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Living in
Pontiac.
About
Life in Pontiac
Pontiac is a working-class city in transition, roughly 30 minutes from downtown Detroit depending on traffic. The community is diverse, with a significant African American population (52% as of 2010) and a growing Latino community (16.5%), which shapes the local culture and available services. You'll find decent job availability and Amtrak service to Chicago three times daily if you work remotely or need regional connections, plus reasonable access to I-75 heading toward Flint and south toward Detroit.
Pontiac at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
24.4%
Foreign-Born
12.1%
Broadband Internet
86.0%
of households
Population Growth
+0.8%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics12.1% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Pontiac: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Pontiac, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (36.4%), and 18.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
22.2%
of residents
65 and Older
13.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
27.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
41.0%
of households
Married Couples
20.5%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.36
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 6% below MI average
Rent, home values, and income in Pontiac
In Pontiac, rent runs 6% below the MI average, and home values are 47% below the MI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
50.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
26.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
100.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,257
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
46.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1961
median year built
Vacant Homes
9.6%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $135,258 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 3.7 pts above MI average
Unemployment in Pontiac and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Pontiac is 3.7 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 Pontiac 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
Commute21.2 min avg
How Pontiac residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Pontiac, most residents drive alone to work (72%), and 72% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 30 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 149% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Pontiac runs 149% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
819.8
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,385.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Pontiac 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 Pontiac, 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
Pontiac is about 5% 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 Pontiac, 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
Pontiac is about 5% of Oakland County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate80°F summers, 20°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Pontiac has warm summers (avg high 80°F) and very cold winters (avg low 20°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
57°/37°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
80°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
61°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
34°/20°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
33.9"
Annual Snowfall
36.0"
Hot Days/Year
10
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
135
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
130
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°F | 17°F | 2.18" |
| Feb | 34°F | 18°F | 1.87" |
| Mar | 44°F | 26°F | 2.19" |
| Apr | 58°F | 36°F | 2.94" |
| May | 69°F | 49°F | 3.81" |
| Jun | 78°F | 59°F | 3.29" |
| Jul | 82°F | 63°F | 3.14" |
| Aug | 81°F | 62°F | 3.24" |
| Sep | 74°F | 54°F | 2.92" |
| Oct | 61°F | 42°F | 2.90" |
| Nov | 47°F | 32°F | 3.15" |
| Dec | 36°F | 24°F | 2.25" |
Healthcare3 hospitals, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Pontiac
Pontiac has 3 hospitals, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
3
within city limits
Uninsured
12.5%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
Trinity Health Oakland Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Mclaren Oakland
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Pontiac General Hospital
Psychiatric
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Havenwyck Hospital
Psychiatric · 2.1 mi away · Auburn Hills
Ascension Providence Rochester Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.4 mi away · Rochester
Henry Ford Health West Bloomfield Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.6 mi away · W Bloomfield
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.
Education17.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Pontiac
Pontiac's student/teacher ratio is 17.6:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 16.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
15
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
16.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Pontiac (within 15 miles)
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)
Lawrence Technological University
12.3 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 1,668 students · in-state tuition $45,840 · 64% graduate · median earnings $78,800 (10 yrs after entry)
Rochester Christian University
7.4 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 792 students · in-state tuition $30,510 · 52% graduate · median earnings $50,729 (10 yrs after entry)
Chamberlain University-Michigan
9.5 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 4-year · 629 students · in-state tuition $21,655 · 82% graduate · median earnings $96,897 (10 yrs after entry)
Arizona College of Nursing-Southfield
11.7 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 4-year · 594 students · in-state tuition $25,667 · median earnings $41,223 (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, 51 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Pontiac
Pontiac has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being River Raisin National Battlefield Park (51 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
River Raisin National Battlefield Park
National Battlefield Park
51 mi awayPerry's Victory & International Peace Memorial
Memorial
73 mi awayPublic Libraries in Pontiac
Pontiac Public Library
60 East Pike Street, Pontiac
Cities Near Pontiac
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Pontiac?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Pontiac FAQ
Is Pontiac, Michigan affordable?⌄
Pontiac's median rent is $1,063/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $44,329/year. Median home value is $121,700.
Is Pontiac, Michigan safe?⌄
Pontiac's violent crime rate was 820 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1386 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Pontiac, Michigan?⌄
Pontiac has an unemployment rate of 8.9%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Pontiac, Michigan?⌄
The cost of living in Pontiac is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,063/month and median household income is $44,329/year. The median home value is $121,700. About 50% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Pontiac, Michigan?⌄
The average commute in Pontiac is 21 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