Population 31,707 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Romulus
Household size in Romulus
| Period | Romulus | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.70 | 2.63 | 2.58 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.73 | 2.63 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.72 | 2.58 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.65 | 2.57 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.05 | −0.07 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Households in Romulus average 2.65 people, the same as the country as a whole. The typical household here is bigger than in the Detroit area as a whole, where it has 2.57 people. Household size has edged down from 2.70 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Romulus
| Period | Romulus | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.2 | 39.0 | 38.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 37.7 | 40.1 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 37.8 | 40.9 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 38.1 | 41.0 | 41.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.9 | +2.1 | +2.4 | +2.3 |
Romulus is a little younger than the country as a whole: its median age is 38.1, against 40.1 nationally. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 36.2, in line with the national trend. Residents skew youngest in the north 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 Romulus
| Period | Romulus | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.0% | 12.1% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 17.8% | 12.3% | 11.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 19.3% | 11.3% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 18.0% | 11.2% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.0 pts | −0.9 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are common in Romulus: 18.0% of all households, against 11.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged up 1.0 points, even as the national share fell. Only 13 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 Romulus
Renters in Romulus
| Period | Romulus | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.1% | 26.7% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 28.8% | 30.2% | 28.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 28.8% | 31.0% | 28.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 26.2% | 28.8% | 26.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.1 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Just over a quarter of households in Romulus rent their homes (26.2%), below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. Nearly four in ten owners (38.3%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. Rentals cluster in the west; owners are most common in the southeast. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged up 1.1 points, as it has nationally.
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 Romulus
| Period | Romulus | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.7% | 11.3% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.3% | 11.2% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.3% | 10.0% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.8% | 8.3% | 10.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.9 pts | −3.1 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in Romulus than nationally: 7.8%, against 9.6% for the U.S. The Detroit area as a whole looks much the same. Vacancy is down 0.9 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Romulus
| Period | Romulus | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1977 | 1968 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1977 | 1969 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1978 | 1969 | 1971 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1979 | 1970 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +2 | +3 | +6 |
Homes in Romulus are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1979, versus 1980 nationally. Homes here are newer than in the wider Detroit area, where the median home dates to 1970. The newest homes are mostly in the southeast, 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 Romulus
| Period | Romulus | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $841 | $952 | $833 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $894 | $1,005 | $886 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,044 | $1,123 | $978 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,084 | $1,373 | $1,228 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$243 | +$421 | +$395 | +$606 |
The median renter in Romulus pays $1,084 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $243 a month since 2006–10, up 29%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 31.6% of household income on rent, 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 Romulus
Bachelor's degrees in Romulus
| Period | Romulus | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.2% | 27.8% | 26.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.4% | 28.8% | 27.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 18.0% | 31.1% | 29.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 17.1% | 34.5% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.8 pts | +6.7 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Romulus: 17.1% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 3.8 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Romulus has a lower share of college graduates than at least four in five Michigan cities.
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 Romulus
| Period | Romulus | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 86.0% | 87.7% | 88.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 86.4% | 88.4% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 88.0% | 89.8% | 90.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 91.0% | 90.9% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.0 pts | +3.2 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Romulus is a bit above the national rate: 91.0% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The picture is much the same across the Detroit area. The share with a diploma has risen 5.0 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Romulus
| Period | Romulus | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.3% | 12.7% | 11.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 16.1% | 12.8% | 11.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.5% | 6.8% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.2% | 6.7% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −8.0 pts | −5.9 pts | −5.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment runs a little high in Romulus: 6.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment is down 8.0 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. 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).
Romulus 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Romulus | 2.65 | 38.1 | 18.0% | 26.2% | 7.8% | 1979 | $1,084 | 17.1% | 91.0% | 6.2% |
| Taylor | 2.50 | 38.7 | 17.7% | 33.3% | 6.4% | 1966 | $1,235 | 15.3% | 86.2% | 7.7% |
| Wayne | 2.44 | 41.7 | 14.9% | 39.3% | 9.6% | 1957 | $1,102 | 17.5% | 89.3% | 10.5% |
| New Boston | 2.77 | 46.6 | 6.2% | 7.2% | 3.8% | 1986 | $1,331 | 23.0% | 93.4% | 3.2% |
| Inkster | 2.66 | 35.3 | 26.2% | 53.2% | 15.2% | 1958 | $1,149 | 12.7% | 84.0% | 15.5% |
| Belleville | 2.49 | 43.9 | 7.8% | 31.7% | 7.5% | 1986 | $1,156 | 29.1% | 93.0% | 7.5% |
| Westland | 2.38 | 40.1 | 12.3% | 38.4% | 7.6% | 1970 | $1,186 | 22.9% | 90.1% | 6.1% |
| Woodhaven | 2.80 | 43.9 | 7.5% | 17.5% | 4.1% | 1978 | $1,132 | 29.2% | 93.9% | 2.1% |
| Allen Park | 2.40 | 42.6 | 10.7% | 12.7% | 5.9% | 1955 | $1,239 | 31.7% | 93.2% | 5.0% |
| Southgate | 2.39 | 41.0 | 11.8% | 32.8% | 6.9% | 1967 | $1,294 | 21.7% | 88.4% | 4.4% |
| Flat Rock | 2.70 | 41.9 | 10.8% | 17.3% | 4.8% | 1990 | $1,111 | 31.3% | 94.0% | 7.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Anthem, AZ · Burlington, NJ · Brooklyn Center, MN · Bethel Park, PA · Bell, CA · Baldwinsville, NY · Atascadero, CA · Ashland, KY · Saratoga, CA · Rockford, 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 Romulus. 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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