The Detroit metro area: Lapeer, Livingston, Macomb, Oakland, St. Clair and Wayne counties · Population 4,376,828 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in the Detroit area
Household size in the Detroit area
| Period | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.63 | 2.58 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.63 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.58 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.57 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.07 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
The average household in the Detroit area has 2.57 people, a bit under the U.S. average of 2.65. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.63, as it has nationally. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the south.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in the Detroit area
| Period | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.0 | 38.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.1 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.9 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.0 | 41.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.1 | +2.4 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in the Detroit area are younger than 41.0 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. The median age has climbed from 39.0 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. Residents skew youngest in the south and oldest in the west.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in the Detroit area
| Period | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.1% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.3% | 11.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.3% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.2% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.9 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in ten households in the Detroit area (11.2%), close to the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged down 0.9 points, in line with the national trend.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in the Detroit area
Renters in the Detroit area
| Period | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.7% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 30.2% | 28.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 31.0% | 28.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 28.8% | 26.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.1 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Nearly three in ten households in the Detroit area rent their homes (28.8%), a little below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. Among homeowners, 43.4% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is up 2.1 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Few large metro areas have a lower share of renters: only seven of 100.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in the Detroit area
| Period | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.3% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.2% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.0% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.3% | 10.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.1 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in the Detroit area is close to the national rate: 8.3% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. The rate is lower than in Michigan overall (10.2%). Vacancy is down 3.1 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in the Detroit area
| Period | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1968 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1969 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1969 | 1971 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1970 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +2 | +3 | +6 |
The Detroit area is a place of older homes: half were built before 1970, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. Newer construction is concentrated in the northeast, while the south has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in the Detroit area
| Period | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $952 | $833 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,005 | $886 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,123 | $978 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,373 | $1,228 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$421 | +$395 | +$606 |
A typical rental in the Detroit area costs $1,373 a month with utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Even so, rents here are higher than in Michigan overall ($1,228). Rents are up $421 a month from 2006–10, a 44% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 31.6% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in the Detroit area
Bachelor's degrees in the Detroit area
| Period | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.8% | 26.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 28.8% | 27.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 31.1% | 29.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 34.5% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.7 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are about as common in the Detroit area as nationally: 34.5% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 6.7 points, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the north and least in the south.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in the Detroit area
| Period | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 87.7% | 88.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 88.4% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 89.8% | 90.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.9% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.2 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in the Detroit area is a bit above the national rate: 90.9% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. Michigan comes in at about the same level. The share with a diploma has risen 3.2 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in the Detroit area
| Period | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.7% | 11.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 12.8% | 11.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.8% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.7% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −5.9 pts | −5.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been harder to find in the Detroit area than nationally: unemployment was 6.7%, against 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 5.9 points, as it has nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Largest cities in the Detroit area
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit area (all) | 2.57 | 41.0 | 11.2% | 28.8% | 8.3% | 1970 | $1,373 | 34.5% | 90.9% | 6.7% |
| Sterling Heights | 2.66 | 41.5 | 8.0% | 24.0% | 4.6% | 1978 | $1,603 | 30.6% | 86.5% | 6.0% |
| Warren | 2.60 | 38.9 | 14.0% | 31.9% | 7.7% | 1965 | $1,272 | 19.6% | 84.4% | 8.5% |
| Dearborn | 3.13 | 34.3 | 7.9% | 31.6% | 8.4% | 1951 | $1,394 | 33.3% | 82.7% | 6.7% |
| Troy | 2.69 | 42.5 | 5.7% | 23.9% | 4.9% | 1976 | $2,015 | 56.5% | 94.4% | 4.9% |
| Clinton Township | 2.28 | 41.9 | 11.2% | 34.4% | 4.4% | 1980 | $1,190 | 25.5% | 92.7% | 5.3% |
| Canton | 2.81 | 41.3 | 7.5% | 23.5% | 6.2% | 1991 | $1,681 | 56.0% | 94.3% | 3.7% |
| Livonia | 2.45 | 45.3 | 6.2% | 12.8% | 4.8% | 1965 | $1,418 | 42.0% | 95.5% | 4.6% |
| Macomb | 2.98 | 41.3 | 7.0% | 8.6% | 3.0% | 2000 | $1,557 | 38.7% | 94.2% | 4.3% |
| Utica | 2.47 | 45.8 | 7.4% | 26.6% | 4.4% | 1988 | $1,446 | 37.2% | 92.4% | 4.1% |
| Westland | 2.38 | 40.1 | 12.3% | 38.4% | 7.6% | 1970 | $1,186 | 22.9% | 90.1% | 6.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Metro areas of similar size: Portland area · Tampa area · San Diego area · Minneapolis area · Seattle area · Riverside area · San Francisco area · Phoenix area · Boston area · Atlanta area
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up the Detroit area. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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