Population 57,889 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Royal Oak
Household size in Royal Oak
| Period | Royal Oak | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.03 | 2.63 | 2.58 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.08 | 2.63 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.08 | 2.58 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.04 | 2.57 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.01 | −0.07 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Royal Oak is a place of small households, averaging 2.04 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the north. Only four of the 331 Michigan cities with 5,000+ people have smaller households.
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 Royal Oak
| Period | Royal Oak | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.1 | 39.0 | 38.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.4 | 40.1 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 37.0 | 40.9 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.1 | 41.0 | 41.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | −1.0 | +2.1 | +2.4 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Royal Oak are younger than 39.1 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. The population here is younger than in the Detroit area as a whole, where the median age is 41.0. The median age has dropped from 40.1 in 2006–10, even as the national median rose.
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 Royal Oak
| Period | Royal Oak | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.2% | 12.1% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 5.8% | 12.3% | 11.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 4.1% | 11.3% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.3% | 11.2% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.1 pts | −0.9 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Royal Oak: 6.3% of households, against 11.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged up 1.1 points, even as the national share fell.
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 Royal Oak
Renters in Royal Oak
| Period | Royal Oak | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 29.0% | 26.7% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 33.0% | 30.2% | 28.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 32.6% | 31.0% | 28.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 32.0% | 28.8% | 26.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.0 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Nearly a third of households in Royal Oak rent their homes (32.0%), close to the national share of 34.8%. Renters make up a bigger share here than in the Detroit area as a whole (28.8%). Among homeowners, 31.7% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is up 3.0 points from 2006–10, 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 Royal Oak
| Period | Royal Oak | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.3% | 11.3% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.3% | 11.2% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.8% | 10.0% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.2% | 8.3% | 10.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.1 pts | −3.1 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Royal Oak: 7.2% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. The Detroit area as a whole looks much the same. Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged down 1.1 points, mirroring the country.
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 Royal Oak
| Period | Royal Oak | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1953 | 1968 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1955 | 1969 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1956 | 1969 | 1971 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1956 | 1970 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +2 | +3 | +6 |
Royal Oak is a place of older homes: half were built before 1956, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The newest homes are mostly in the south, the oldest in the center. Of the 331 Michigan cities with 5,000+ people, only 27 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 Royal Oak
| Period | Royal Oak | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $892 | $952 | $833 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $994 | $1,005 | $886 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,215 | $1,123 | $978 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,516 | $1,373 | $1,228 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$624 | +$421 | +$395 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Royal Oak costs $1,516 a month with utilities, close to the national median of $1,571. Rents here are higher than in the Detroit area as a whole ($1,373). Rents are up $624 a month from 2006–10, a 70% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 25.0% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under 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 Royal Oak
Bachelor's degrees in Royal Oak
| Period | Royal Oak | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 47.7% | 27.8% | 26.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 50.8% | 28.8% | 27.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 58.2% | 31.1% | 29.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 64.4% | 34.5% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +16.7 pts | +6.7 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Royal Oak: 64.4% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. The share with a degree is up 16.7 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Of the 331 Michigan cities with 5,000+ people, only 16 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 Royal Oak
| Period | Royal Oak | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 94.7% | 87.7% | 88.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 95.8% | 88.4% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 96.5% | 89.8% | 90.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 97.2% | 90.9% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.5 pts | +3.2 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Royal Oak: 97.2% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 2.5 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Royal Oak has a higher share of high school graduates than the great majority of Michigan cities.
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 Royal Oak
| Period | Royal Oak | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.8% | 12.7% | 11.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.9% | 12.8% | 11.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.2% | 6.8% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.6% | 6.7% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.2 pts | −5.9 pts | −5.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Royal Oak runs below the national rate: 3.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 3.2 points, in line with the national trend. 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).
Royal Oak 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Oak | 2.04 | 39.1 | 6.3% | 32.0% | 7.2% | 1956 | $1,516 | 64.4% | 97.2% | 3.6% |
| Berkley | 2.26 | 38.3 | 5.6% | 12.1% | 5.9% | 1950 | $1,684 | 58.9% | 98.6% | 2.2% |
| Huntington Woods | 2.69 | 45.5 | 4.5% | 3.9% | 4.4% | 1952 | $2,493 | 83.9% | 99.2% | 1.0% |
| Clawson | 2.04 | 41.2 | 7.5% | 24.6% | 4.2% | 1958 | $1,355 | 45.2% | 96.3% | 5.3% |
| Pleasant Ridge | 2.30 | 44.0 | 1.6% | 4.4% | 3.9% | 1938 | $1,713 | 79.6% | 98.9% | 5.6% |
| Madison Heights | 2.18 | 39.5 | 8.7% | 35.2% | 10.5% | 1964 | $1,272 | 33.0% | 90.2% | 3.3% |
| Oak Park | 2.43 | 39.4 | 14.1% | 36.7% | 5.3% | 1959 | $1,578 | 36.6% | 94.5% | 10.4% |
| Ferndale | 1.91 | 38.1 | 8.3% | 36.3% | 7.8% | 1946 | $1,312 | 53.3% | 96.3% | 6.3% |
| Lathrup Village | 2.52 | 46.4 | 2.3% | 8.5% | 4.2% | 1956 | $1,449 | 56.5% | 95.4% | 4.4% |
| Birmingham | 2.37 | 42.9 | 6.0% | 23.3% | 9.0% | 1963 | $1,967 | 77.7% | 98.9% | 4.2% |
| Hazel Park | 2.25 | 39.0 | 13.6% | 33.9% | 8.8% | 1955 | $1,336 | 26.4% | 88.9% | 5.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Pinellas Park, FL · Mishawaka, IN · Monroe, NC · Mount Juliet, TN · Murray, UT · National City, CA · New Baltimore, MI · New Brunswick, NJ · Newark, OH · Oak Lawn, 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 Royal Oak. 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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