Science and MedicineHigh
about 0.7 mi · Public · Grades 9–12 · 191 students
University Preparatory Science and Math PSAD Middle SchoolMiddle
about 0.9 mi · Public · Charter · Grades 6–8 · 513 students

Distances are approximate. They are straight lines from the centre of Midtown, not travel distances, and a home at the edge of the area can be noticeably closer to or farther from a school.

Sources & data notesReferences, reporting periods, and how to use this information

Information on this page is compiled from multiple sources and provided for general information. It may be incomplete or out of date, and we do not guarantee its accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. Independently verify important details with the original source, relevant authority, or a qualified professional before making decisions.

Statistics keep their reporting periods. Survey estimates are not current asking prices or quotes for an individual property. Displayed values are rounded.

Midtown’s institutions and businesses; broader Midtown and New Center service area
Midtown Detroit, Inc. — Neighborhood introductionSource checked 2026-10-18
Woodward Avenue address, visitor information and county-resident admission
Detroit Institute of Arts — Plan your visitSource checked 2026-10-18
Old Main clock-tower building at 4841 Cass Avenue
Wayne State University — Visit the music departmentSource checked 2026-10-18
Former Central High School and university campus development
Wayne State University, Reuther Library — Old Main historySource checked 2026-10-18
Woodward route and current free fares
QLINE — Route and serviceSource checked 2026-10-18
Ferry, Warren and Canfield station destinations
QLINE — Station destinationsSource checked 2026-10-18
Related local place profile
StrollPlace — Detroit Institute of ArtsSource checked 2026-10-18Related reading; museum and transit facts are supported by the primary sources listed in this section.
Related local place profile
StrollPlace — Charles H. Wright Museum of African American HistorySource checked 2026-10-18Related reading; museum and transit facts are supported by the primary sources listed in this section.

Photo credits

Image credits and license
Old Main at Wayne State University — December 2021
Creator: Michael Barera
Original source
License: CC BY-SA 4.0
Changes: Resized and converted to WebP; may be cropped for display.
Old Main at Wayne State University — December 2021