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Living in
Madison Heights.
About
Life in Madison Heights
If you're considering Madison Heights, understand that you're choosing a practical, business-oriented suburb rather than a lifestyle destination. The real appeal here is economic—the city functions as a major industrial and commercial hub for the Detroit metro area, which means steady jobs and a solid tax base, but also means you'll see commercial sprawl and industrial areas mixed into the residential landscape. Housing is reasonably priced at a median home value around $199,100 with median rent at $1,176, making it accessible for people priced out of trendier nearby communities like Royal Oak.
Madison Heights at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
10.8%
Foreign-Born
12.8%
Broadband Internet
89.9%
of households
Population Growth
-0.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics12.8% foreign-born, most often from Iraq
Who lives in Madison Heights: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Madison Heights, the largest foreign-born group is from Iraq (21.0%), and 2.9% of residents speak Chinese at home.
Under 18
14.8%
of residents
65 and Older
18.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
17.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
42.2%
of households
Married Couples
32.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.08
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 Madison Heights
In Madison Heights, home values are 14% below the MI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
39.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
16.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
100.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,941
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
64.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1961
median year built
Vacant Homes
8.4%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $215,492 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 2.9 pts below MI average
Unemployment in Madison Heights and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Madison Heights is 2.9 percentage points lower than the MI average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Madison Heights 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
Commute25.3 min avg
How Madison Heights residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Madison Heights, most residents drive alone to work (66%), and 65% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 23 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 11% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Madison Heights runs 11% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
292.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,324.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Madison Heights 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 Madison Heights, 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
Madison Heights is about 2% 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 Madison Heights, 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
Madison Heights is about 2% 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
Madison Heights 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
36.0"
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 Madison Heights
Uninsured
8.3%
of residents
No hospitals inside Madison Heights's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
The Behavioral Center of Michigan
Psychiatric · 1.9 mi away · Warren
Southeast Michigan Surgical Hospital Llc
Acute Care Hospitals · 4 mi away · Warren
Beaumont Hospital Royal Oak
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.5 mi away · Royal Oak
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.
Education15.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Madison Heights
Madison Heights's student/teacher ratio is 15.7:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 33.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
14
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
33.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Madison Heights (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)
Public · 4-year · 12,351 students · in-state tuition $16,176 · 63% graduate · median earnings $63,565 (10 yrs after entry)
Wayne County Community College District
12.7 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
14.7 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 5,952 students · in-state tuition $16,240 · 61% graduate · median earnings $66,897 (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 Madison Heights
Madison Heights has 2 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
61 mi awayPublic Libraries in Madison Heights
Madison Heights Public Library
240 West Thirteen Mile Road, Madison Heights
Cities Near Madison Heights
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Madison Heights?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Madison Heights FAQ
Is Madison Heights, Michigan affordable?⌄
Madison Heights's median rent is $1,176/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $69,503/year. Median home value is $199,100.
Is Madison Heights, Michigan safe?⌄
Madison Heights's violent crime rate was 293 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1325 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Madison Heights, Michigan?⌄
Madison Heights has an unemployment rate of 2.3%, which is strong — well below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Madison Heights, Michigan?⌄
The cost of living in Madison Heights is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,176/month and median household income is $69,503/year. The median home value is $199,100. About 39% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Madison Heights, Michigan?⌄
The average commute in Madison Heights 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