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Living in
Grosse Pointe Woods.
About
Life in Grosse Pointe Woods
This affluent suburb about 12 miles east of Detroit offers a distinctly stable, family-oriented lifestyle—but it comes with a price tag that matches its reputation. With a median household income of $126,395 and a median home value around $342,100, you're looking at upper-middle-class pricing that reflects the area's well-maintained neighborhoods and excellent schools. The area leans heavily educated, with nearly 66% of adults holding college degrees, which shapes the overall character and conversation of the community.
Grosse Pointe Woods at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
43.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
4.9%
Foreign-Born
5.0%
Broadband Internet
95.2%
of households
Population Growth
-4.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics5.0% foreign-born, most often from Canada
Who lives in Grosse Pointe Woods: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Grosse Pointe Woods, the largest foreign-born group is from Canada (37.2%), and 2.3% of residents speak Other Indo-European at home.
Under 18
21.4%
of residents
65 and Older
21.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
28.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
25.6%
of households
Married Couples
56.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.47
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 66% above MI average
Rent, home values, and income in Grosse Pointe Woods
In Grosse Pointe Woods, rent runs 66% above the MI average, and home values are 48% above the MI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
21.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
16.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
100.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$6,220
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
89.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1953
median year built
Vacant Homes
2.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $353,482 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.8 pts above MI average
Unemployment in Grosse Pointe Woods and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Wayne County, which includes Grosse Pointe Woods, is 0.8 percentage points higher than the MI average.
Unemployment rate
Grosse Pointe Woods: Wayne County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Wayne County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Grosse Pointe Woods is less than 1% of Wayne County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Grosse Pointe Woods 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
Commute24.2 min avg
How Grosse Pointe Woods residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Grosse Pointe Woods, most residents drive alone to work (68%), and 66% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 28 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 75% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Grosse Pointe Woods runs 75% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
82.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,363.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Grosse Pointe Woods 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 Grosse Pointe Woods, 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
Grosse Pointe Woods is less than 1% 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 Grosse Pointe Woods, 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
Grosse Pointe Woods is less than 1% of Wayne County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate80°F summers, 19°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Grosse Pointe Woods has mild summers (avg high 80°F) and very cold winters (avg low 19°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
55°/36°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
80°/60°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
60°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
34°/19°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
35.8"
Annual Snowfall
27.9"
Hot Days/Year
11
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
124
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
120
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32°F | 17°F | 2.09" |
| Feb | 34°F | 18°F | 2.15" |
| Mar | 43°F | 25°F | 2.55" |
| Apr | 56°F | 36°F | 3.41" |
| May | 67°F | 48°F | 3.86" |
| Jun | 77°F | 58°F | 3.64" |
| Jul | 82°F | 62°F | 3.38" |
| Aug | 80°F | 61°F | 3.47" |
| Sep | 73°F | 54°F | 3.31" |
| Oct | 60°F | 43°F | 2.80" |
| Nov | 47°F | 32°F | 2.79" |
| Dec | 37°F | 24°F | 2.36" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Grosse Pointe Woods
Uninsured
2.4%
of residents
No hospitals inside Grosse Pointe Woods's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Henry Ford Health St John Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 1.5 mi away · Detroit
Beaumont Hospital - Grosse Pointe
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.7 mi away · Grosse Pointe
Bca Stonecrest Center
Psychiatric · 3.8 mi away · Detroit
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.
Education15.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Grosse Pointe Woods
Grosse Pointe Woods's student/teacher ratio is 15.5:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 65.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
65.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Grosse Pointe Woods (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 15,587 students · in-state tuition $15,862 · 61% graduate · median earnings $59,525 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 13,876 students · in-state tuition $3,745 · 18% graduate · median earnings $44,976 (10 yrs after entry)
Wayne County Community College District
11 mi awayPublic · 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)
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, 44 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Grosse Pointe Woods
Grosse Pointe Woods has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being River Raisin National Battlefield Park (44 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
River Raisin National Battlefield Park
National Battlefield Park
44 mi awayPerry's Victory & International Peace Memorial
Memorial
54 mi awayJames A Garfield National Historic Site
National Historic Site
96 mi awayPublic Libraries in Grosse Pointe Woods
Grosse Pointe Woods Public Library
20680 Mack Avenue, Grosse Pointe Woods
Cities Near Grosse Pointe Woods
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Grosse Pointe Woods?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Grosse Pointe Woods FAQ
Is Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan affordable?⌄
Grosse Pointe Woods's median rent is $1,879/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $126,395/year. Median home value is $342,100.
Is Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan safe?⌄
Grosse Pointe Woods's violent crime rate was 82 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1364 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan?⌄
Wayne County, which includes Grosse Pointe Woods, has an unemployment rate of 6.0%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan?⌄
The cost of living in Grosse Pointe Woods is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,879/month and median household income is $126,395/year. The median home value is $342,100. About 22% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan?⌄
The average commute in Grosse Pointe Woods is 24 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