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Living in
Garden City.
About
Life in Garden City
Living in Garden City means committing to suburban Detroit life with a straightforward, no-frills character. Your average commute to jobs elsewhere will be about 26 minutes, which is reasonable for the region, though you'll definitely need a car—there's no getting around that. Housing is relatively affordable compared to many suburbs, with median home values around $169,000 and rent averaging $1,150 monthly, so your dollars stretch further here than in trendier areas.
Garden City at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
40.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
10.7%
Foreign-Born
3.9%
Broadband Internet
92.7%
of households
Population Growth
-4.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics3.9% foreign-born, most often from Iraq
Who lives in Garden City: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Garden City, the largest foreign-born group is from Iraq (14.5%), and 2.4% of residents speak Arabic at home.
Under 18
20.2%
of residents
65 and Older
17.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
28.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
28.1%
of households
Married Couples
45.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.42
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 Garden City
In Garden City, home values are 27% below the MI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
37.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
22.1%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
100.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,046
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
79.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1956
median year built
Vacant Homes
3.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $201,351 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for MI
Unemployment in Garden City and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Garden City is close to the MI average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Garden City 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
Commute26.9 min avg
How Garden City residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Garden City, most residents drive alone to work (79%), and 63% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 8 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.
Safetyabout average for violent crime
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Garden City is close to the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
339.7
per 100,000 residents
About average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
736.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Garden City 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 Garden City, 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
Garden City is about 2% of Wayne County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality54 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Wayne County, which includes Garden City, 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
Garden City is about 2% of Wayne County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate82°F summers, 20°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Garden City has warm summers (avg high 82°F) and cold winters (avg low 20°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
58°/37°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
82°/60°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
62°/42°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
35°/20°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
35.1"
Annual Snowfall
30.8"
Hot Days/Year
16
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
136
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
127
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32°F | 18°F | 2.51" |
| Feb | 35°F | 19°F | 2.27" |
| Mar | 45°F | 26°F | 2.29" |
| Apr | 58°F | 37°F | 3.26" |
| May | 70°F | 48°F | 3.60" |
| Jun | 79°F | 58°F | 3.28" |
| Jul | 84°F | 62°F | 3.54" |
| Aug | 82°F | 61°F | 3.23" |
| Sep | 75°F | 53°F | 3.01" |
| Oct | 62°F | 42°F | 2.87" |
| Nov | 48°F | 32°F | 2.74" |
| Dec | 37°F | 24°F | 2.45" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Garden City
Garden City has 1 hospital, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
5.0%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
Garden City Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Walter P Reuther Psychiatric Hospital
Psychiatric · 2 mi away · Westland
Corewell Health Wayne Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.7 mi away · Wayne
St Joe Mercy Hospital System Livonia
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.9 mi away · Livonia
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.
Education15.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Garden City
Garden City's student/teacher ratio is 15.6:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 15.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
9
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
15.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Garden City (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 15,587 students · in-state tuition $15,862 · 61% graduate · median earnings $59,525 (10 yrs after entry)
Schoolcraft Community College District
8 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 7,511 students · in-state tuition $4,736 · 20% graduate · median earnings $45,652 (10 yrs after entry)
Wayne County Community College District
14.6 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 7,423 students · in-state tuition $3,112 · 20% graduate · median earnings $34,732 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Michigan-Dearborn
5.6 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 5,952 students · in-state tuition $16,240 · 61% graduate · median earnings $66,897 (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)
Lawrence Technological University
11.3 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 1,668 students · in-state tuition $45,840 · 64% graduate · median earnings $78,800 (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, 28 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Garden City
Garden City has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being River Raisin National Battlefield Park (28 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
River Raisin National Battlefield Park
National Battlefield Park
28 mi awayPerry's Victory & International Peace Memorial
Memorial
54 mi awayPublic Libraries in Garden City
Garden City Public Library
31735 Maplewood Street, Garden City
Cities Near Garden City
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Garden City?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Garden City FAQ
Is Garden City, Michigan affordable?⌄
Garden City's median rent is $1,150/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $67,294/year. Median home value is $168,800.
Is Garden City, Michigan safe?⌄
Garden City's violent crime rate was 340 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 737 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Garden City, Michigan?⌄
Garden City has an unemployment rate of 5.5%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Garden City, Michigan?⌄
The cost of living in Garden City is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,150/month and median household income is $67,294/year. The median home value is $168,800. About 38% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Garden City, Michigan?⌄
The average commute in Garden City is 27 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