Population 5,684 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Downtown Detroit
Household size in Downtown Detroit
| Period | Downtown Detroit | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.43 | 2.63 | 2.58 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 1.35 | 2.63 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 1.34 | 2.58 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.17 | 2.57 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.26 | −0.07 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Households in Downtown Detroit are small: just 1.17 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 1.43, a much bigger shift than nationally. Downtown Detroit has the smallest households of any Detroit neighborhood.
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 Downtown Detroit
| Period | Downtown Detroit | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 44.6 | 39.0 | 38.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.8 | 40.1 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 31.2 | 40.9 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 36.1 | 41.0 | 41.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | −8.6 | +2.1 | +2.4 | +2.3 |
Downtown Detroit is younger than the country as a whole: its median age is 36.1, against 40.1 nationally. Since 2006–10, the median age has dropped from 44.6, even as the national median rose. Residents skew youngest in the northwest and oldest in the center.
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 Downtown Detroit
| Period | Downtown Detroit | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.2% | 12.1% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 2.5% | 12.3% | 11.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 1.4% | 11.3% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 1.3% | 11.2% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −7.9 pts | −0.9 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Downtown Detroit: 1.3% of households, against 11.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 7.9 points, a much bigger shift than nationally. Downtown Detroit has the lowest share of single-parent households of any Detroit neighborhood.
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 Downtown Detroit
Renters in Downtown Detroit
| Period | Downtown Detroit | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 98.5% | 26.7% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 95.9% | 30.2% | 28.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 96.7% | 31.0% | 28.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 97.7% | 28.8% | 26.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.7 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in Downtown Detroit: 97.7% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. Nearly nine in ten owners (86.8%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is down 0.7 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose. Downtown Detroit has the highest share of renters of any Detroit neighborhood.
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 Downtown Detroit
| Period | Downtown Detroit | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.9% | 11.3% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 16.6% | 11.2% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 14.5% | 10.0% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.2% | 8.3% | 10.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −6.7 pts | −3.1 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Downtown Detroit: 16.2% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy is down 6.7 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than 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 Downtown Detroit
| Period | Downtown Detroit | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1950 | 1968 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1948 | 1969 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1943 | 1969 | 1971 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1953 | 1970 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +2 | +3 | +6 |
The housing in Downtown Detroit is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1953, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. Compared with other Detroit neighborhoods, though, Downtown Detroit has newer homes than most.
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 Downtown Detroit
| Period | Downtown Detroit | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $700 | $952 | $833 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $864 | $1,005 | $886 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,306 | $1,123 | $978 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,759 | $1,373 | $1,228 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,059 | +$421 | +$395 | +$606 |
The median renter in Downtown Detroit pays $1,759 a month for rent and utilities, above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $1,059 a month since 2006–10, up 151%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 30.0% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Only one other Detroit neighborhood has higher rents.
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 Downtown Detroit
Bachelor's degrees in Downtown Detroit
| Period | Downtown Detroit | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.0% | 27.8% | 26.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 29.0% | 28.8% | 27.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 48.9% | 31.1% | 29.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 54.1% | 34.5% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +34.1 pts | +6.7 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
Downtown Detroit is highly educated: more than half of adults 25 and older (54.1%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 34.1 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only two of Detroit's 76 neighborhoods have a higher share of college graduates.
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 Downtown Detroit
| Period | Downtown Detroit | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 83.0% | 87.7% | 88.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 85.3% | 88.4% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 90.8% | 89.8% | 90.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.9% | 90.9% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +9.9 pts | +3.2 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
Just over nine in ten adults in Downtown Detroit have finished high school (92.9%), above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 9.9 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Of Detroit's 76 neighborhoods, only five have a higher share of high school graduates.
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 Downtown Detroit
| Period | Downtown Detroit | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.8% | 12.7% | 11.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 14.6% | 12.8% | 11.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.1% | 6.8% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 1.9% | 6.7% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −15.9 pts | −5.9 pts | −5.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Downtown Detroit has been low: just 1.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. No other Detroit neighborhood has lower unemployment. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 15.9 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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).
Downtown Detroit compared with nearby neighborhoods
| Neighborhood | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown Detroit | 1.17 | 36.1 | 1.3% | 97.7% | 16.2% | 1953 | $1,759 | 54.1% | 92.9% | 1.9% |
| Lafayette Park | 1.39 | 46.9 | 9.9% | 68.1% | 10.1% | 1964 | $1,342 | 60.9% | 98.0% | 3.9% |
| Midtown-Detroit | 1.65 | 32.5 | 14.2% | 86.4% | 20.8% | 1966 | $1,058 | 48.5% | 92.9% | 10.1% |
| Elmwood Park | 1.73 | 44.8 | 16.9% | 84.1% | 8.3% | 1978 | $948 | 21.1% | 86.0% | 9.1% |
| Wayne State | 1.51 | 25.7 | 8.0% | 79.8% | 22.8% | 1945 | $1,044 | 77.8% | 96.3% | 11.1% |
| Woodbridge | 2.06 | 35.4 | 8.7% | 71.8% | 10.0% | 1951 | $1,165 | 39.4% | 88.2% | 12.3% |
| Hubbard-Richard | 2.56 | 36.3 | 15.7% | 53.8% | 23.3% | 1946 | $807 | 26.1% | 71.0% | 11.6% |
| Core City | 2.40 | 43.1 | 15.9% | 58.5% | 17.2% | 1960 | $927 | 9.0% | 63.7% | 15.6% |
| Islandview | 2.01 | 46.3 | 12.8% | 62.9% | 23.8% | 1942 | $997 | 30.0% | 91.9% | 14.3% |
| New Center | 1.61 | 33.1 | 11.8% | 74.4% | 27.5% | 1951 | $970 | 45.0% | 93.5% | 3.7% |
| Southwest Detroit | 3.21 | 30.3 | 16.3% | 32.1% | 13.4% | 1938 | $912 | 11.6% | 58.9% | 10.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: East End, Charleston, WV · Fort Howard, Green Bay, WI · Fort Concho, San Angelo, TX · Skies West, Albuquerque, NM · Stanwood Park, South Portland, ME · Staumbaugh Heller, Redwood City, CA · Eastridge, Wichita, KS · Eastlake Vistas, Chula Vista, CA · Stockade District, Kingston, NY · Royal Crown Estates, Novi, MI
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 Downtown Detroit. 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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