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Living in
Romulus.
About
Life in Romulus
Romulus is a Wayne County city best known as the home of Detroit Metropolitan Airport, about a mile from the city's center, and manufacturing is the second-largest employer of residents, at about 20%. Housing is inexpensive for metro Detroit, with a median home value of $159,500, about 52% below the national median, and rent around $1,049. Zillow's estimate has risen about 25% in five years.
Romulus at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
13.5%
Foreign-Born
2.2%
Broadband Internet
89.3%
of households
Population Growth
-2.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics2.2% foreign-born, most often from Uzbekistan
Who lives in Romulus: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Romulus, the largest foreign-born group is from Uzbekistan (21.3%), and 1.4% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
25.4%
of residents
65 and Older
15.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
33.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
30.3%
of households
Married Couples
41.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.61
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 7% below MI average
Rent, home values, and income in Romulus
In Romulus, rent runs 7% below the MI average, and home values are 31% below the MI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
41.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
25.8%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
100.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,744
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
69.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1972
median year built
Vacant Homes
8.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $203,563 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.9 pts above MI average
Unemployment in Romulus and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Romulus is 0.9 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 Romulus 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 min avg
How Romulus residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Romulus, most residents drive alone to work (80%), and 62% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 2 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 159% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Romulus runs 159% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
851.6
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,976.2
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Romulus 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 Romulus, 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
Romulus is about 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 Romulus, 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
Romulus is about 1% of Wayne County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate82°F summers, 22°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Romulus has warm summers (avg high 82°F) and cold winters (avg low 22°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
58°/39°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
82°/63°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
62°/44°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
35°/22°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
34.3"
Annual Snowfall
45.0"
Hot Days/Year
13
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
120
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
136
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32°F | 19°F | 2.23" |
| Feb | 35°F | 21°F | 2.08" |
| Mar | 46°F | 29°F | 2.43" |
| Apr | 59°F | 39°F | 3.26" |
| May | 70°F | 50°F | 3.72" |
| Jun | 80°F | 60°F | 3.26" |
| Jul | 84°F | 64°F | 3.51" |
| Aug | 81°F | 63°F | 3.26" |
| Sep | 74°F | 56°F | 3.22" |
| Oct | 62°F | 44°F | 2.53" |
| Nov | 49°F | 34°F | 2.57" |
| Dec | 37°F | 25°F | 2.25" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Romulus
Uninsured
3.9%
of residents
No hospitals inside Romulus's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Corewell Health Wayne Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.5 mi away · Wayne
Beaumont Hospital - Taylor
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5 mi away · Taylor
Walter P Reuther Psychiatric Hospital
Psychiatric · 5.1 mi away · Westland
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.
Education17.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Romulus
Romulus's student/teacher ratio is 17.9:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 16.2% 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
16.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Romulus (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 10,055 students · in-state tuition $17,004 · 54% graduate · median earnings $55,390 (10 yrs after entry)
Schoolcraft Community College District
13.9 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 7,511 students · in-state tuition $4,736 · 20% graduate · median earnings $45,652 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Michigan-Dearborn
9.4 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 · 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, 21 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Romulus
Romulus has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being River Raisin National Battlefield Park (21 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
River Raisin National Battlefield Park
National Battlefield Park
21 mi awayPerry's Victory & International Peace Memorial
Memorial
49 mi awayPublic Libraries in Romulus
Romulus Public Library
11121 Wayne Road, Romulus
Cities Near Romulus
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Romulus?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Romulus FAQ
Is Romulus, Michigan affordable?⌄
Romulus's median rent is $1,049/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $69,151/year. Median home value is $159,500.
Is Romulus, Michigan safe?⌄
Romulus's violent crime rate was 852 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1976 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Romulus, Michigan?⌄
Romulus has an unemployment rate of 6.1%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Romulus, Michigan?⌄
The cost of living in Romulus is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,049/month and median household income is $69,151/year. The median home value is $159,500. About 42% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Romulus, Michigan?⌄
The average commute in Romulus 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