© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Southgate.
About
Life in Southgate
This is a straightforward suburban community where you're never far from the action but living in a quieter, more compact setting than Detroit proper. The 24-minute average commute keeps you reasonably close to job centers, and housing costs are accessible—median home values sit around $174,000—which matters if you're working with a real budget. That said, it's densely built at over 4,300 people per square mile, so don't expect wide open spaces or quiet tree-lined streets; this feels like a neighborhood where neighbors are nearby.
Southgate at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
9.4%
Foreign-Born
6.2%
Broadband Internet
89.3%
of households
Population Growth
-3.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics6.2% foreign-born, most often from India
Who lives in Southgate: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Southgate, the largest foreign-born group is from India (14.4%), and 3.7% of residents speak Other Indo-European at home.
Under 18
20.3%
of residents
65 and Older
19.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
26.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
33.0%
of households
Married Couples
42.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.33
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 Southgate
In Southgate, home values are 25% below the MI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
39.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
17.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
100.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,292
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
67.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1963
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $193,254 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.7 pts below MI average
Unemployment in Southgate and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Southgate is 1.7 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 Southgate 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
Commute23.5 min avg
How Southgate residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Southgate, most residents drive alone to work (76%), and 69% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 8 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 14% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Southgate runs 14% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
374
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,492.4
per 100,000 residents
About average (1,552 national, 2025)
Southgate 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 Southgate, 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
Southgate is about 2% 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 Southgate, 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
Southgate is about 2% 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
Southgate 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
37.4"
Annual Snowfall
53.5"
Hot Days/Year
13
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
120
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
142
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 Southgate
Uninsured
3.5%
of residents
No hospitals inside Southgate's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Wyandotte Hospital and Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.9 mi away · Wyandotte
Beaumont Hospital - Taylor
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.8 mi away · Taylor
Beaumont Hospital - Dearborn
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6 mi away · Dearborn
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 Southgate
Southgate's student/teacher ratio is 16.9:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 21.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
10
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
21.5%
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 Southgate (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
11.5 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
7.9 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)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,230 students · in-state tuition $55,460 · 63% graduate · median earnings $54,082 (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, 22 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Southgate
Southgate has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being River Raisin National Battlefield Park (22 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
River Raisin National Battlefield Park
National Battlefield Park
22 mi awayPerry's Victory & International Peace Memorial
Memorial
43 mi awayPublic Libraries in Southgate
Southgate Veterans Memorial Library
14680 Dix-Toledo Road, Southgate
Cities Near Southgate
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Southgate?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Southgate FAQ
Is Southgate, Michigan affordable?⌄
Southgate's median rent is $1,120/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $66,118/year. Median home value is $173,600.
Is Southgate, Michigan safe?⌄
Southgate's violent crime rate was 374 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1492 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Southgate, Michigan?⌄
Southgate has an unemployment rate of 3.5%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Southgate, Michigan?⌄
The cost of living in Southgate is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,120/month and median household income is $66,118/year. The median home value is $173,600. About 40% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Southgate, Michigan?⌄
The average commute in Southgate is 24 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