Population 21,103 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Highland Park
Household size in Highland Park
| Period | Highland Park | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.58 | 2.63 | 2.58 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.55 | 2.63 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.36 | 2.58 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.45 | 2.57 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.14 | −0.07 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Households in Highland Park run small, averaging 2.45 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Household size has dropped from 2.58 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Households are largest in the north and smallest in the southwest.
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 Highland Park
| Period | Highland Park | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.0 | 39.0 | 38.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.8 | 40.1 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.0 | 40.9 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.5 | 41.0 | 41.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.4 | +2.1 | +2.4 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Highland Park are younger than 40.5 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. The median age has climbed from 39.0 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. The youngest areas are in the west, the oldest in the south.
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 Highland Park
| Period | Highland Park | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.9% | 12.1% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 20.9% | 12.3% | 11.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 21.3% | 11.3% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 19.0% | 11.2% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −4.0 pts | −0.9 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head nearly one in five households in Highland Park (19.0%), well above the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 4.0 points, a much bigger shift than nationally. Of the 331 Michigan cities with 5,000+ people, only 12 have a higher share of single-parent households.
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 Highland Park
Renters in Highland Park
| Period | Highland Park | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 56.7% | 26.7% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 55.4% | 30.2% | 28.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 59.8% | 31.0% | 28.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 48.8% | 28.8% | 26.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −7.9 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is far more common in Highland Park than nationally: 48.8% of households rent their homes, against 34.8%. Among homeowners, 70.9% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 7.9 points, even as the national share rose. Of the 331 Michigan cities with 5,000+ people, only seven have a higher share of renters.
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 Highland Park
| Period | Highland Park | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 29.9% | 11.3% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 37.7% | 11.2% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 39.4% | 10.0% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 32.9% | 8.3% | 10.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | +3.0 pts | −3.1 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Highland Park: 32.9% 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. Since 2006–10, vacancy has risen 3.0 points, even as the national rate fell.
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 Highland Park
| Period | Highland Park | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1945 | 1968 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1948 | 1969 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1949 | 1969 | 1971 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1947 | 1970 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +2 | +2 | +3 | +6 |
The housing in Highland Park is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1947, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The newest homes are mostly in the south, the oldest in the north. Only five of the 331 Michigan cities with 5,000+ people have older homes.
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 Highland Park
| Period | Highland Park | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $704 | $952 | $833 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $704 | $1,005 | $886 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $765 | $1,123 | $978 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $892 | $1,373 | $1,228 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$188 | +$421 | +$395 | +$606 |
The median renter in Highland Park pays $892 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $188 a month since 2006–10, up 27%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 34.6% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. The priciest rents are in the center; the most affordable are in the east.
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 Highland Park
Bachelor's degrees in Highland Park
| Period | Highland Park | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.0% | 27.8% | 26.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.4% | 28.8% | 27.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 14.5% | 31.1% | 29.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 19.9% | 34.5% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.8 pts | +6.7 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Highland Park: 19.9% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 6.8 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Highland Park
| Period | Highland Park | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 75.0% | 87.7% | 88.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 78.3% | 88.4% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 79.8% | 89.8% | 90.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 83.5% | 90.9% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +8.5 pts | +3.2 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in six adults in Highland Park never finished high school, well above the national share: only 83.5% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 8.5 points, mirroring the country. Only nine of the 331 Michigan cities with 5,000+ people have a lower 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 Highland Park
| Period | Highland Park | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.0% | 12.7% | 11.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 29.6% | 12.8% | 11.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 19.6% | 6.8% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 16.8% | 6.7% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −10.2 pts | −5.9 pts | −5.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Highland Park runs well above the national rate: 16.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4%. Only two of the 331 Michigan cities with 5,000+ people have higher unemployment. Unemployment is down 10.2 points from 2006–10, 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).
Highland Park compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highland Park | 2.45 | 40.5 | 19.0% | 48.8% | 32.9% | 1947 | $892 | 19.9% | 83.5% | 16.8% |
| Detroit area | 2.57 | 41.0 | 11.2% | 28.8% | 8.3% | 1970 | $1,373 | 34.5% | 90.9% | 6.7% |
| Hamtramck | 3.81 | 28.6 | 10.1% | 38.2% | 16.9% | 1940 | $994 | 16.3% | 65.5% | 12.8% |
| Hazel Park | 2.25 | 39.0 | 13.6% | 33.9% | 8.8% | 1955 | $1,336 | 26.4% | 88.9% | 5.4% |
| Ferndale | 1.91 | 38.1 | 8.3% | 36.3% | 7.8% | 1946 | $1,312 | 53.3% | 96.3% | 6.3% |
| Pleasant Ridge | 2.30 | 44.0 | 1.6% | 4.4% | 3.9% | 1938 | $1,713 | 79.6% | 98.9% | 5.6% |
| Oak Park | 2.43 | 39.4 | 14.1% | 36.7% | 5.3% | 1959 | $1,578 | 36.6% | 94.5% | 10.4% |
| Huntington Woods | 2.69 | 45.5 | 4.5% | 3.9% | 4.4% | 1952 | $2,493 | 83.9% | 99.2% | 1.0% |
| Center Line | 2.61 | 40.2 | 14.2% | 47.8% | 2.7% | 1962 | $1,007 | 17.3% | 88.4% | 7.3% |
| Madison Heights | 2.18 | 39.5 | 8.7% | 35.2% | 10.5% | 1964 | $1,272 | 33.0% | 90.2% | 3.3% |
| Warren | 2.60 | 38.9 | 14.0% | 31.9% | 7.7% | 1965 | $1,272 | 19.6% | 84.4% | 8.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Plainview, TX · King George, VA · Kingsland, GA · Laguna Beach, CA · Lakeside, VA · Latham, NY · Laurinburg, NC · Lebanon, MO · Leesburg, GA · Lemont, IL
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 Highland Park. 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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