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Living in
Hamtramck.
About
Life in Hamtramck
Hamtramck is genuinely walkable in a way most American cities aren't—at just over 2 square miles, you can traverse the entire city on foot, which matters if you're relying on public transit or prefer not to drive constantly. You'll find a real neighborhood feel with established businesses like the 85-year-old Kowalski Sausage Company, Polish bakeries during Pączki Day, and growing halal restaurants alongside older Polish institutions. The music and arts community is legit—the city earned recognition as one of America's hippest neighborhoods back in the 1990s and still hosts serious independent venues and the Hamtramck Music Festival each March.
Hamtramck at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
26.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
39.9%
Foreign-Born
46.7%
Broadband Internet
84.6%
of households
Population Growth
-4.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics46.7% foreign-born, most often from Yemen
Who lives in Hamtramck: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Hamtramck, the largest foreign-born group is from Yemen (42.8%), and 42.2% of residents speak Arabic at home.
Under 18
35.2%
of residents
65 and Older
8.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
48.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
21.4%
of households
Married Couples
61.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.86
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 12% below MI average
Rent, home values, and income in Hamtramck
In Hamtramck, rent runs 12% below the MI average, and home values are 43% below the MI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
43.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
24.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
100.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,825
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
58.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Vacant Homes
14.9%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $168,949 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 3 pts above MI average
Unemployment in Hamtramck and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Hamtramck is 3 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 Hamtramck 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
Commute23.9 min avg
How Hamtramck residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Hamtramck, most residents drive alone to work (70%), and 68% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 20 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 86% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Hamtramck runs 86% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
613.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,525.5
per 100,000 residents
About average (1,552 national, 2025)
Hamtramck 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 Hamtramck, 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
Hamtramck 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 Hamtramck, 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
Hamtramck is about 2% of Wayne County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate81°F summers, 22°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Hamtramck has warm summers (avg high 81°F) and cold winters (avg low 22°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
57°/39°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
81°/63°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
61°/45°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
35°/22°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
29.9"
Annual Snowfall
27.9"
Hot Days/Year
13
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
112
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
125
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32°F | 20°F | 1.45" |
| Feb | 35°F | 21°F | 1.41" |
| Mar | 45°F | 28°F | 2.02" |
| Apr | 58°F | 39°F | 2.82" |
| May | 70°F | 50°F | 3.49" |
| Jun | 79°F | 60°F | 3.10" |
| Jul | 84°F | 65°F | 3.22" |
| Aug | 81°F | 64°F | 3.10" |
| Sep | 74°F | 56°F | 3.09" |
| Oct | 61°F | 45°F | 2.30" |
| Nov | 48°F | 34°F | 2.16" |
| Dec | 37°F | 26°F | 1.73" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Hamtramck
Uninsured
10.6%
of residents
No hospitals inside Hamtramck's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Henry Ford Health Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.4 mi away · Detroit
Detroit (john D. Dingell) VA Medical Center
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available · 2.8 mi away · Detroit
Detroit Receiving Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.9 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.
Education20.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Hamtramck
Hamtramck's student/teacher ratio is 20.0:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 17.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
15
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
17.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
20.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Hamtramck (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
4.7 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
10.5 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, 37 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Hamtramck
Hamtramck has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being River Raisin National Battlefield Park (37 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
River Raisin National Battlefield Park
National Battlefield Park
37 mi awayPerry's Victory & International Peace Memorial
Memorial
53 mi awayPublic Libraries in Hamtramck
Hamtramck Public Library
2360 Caniff Avenue, Hamtramck
Cities Near Hamtramck
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Hamtramck?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Hamtramck FAQ
Is Hamtramck, Michigan affordable?⌄
Hamtramck's median rent is $989/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $39,293/year. Median home value is $131,000.
Is Hamtramck, Michigan safe?⌄
Hamtramck's violent crime rate was 614 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1526 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Hamtramck, Michigan?⌄
Hamtramck has an unemployment rate of 8.2%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Hamtramck, Michigan?⌄
The cost of living in Hamtramck is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $989/month and median household income is $39,293/year. The median home value is $131,000. About 43% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Hamtramck, Michigan?⌄
The average commute in Hamtramck 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