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Living in
Melvindale.
About
Life in Melvindale
Melvindale is a community of 12,605 people in Michigan. The median household income is $42,185, median rent runs about $1,116 per month, and median home values are around $125,800. The unemployment rate is 6.0%.
Melvindale at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
31.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
39.1%
Foreign-Born
22.5%
Broadband Internet
92.4%
of households
Population Growth
-4.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics22.5% foreign-born, most often from Yemen
Who lives in Melvindale: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Melvindale, the largest foreign-born group is from Yemen (39.1%), and 23.6% of residents speak Arabic at home.
Under 18
32.3%
of residents
65 and Older
10.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
35.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
36.3%
of households
Married Couples
36.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.95
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 Melvindale
In Melvindale, home values are 46% below the MI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
61.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
28.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
100.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,993
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
60.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1950
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $138,451 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.8 pts above MI average
Unemployment in Melvindale and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Wayne County, which includes Melvindale, is 0.8 percentage points higher than the MI average.
Unemployment rate
Melvindale: Wayne County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Wayne County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Melvindale is less than 1% of Wayne County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area
Commute25.1 min avg
How Melvindale residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Melvindale, most residents drive alone to work (61%), and 64% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 10 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% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Melvindale runs 11% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
365.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,040.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Melvindale 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 Melvindale, 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
Melvindale 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 Melvindale, 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
Melvindale is less than 1% of Wayne County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate82°F summers, 20°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Melvindale has warm summers (avg high 82°F) and cold winters (avg low 20°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
58°/37°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
82°/60°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
62°/42°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
35°/20°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
35.1"
Annual Snowfall
30.8"
Hot Days/Year
16
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
136
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
127
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32°F | 18°F | 2.51" |
| Feb | 35°F | 19°F | 2.27" |
| Mar | 45°F | 26°F | 2.29" |
| Apr | 58°F | 37°F | 3.26" |
| May | 70°F | 48°F | 3.60" |
| Jun | 79°F | 58°F | 3.28" |
| Jul | 84°F | 62°F | 3.54" |
| Aug | 82°F | 61°F | 3.23" |
| Sep | 75°F | 53°F | 3.01" |
| Oct | 62°F | 42°F | 2.87" |
| Nov | 48°F | 32°F | 2.74" |
| Dec | 37°F | 24°F | 2.45" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Melvindale
Uninsured
6.1%
of residents
No hospitals inside Melvindale's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Beaumont Hospital - Dearborn
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 1.9 mi away · Dearborn
Metropolitan Behavioral Health
Psychiatric · 2 mi away · Dearborn
Wyandotte Hospital and Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5 mi away · Wyandotte
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.
Education18.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Melvindale
Melvindale's student/teacher ratio is 18.7:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 14.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
3
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
14.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
18.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Melvindale (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 15,587 students · in-state tuition $15,862 · 61% graduate · median earnings $59,525 (10 yrs after entry)
Wayne County Community College District
7.1 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
3.7 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
13.9 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 1,668 students · in-state tuition $45,840 · 64% graduate · median earnings $78,800 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,632 students · in-state tuition $29,580 · 59% graduate · median earnings $60,349 (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, 27 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Melvindale
Melvindale has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being River Raisin National Battlefield Park (27 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
River Raisin National Battlefield Park
National Battlefield Park
27 mi awayPerry's Victory & International Peace Memorial
Memorial
47 mi awayPublic Libraries in Melvindale
Melvindale Public Library
18650 Allen Road, Melvindale
Cities Near Melvindale
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Melvindale?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Melvindale FAQ
Is Melvindale, Michigan affordable?⌄
Melvindale's median rent is $1,110/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $42,185/year. Median home value is $125,800.
Is Melvindale, Michigan safe?⌄
Melvindale's violent crime rate was 366 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1041 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Melvindale, Michigan?⌄
Wayne County, which includes Melvindale, has an unemployment rate of 6.0%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Melvindale, Michigan?⌄
The cost of living in Melvindale is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,110/month and median household income is $42,185/year. The median home value is $125,800. About 61% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Melvindale, Michigan?⌄
The average commute in Melvindale 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