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Living in
Hazel Park.
About
Life in Hazel Park
This compact inner-ring suburb just 10 miles north of downtown Detroit offers genuinely affordable housing in a place where your money actually stretches—median home values hover around $158,600 and median rent sits at $1,314 monthly, which is remarkable for the Detroit metro area. The job market is solid with a 3.9% unemployment rate, and your commute to better-paying jobs in Detroit or neighboring Royal Oak typically runs about 25 minutes thanks to easy freeway access via I-75 and I-696. The community itself has real character: it's officially billed as "The Friendly City," with a stable, established population (median age 37) that includes notable German, Irish, and Polish heritage, plus growing Latino and Arab communities that add texture to local restaurants and small businesses along John R.
Hazel Park at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
12.3%
Foreign-Born
5.1%
Broadband Internet
91.7%
of households
Population Growth
-0.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics5.1% foreign-born, most often from Iraq
Who lives in Hazel Park: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Hazel Park, the largest foreign-born group is from Iraq (25.0%), and 4.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
17.5%
of residents
65 and Older
12.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
20.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
35.1%
of households
Married Couples
28.0%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.20
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 16% above MI average
Rent, home values, and income in Hazel Park
In Hazel Park, rent runs 16% above the MI average, and home values are 32% below the MI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
39.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
18.8%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
100.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,468
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
66.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1955
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.0%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $154,189 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.3 pts below MI average
Unemployment in Hazel Park and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Oakland County, which includes Hazel Park, is 1.3 percentage points lower than the MI average.
Unemployment rate
Hazel Park: Oakland County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Oakland County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Hazel Park is about 1% of Oakland County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Hazel Park 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
Commute24.6 min avg
How Hazel Park residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Hazel Park, most residents drive alone to work (76%), and 70% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 21 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 20% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Hazel Park runs 20% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
265
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,404.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Hazel Park Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 13 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
97.5 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Oakland County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Oakland County, which includes Hazel Park, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 13 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $40,500 |
| 2024 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $20,000 |
| 2023 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $18.0M |
| 2022 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | $85,000 |
| 2021 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | $17.9M |
| 2020 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.0M |
| 2019 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.0M |
| 2018 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $11.0M |
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
Oakland County, county-wide
Hazel Park is about 1% of Oakland County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality41 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Oakland County, which includes Hazel Park, is typically good — 242 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
41
Good Days
242
per year
Moderate Days
99
per year
Unhealthy Days
2
per year
Oakland County, county-wide
Hazel Park is about 1% of Oakland 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
Hazel Park 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 Hazel Park
Uninsured
7.8%
of residents
No hospitals inside Hazel Park's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Southeast Michigan Surgical Hospital Llc
Acute Care Hospitals · 1.1 mi away · Warren
The Behavioral Center of Michigan
Psychiatric · 3.4 mi away · Warren
Henry Ford Health Behavioral Health Hospital
Psychiatric · 3.4 mi away · Ferndale
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.
Education16.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Hazel Park
Hazel Park's student/teacher ratio is 16.9:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 27.0% 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
27.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Hazel Park (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)
Public · 2-year · 12,748 students · in-state tuition $3,220 · 31% graduate · median earnings $40,666 (10 yrs after entry)
Wayne County Community College District
9.6 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
12.1 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)
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, 41 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Hazel Park
Hazel Park has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being River Raisin National Battlefield Park (41 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
River Raisin National Battlefield Park
National Battlefield Park
41 mi awayPerry's Victory & International Peace Memorial
Memorial
58 mi awayPublic Libraries in Hazel Park
Hazel Park Memorial Library
123 East Nine Mile Road, Hazel Park
Cities Near Hazel Park
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Hazel Park?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Hazel Park FAQ
Is Hazel Park, Michigan affordable?⌄
Hazel Park's median rent is $1,314/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $67,073/year. Median home value is $158,600.
Is Hazel Park, Michigan safe?⌄
Hazel Park's violent crime rate was 265 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1405 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Hazel Park, Michigan?⌄
Oakland County, which includes Hazel Park, has an unemployment rate of 3.9%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Hazel Park, Michigan?⌄
The cost of living in Hazel Park is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,314/month and median household income is $67,073/year. The median home value is $158,600. About 39% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Hazel Park, Michigan?⌄
The average commute in Hazel Park 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