Neighborhood comparison
Kerrytown vs Old West Side: which is the better commute to Downtown Ann Arbor?
The decision between Kerrytown and Old West Side for buyers working at Downtown Ann Arbor usually comes down to downtown-adjacent condo versus historic single-family. Here is the head-to-head breakdown, starting with the commute math and ending with the character tradeoffs.
The commute, side by side
From Kerrytown
- Distance
- 0.4 mi
- Direction
- southeast
- Primary route
- local streets
- Drive time
- 2-3 min
From Old West Side
- Distance
- 0.7 mi
- Direction
- east
- Primary route
- local streets
- Drive time
- 2-4 min
On raw distance, Kerrytown wins the commute by about 0.4 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 Kerrytown
From Kerrytown, Downtown Ann Arbor sits to the southeast, barely a mile. 0.4 by the road. The usual route runs along local streets. Expect roughly 2-3 minutes depending on traffic. Foot traffic, delivery trucks, and on-street parking at Downtown Ann Arbor mean the last quarter-mile is the slowest. Plan parking, not driving.
From Old West Side
Downtown Ann Arbor lies east of Old West Side, 0.7 miles, which most residents cover on foot or bike. Plan on 2 to 4 minutes door-to-door, with the high end during morning rush. Locals default to local streets. Evenings and weekends, the commercial volume at Downtown Ann Arbor inverts the normal rush pattern; avoid Friday 5-7 PM if you can.
Neighborhood character
Kerrytown
Mixed-use district around the farmers market with lofts, rehabbed Victorians, and artisan retail, drawing downtown workers and empty-nesters.
Old West Side
National Register historic district of Victorian and Craftsman homes west of Main Street, walkable to downtown and popular with long-tenure owners.
Which should you pick?
The honest answer: this is less a commute question than a lifestyle question. If the decision is downtown-adjacent condo versus historic single-family, the two neighborhoods sit at different points on that spectrum, and the commute difference to Downtown 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.