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Living in
Detroit.
About
Life in Detroit
The city's cultural DNA runs deep—this is where Motown and techno were born, where the Fox Theatre and Detroit Institute of Arts anchor a genuine arts scene, and where neighborhoods like Brush Park and Indian Village showcase stunning early 20th-century architecture being restored block by block. You'll deal with genuine winter trade-offs: cold stretches and an average 42.5 inches of snow annually, though it rarely sticks around in thick layers, plus warm summers with occasional days over 90 degrees. Weekends mean access to Belle Isle's 3.5-mile riverfront promenade, 308 public parks across nearly 5,000 acres, the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge (the only international preserve in a major metro), and the Huron-Clinton Metroparks system just beyond the city limits.
Detroit at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
35.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
32.7%
Foreign-Born
6.6%
Broadband Internet
85.7%
of households
Population Growth
+1.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics6.6% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Detroit: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Detroit, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (27.8%), and 7.0% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
24.8%
of residents
65 and Older
15.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
27.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
42.8%
of households
Married Couples
19.0%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.43
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for MI
Rent, home values, and income in Detroit
In Detroit, home values are 64% below the MI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
54.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
32.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
100.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,402
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
50.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1947
median year built
Vacant Homes
21.7%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $74,742 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 4.8 pts above MI average
Unemployment in Detroit and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Detroit is 4.8 percentage points higher than the MI average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Detroit Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area
Commute24.8 min avg
How Detroit residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Detroit, most residents drive alone to work (66%), and 67% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 18 mi
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)
Major hub16.3M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 402% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Detroit runs 402% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
1,654.1
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
3,954.5
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Detroit Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 10 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
99.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Wayne County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Wayne County, which includes Detroit, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 10 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $15,000 |
| 2024 | 4 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $19.3M |
| 2022 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $130,000 |
| 2021 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | $139.6M |
| 2020 | 27 | Lakeshore Flood | $950,000 |
| 2019 | 24 | Lakeshore Flood | $67.8M |
| 2018 | 20 | Thunderstorm Wind | $9.2M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
2 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Wayne County, county-wide
Air Quality54 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Wayne County, which includes Detroit, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
54
Good Days
132
per year
Moderate Days
222
per year
Unhealthy Days
3
per year
Wayne County, county-wide
Climate82°F summers, 22°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Detroit has warm summers (avg high 82°F) and cold winters (avg low 22°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
58°/37°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
82°/62°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
62°/44°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
35°/22°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
34.9"
Annual Snowfall
30.8"
Hot Days/Year
17
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
125
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
125
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 33°F | 19°F | 2.07" |
| Feb | 36°F | 20°F | 2.06" |
| Mar | 46°F | 27°F | 2.50" |
| Apr | 59°F | 37°F | 3.23" |
| May | 70°F | 48°F | 3.69" |
| Jun | 79°F | 59°F | 3.67" |
| Jul | 84°F | 63°F | 3.39" |
| Aug | 82°F | 62°F | 3.51" |
| Sep | 75°F | 55°F | 3.04" |
| Oct | 63°F | 43°F | 2.76" |
| Nov | 49°F | 33°F | 2.62" |
| Dec | 37°F | 25°F | 2.35" |
Healthcare10 hospitals, avg 2.1/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Detroit
Detroit has 10 hospitals, averaging 2.1 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
10
within city limits
Uninsured
7.4%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.1 / 5
Detroit (john D. Dingell) VA Medical Center
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available
Henry Ford Health Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
- Main campus: Henry Ford Health Hospital · 2799 W Grand Blvd
- Hospital campus: Henry Ford Medical Center-Cottage · 159 Kercheval Ave, Grosse Pointe Farms
- Outpatient center: William Clay Ford Center for Athletic Medicine · 6525 2nd Ave, Detroit
Karmanos Cancer Center
Acute Care Hospitals
Sinai-grace Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Southeast Michigan Surgical Hospital Llc
Acute Care Hospitals · 4.8 mi away · Warren
Henry Ford Health Behavioral Health Hospital
Psychiatric · 5.3 mi away · Ferndale
Surgeons Choice Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · 7.2 mi away · Southfield
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs. Campus locations © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Education17.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Detroit
Detroit's student/teacher ratio is 17.8:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 18.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
189
within city limits
Private Schools
15
within city limits
College Degree Rate
18.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Detroit
Public · 4-year · 15,587 students · in-state tuition $15,862 · 61% graduate · median earnings $59,525 (10 yrs after entry)
Wayne County Community College District
Public · 2-year · 7,423 students · in-state tuition $3,112 · 20% graduate · median earnings $34,732 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,438 students · in-state tuition $33,604 · 69% graduate · median earnings $74,106 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,230 students · in-state tuition $55,460 · 63% graduate · median earnings $54,082 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 13,876 students · in-state tuition $3,745 · 18% graduate · median earnings $44,976 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Michigan-Dearborn
8 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 5,952 students · in-state tuition $16,240 · 61% graduate · median earnings $66,897 (10 yrs after entry)
Lawrence Technological University
9.8 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 1,668 students · in-state tuition $45,840 · 64% graduate · median earnings $78,800 (10 yrs after entry)
Chamberlain University-Michigan
12.2 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 4-year · 629 students · in-state tuition $21,655 · 82% graduate · median earnings $96,897 (10 yrs after entry)
Arizona College of Nursing-Southfield
10.5 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 4-year · 594 students · in-state tuition $25,667 · median earnings $41,223 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 445 students · 73% graduate · median earnings $73,717 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: River Raisin National Battlefield Park, 35 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Detroit
Detroit has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being River Raisin National Battlefield Park (35 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
River Raisin National Battlefield Park
National Battlefield Park
35 mi awayPerry's Victory & International Peace Memorial
Memorial
53 mi awayPublic Libraries in Detroit
Detroit Public Library
5201 Woodward Avenue, Detroit
Bowen Branch Library
3648 West Vernor Highway, Detroit
Campbell Branch Library At Lawndale Station
8733 West Vernor Highway, Detroit
Chandler Park Branch Library
12800 Harper Avenue, Detroit
Chaney Branch Library
16101 Grand River Avenue, Detroit
Chase Branch Library
17731 West Seven Mile Road, Detroit
Conely Branch Library
4600 Martin Street, Detroit
Duffield Branch Library
2507 West Grand Boulevard, Detroit
Edison Branch Library
18400 Joy Road, Detroit
Elmwood Park Branch Library
550 Chene Street, Detroit
Franklin Branch Library
13651 East Mcnichols Road, Detroit
Frederick Douglass Branch For Special Services
3666 Grand River Avenue, Detroit
Compare Detroit
Popular side-by-side matchups
Cities Near Detroit
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Detroit?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Detroit FAQ
Is Detroit, Michigan affordable?⌄
Detroit's median rent is $1,074/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $39,938/year. Median home value is $83,900.
Is Detroit, Michigan safe?⌄
Detroit's violent crime rate was 1654 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 3955 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Detroit, Michigan?⌄
Detroit has an unemployment rate of 10.0%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Detroit, Michigan?⌄
The cost of living in Detroit is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,074/month and median household income is $39,938/year. The median home value is $83,900. About 54% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Detroit, Michigan?⌄
The average commute in Detroit is 25 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from