Neighborhood comparison
Ann Arbor Hills vs Burns Park: which is the better commute to Google Ann Arbor?
The decision between Ann Arbor Hills and Burns Park for buyers working at Google Ann Arbor usually comes down to short drive versus downtown walkability. Here is the head-to-head breakdown, starting with the commute math and ending with the character tradeoffs.
The commute, side by side
From Ann Arbor Hills
- Distance
- 1.3 mi
- Direction
- northeast
- Primary route
- local streets
- Drive time
- 4-6 min
From Burns Park
- Distance
- 2.5 mi
- Direction
- north
- Primary route
- local streets
- Drive time
- 6-9 min
On raw distance, Ann Arbor Hills wins the commute by about 1.2 miles. In practical terms, that is rarely the decisive factor once you layer in rush-hour behavior on the actual routes.
What the drive actually feels like
From Ann Arbor Hills
From Ann Arbor Hills, Google Ann Arbor sits to the northeast, a short 1.3-mile drive. Expect roughly 4-6 minutes depending on traffic. The usual route runs along local streets. Flexible hybrid schedules at Google Ann Arbor have thinned the classic rush hour; true bottlenecks are now Tuesday and Wednesday mornings.
From Burns Park
Burns Park residents heading to Google Ann Arbor track north, a short 2.5-mile drive. Budget 6 minutes off-peak, up to 9 at 8 AM. Google Maps almost always suggests local streets. Shift workers and second-shift employees at Google Ann Arbor enjoy near-empty roads; the commute math favors anyone off the nine-to-five.
Neighborhood character
Ann Arbor Hills
Upscale mid-century enclave east of Huron Parkway with large wooded lots, ranches and split-levels, favored by senior hospital staff and faculty.
Burns Park
Pre-war colonials and Tudors on tree-lined streets east of campus, favored by UMich faculty and families for the elementary school and park.
Which should you pick?
The honest answer: this is less a commute question than a lifestyle question. If the decision is short drive versus downtown walkability, the two neighborhoods sit at different points on that spectrum, and the commute difference to Google Ann Arbor is small enough that it should not be the tie-breaker.
Our default recommendation: pick the neighborhood you would be happy living in even if you changed jobs tomorrow. Homes are a 15-year bet; commutes are a 5-year contract. The neighborhood fit outlasts the commute math every time.