Population 61,467 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Pontiac
Household size in Pontiac
| Period | Pontiac | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.63 | 2.63 | 2.58 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.52 | 2.63 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.60 | 2.58 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.52 | 2.57 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.11 | −0.07 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Households in Pontiac run a little small, averaging 2.52 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.63, a much bigger shift than nationally. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the center.
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 Pontiac
| Period | Pontiac | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.6 | 39.0 | 38.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 34.7 | 40.1 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 33.8 | 40.9 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 37.6 | 41.0 | 41.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +5.0 | +2.1 | +2.4 | +2.3 |
Pontiac is a little younger than the country as a whole: its median age is 37.6, against 40.1 nationally. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 32.6, in line with the national trend. Pontiac is younger than the great majority of Michigan cities.
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 Pontiac
| Period | Pontiac | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.2% | 12.1% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 24.1% | 12.3% | 11.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 23.0% | 11.3% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 20.6% | 11.2% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.7 pts | −0.9 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in five households in Pontiac (20.6%), well above the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is down 1.7 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Only nine of the 331 Michigan cities with 5,000+ people 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 Pontiac
Renters in Pontiac
| Period | Pontiac | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 47.8% | 26.7% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 55.9% | 30.2% | 28.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 59.4% | 31.0% | 28.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 53.3% | 28.8% | 26.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +5.5 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in Pontiac: 53.3% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. Among owners, 51.7% have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 5.5 points, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only three of the 331 Michigan cities with 5,000+ people 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 Pontiac
| Period | Pontiac | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.1% | 11.3% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 16.9% | 11.2% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 15.2% | 10.0% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 11.5% | 8.3% | 10.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −6.7 pts | −3.1 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy runs a little high in Pontiac: 11.5% of homes are empty, against 9.6% nationally. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. 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 Pontiac
| Period | Pontiac | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1960 | 1968 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1960 | 1969 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1960 | 1969 | 1971 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1961 | 1970 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +1 | +2 | +3 | +6 |
Pontiac is a place of older homes: half were built before 1961, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The newest homes are mostly in the northeast, the oldest in the west.
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 Pontiac
| Period | Pontiac | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $736 | $952 | $833 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $747 | $1,005 | $886 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $856 | $1,123 | $978 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,091 | $1,373 | $1,228 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$355 | +$421 | +$395 | +$606 |
Rent in Pontiac runs $1,091 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $355 a month from 2006–10, a 48% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 34.6% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. The priciest rents are in the north; the most affordable are in the southeast.
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 Pontiac
Bachelor's degrees in Pontiac
| Period | Pontiac | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.6% | 27.8% | 26.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.0% | 28.8% | 27.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 12.7% | 31.1% | 29.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.4% | 34.5% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.8 pts | +6.7 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Pontiac have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 16.4%, against 35.6% nationally. The share with a degree is up 4.8 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the southwest and least in the east.
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 Pontiac
| Period | Pontiac | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 74.6% | 87.7% | 88.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 75.5% | 88.4% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 79.5% | 89.8% | 90.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 82.5% | 90.9% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +7.9 pts | +3.2 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
Just over one in six adults in Pontiac never finished high school, well above the national share: only 82.5% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 7.9 points, in line with the national trend. Only seven 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 Pontiac
| Period | Pontiac | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.7% | 12.7% | 11.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 21.4% | 12.8% | 11.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 12.3% | 6.8% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.7% | 6.7% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −9.0 pts | −5.9 pts | −5.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Pontiac runs well above the national rate: 11.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4%. Of the 331 Michigan cities with 5,000+ people, only ten have higher unemployment. Unemployment has fallen 9.0 points since 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).
Pontiac 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pontiac | 2.52 | 37.6 | 20.6% | 53.3% | 11.5% | 1961 | $1,091 | 16.4% | 82.5% | 11.7% |
| Auburn Hills | 2.17 | 38.1 | 9.1% | 48.4% | 7.9% | 1987 | $1,599 | 51.0% | 93.1% | 5.6% |
| Lake Angelus | 2.07 | 57.2 | 5.1% | 3.6% | 2.9% | 1965 | $1,130 | 48.1% | 99.6% | 2.0% |
| Sylvan Lake | 1.98 | 49.1 | 9.3% | 23.8% | 7.6% | 1961 | $1,320 | 47.7% | 99.4% | 3.8% |
| Keego Harbor | 2.10 | 44.3 | 15.6% | 39.1% | 11.8% | 1977 | $1,263 | 44.5% | 96.7% | 5.2% |
| Waterford | 2.35 | 43.6 | 7.4% | 24.5% | 5.6% | 1971 | $1,221 | 29.4% | 93.5% | 4.6% |
| Bloomfield Hills | 2.62 | 47.4 | 4.9% | 13.2% | 6.5% | 1970 | $2,238 | 77.7% | 98.4% | 3.4% |
| Orchard Lake Village | 2.88 | 49.4 | 5.7% | 2.7% | 6.3% | 1981 | $1,025 | 65.9% | 93.4% | 3.8% |
| Rochester Hills | 2.61 | 42.1 | 6.5% | 23.4% | 6.1% | 1985 | $1,809 | 61.1% | 96.7% | 4.1% |
| Lake Orion | 2.58 | 42.0 | 5.9% | 17.8% | 6.0% | 1989 | $1,518 | 54.9% | 96.8% | 3.6% |
| West Bloomfield | 2.68 | 46.8 | 6.0% | 16.5% | 5.4% | 1980 | $2,037 | 59.9% | 95.0% | 5.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Blue Springs, MO · Lake Havasu City, AZ · La Mesa, CA · Medina, OH · Ithaca, NY · Irvington, NJ · Bristol, CT · Tigard, OR · The Hammocks, FL · Taylorsville, UT
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 Pontiac. 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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