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Living in
Harper Woods.
About
Life in Harper Woods
This compact inner-ring suburb of Detroit—sitting just 9 miles northeast of downtown—offers the practical appeal of an affordable, walkable community without the intensity of urban living. With a median household income around $65,022 and median home values hovering near $157,200, you're looking at genuinely accessible real estate for the metro Detroit area, though you'll want to factor in a median rent of about $1,351 per month if you're not ready to buy. The community is genuinely diverse and stable, with roughly equal populations of white and African American residents, a median age of 37, and strong family presence; nearly 35% of households have kids under 18, so schools matter here, and you have options between the Harper Woods School District, the well-regarded Grosse Pointe School District (which serves some Harper Woods residents), and charter alternatives like Chandler Park Academy.
Harper Woods at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
19.8%
Foreign-Born
2.9%
Broadband Internet
94.2%
of households
Population Growth
-4.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics2.9% foreign-born, most often from Lebanon
Who lives in Harper Woods: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Harper Woods, the largest foreign-born group is from Lebanon (42.1%), and 1.9% of residents speak Arabic at home.
Under 18
28.1%
of residents
65 and Older
14.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
31.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
37.4%
of households
Married Couples
21.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.67
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 20% above MI average
Rent, home values, and income in Harper Woods
In Harper Woods, rent runs 20% above the MI average, and home values are 32% below the MI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
41.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
21.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
100.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,433
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
67.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1955
median year built
Vacant Homes
6.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $150,088 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.8 pts above MI average
Unemployment in Harper Woods and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Wayne County, which includes Harper Woods, is 0.8 percentage points higher than the MI average.
Unemployment rate
Harper Woods: Wayne County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Wayne County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Harper Woods is less than 1% of Wayne County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Harper 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
Commute26.4 min avg
How Harper Woods residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Harper Woods, most residents drive alone to work (67%), and 61% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 27 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 87% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Harper Woods runs 87% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
614.3
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
4,765.8
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Harper 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 Harper 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
Harper 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 Harper 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
Harper 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
Harper 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 Harper Woods
Uninsured
6.6%
of residents
No hospitals inside Harper Woods's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Henry Ford Health St John Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 1.6 mi away · Detroit
Bca Stonecrest Center
Psychiatric · 2.2 mi away · Detroit
Beaumont Hospital - Grosse Pointe
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.8 mi away · Grosse Pointe
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.
Education24.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Harper Woods
Harper Woods's student/teacher ratio is 24.6:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 26.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
11
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
26.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
24.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Harper 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
10 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)
Chamberlain University-Michigan
13.9 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 4-year · 629 students · in-state tuition $21,655 · 82% graduate · median earnings $96,897 (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, 43 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Harper Woods
Harper Woods has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being River Raisin National Battlefield Park (43 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
River Raisin National Battlefield Park
National Battlefield Park
43 mi awayPerry's Victory & International Peace Memorial
Memorial
55 mi awayJames A Garfield National Historic Site
National Historic Site
97 mi awayPublic Libraries in Harper Woods
Harper Woods Public Library
19601 Harper Avenue, Harper Woods
Cities Near Harper Woods
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Harper Woods?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Harper Woods FAQ
Is Harper Woods, Michigan affordable?⌄
Harper Woods's median rent is $1,351/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $65,022/year. Median home value is $157,200.
Is Harper Woods, Michigan safe?⌄
Harper Woods'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 4766 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Harper Woods, Michigan?⌄
Wayne County, which includes Harper Woods, has an unemployment rate of 6.0%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Harper Woods, Michigan?⌄
The cost of living in Harper Woods is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,351/month and median household income is $65,022/year. The median home value is $157,200. About 42% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Harper Woods, Michigan?⌄
The average commute in Harper Woods is 26 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