--- title: "Water Hill" url: https://www.hereannarbor.com/water-hill/ date: 2026-06-22T15:12:53-04:00 modified: 2026-06-22T15:12:53-04:00 author: "" site: "HERE Ann Arbor" attribution: "HERE Ann Arbor" --- # Water Hill *Source: [HERE Ann Arbor](https://www.hereannarbor.com/water-hill/) — June 22, 2026 by * Washtenaw County · Arts / Creative # Water Hill Ann Arbor's artsy neighborhood known for the annual Water Hill Music Festival — where front yards become stages every spring. Water Hill Music Fest — May neighborhood music festival (front yard concerts) Progressive community culture and neighborhood organizing Views of the Huron River valley from hillside homes ### Quick Facts ZIP48103 CategoryArts / Creative Platted1940 Main CorridorFountain St / Pauline Blvd / Jones Drive corridor CountyWashtenaw County ### At A Glance Walkability55/100 Commute8 minutes to downtown Ann Arbor InterstateI-94 via Stadium Blvd, 2 miles south VibeArtsy, creative, progressive, community-driven — Ann Arbor's most musical neighborhood Best ForArtists, musicians, and creatives; progressive families; anyone seeking community culture over commute convenience ### Got A Tip? News, real estate moves, or business happenings in Water Hill? Send a tip — anonymous OK. [Submit a Tip](/submit-a-tip/) ### Own This Neighborhood Your Name Here Your Brokerage · Ann Arbor, MI 📞(864) 555-0100 ✉you@yoursite.com 🌐yoursite.com $149/mo · Sponsor Water Hill [Become The Sponsor →](/sponsor-a-neighborhood/) ## Location Water Hill is located in northwest Ann Arbor, roughly bounded by Huron River Drive to the north, Dexter Avenue to the west, West Stadium Boulevard to the south, and North Main Street to the east. The neighborhood sits on glacially formed ridges above the Huron River, giving it the 'water hill' topography that inspired its name. Downtown Ann Arbor is about 1.5 miles southeast; the Huron River and connected trail system are accessible from the neighborhood's northern edge. [**Open Water Hill in Google Maps →**42.2930° N, 83.7650° W · ZIP 48103](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=42.293,-83.765) ## Character Water Hill's identity is shaped by its annual music festival, which transforms the neighborhood each May as residents open their front yards and porches to local musicians performing for hundreds of neighbors walking the blocks. The event is free, entirely community-organized, and emblematic of the neighborhood's progressive, creative ethos. Housing is a mix of post-WWII ranch homes, Cape Cods, and some craftsman bungalows, set on rolling terrain above the river. The neighborhood attracts artists, musicians, teachers, and progressive professionals who value community culture over architectural prestige. ## History Water Hill developed primarily in the post-WWII era as Ann Arbor expanded northwest toward the Huron River. The neighborhood's distinctive community culture emerged in the late 20th century through the activism of its residents' association and reached national recognition with the Water Hill Music Fest, which began informally in 2007 and has grown into one of Michigan's most distinctive neighborhood community events. Your Featured Sponsor Your Name Here Your Brokerage · Realtor® **📞** (864) 555-0100 **✉** you@yourbrokerage.com **🌐** yourbrokerage.com [Visit My Site →](/advertise/) ### Own Water Hill — Just $149/month Exclusive sponsorship · one realtor or local business per neighborhood - **Top-of-page featured card** with your photo, name, brokerage, phone, email, and website - **Route every Water Hill search visitor** directly to your site — not Zillow, not Realtor.com - **Hyperlocal SEO juice** — backlink from a high-authority HEREAnnArbor neighborhood page - **Click-to-call and click-to-email** built in for mobile leads - **Lock out competitors** — only one sponsor at a time, month-to-month - **Cancel anytime** — no contract, no setup fee [Claim Water Hill →](/sponsor-a-neighborhood/) [See vs Zillow & Redfin](/sponsor-a-neighborhood/#compare) ## Schools Elementary Haisley Elementary School Ann Arbor Public Schools [SC Report Card →](https://www.michigan.gov/mde/services/educational-assessment) [School site →](https://www.a2schools.org) Middle Forsythe Middle School Ann Arbor Public Schools [SC Report Card →](https://www.michigan.gov/mde/services/educational-assessment) [School site →](https://forsythe.a2schools.org) High Pioneer High School Ann Arbor Public Schools [SC Report Card →](https://www.michigan.gov/mde/services/educational-assessment) [School site →](https://pioneer.a2schools.org) Ratings from the South Carolina School Report Card (state Department of Education) — not third-party aggregators. ## Nearby Retail & Dining - **Dexter Avenue commercial strip** — Independent coffee shops, casual dining, and neighborhood services *(0.5 mi west)* ## Healthcare & Essentials - **St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor (Trinity Health)** Hospital system *(3 mi northeast)* **Run a business near Water Hill?** Join the HEREAnnArbor Business Directory and we'll link your name from neighborhood pages like this one — driving local search traffic straight to your site. [Join Our Business Directory →](/advertise/) More Ann Arbor Neighborhoods - [Burns Park](https://www.hereannarbor.com/burns-park/) - [Old West Side](https://www.hereannarbor.com/old-west-side/) - [Kerrytown](https://www.hereannarbor.com/kerrytown/) - [Ann Arbor Hills](https://www.hereannarbor.com/ann-arbor-hills/) - [Northside](https://www.hereannarbor.com/northside/) - [Lower Burns Park](https://www.hereannarbor.com/lower-burns-park/) - [Orchard Hills](https://www.hereannarbor.com/orchard-hills/) - [Glacier Highlands](https://www.hereannarbor.com/glacier-highlands/) - [Eberwhite](https://www.hereannarbor.com/eberwhite/) - [All Neighborhoods →](/neighborhoods-hereannarbor-mi/) School data from the [SC Department of Education Report Card](https://screportcards.com). Page maintained by HEREAnnArbor.