Detroit, Michigan Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Detroit, Michigan had a total population of 638,530, the 1st largest city in Michigan, with a median household income of $39,938, which is 45% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 32.7%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Detroit is the 1st largest city in Michigan with a population of 638,530.
- Household income is 45% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
- More than 1 in 4 residents live below the poverty line (32.7%), well above the national average of 12.4%.
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.1x.
- Unemployment rate of 14.0% is notably above the national average.
Detroit Quick Facts
How Detroit Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 636,644 | 638,530 | +0.3% |
| Median household income | $39,575 | $39,938 | +0.9% |
| Median home value | $76,800 | $83,900 | +9.2% |
How Detroit Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.
State average: 45 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Detroit Rankings in Michigan
Explore Michigan Rankings
Other Cities in Wayne County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dearborn | 107,423 | $65,324 | 24.3% | $218,800 |
| Livonia | 93,851 | $98,460 | 4.7% | $281,100 |
| Westland | 83,633 | $62,076 | 14.3% | $184,600 |
| Taylor | 62,081 | $61,081 | 18.4% | $152,600 |
| Dearborn Heights | 61,771 | $60,391 | 21.9% | $185,100 |
| Lincoln Park | 39,257 | $58,616 | 21.5% | $131,000 |
| Southgate | 29,366 | $66,118 | 9.4% | $173,600 |
| Allen Park | 27,925 | $81,655 | 6.9% | $183,700 |
| Hamtramck | 27,743 | $39,293 | 39.9% | $131,000 |
| Garden City | 26,739 | $67,294 | 10.7% | $168,800 |
Cities Similar to Detroit
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Rapids | 198,535 | $69,108 | $244,500 | 41.6% | 16.9% |
| Warren | 137,928 | $64,016 | $193,400 | 21.0% | 14.8% |
| Lansing | 113,023 | $54,382 | $128,700 | 30.2% | 20.1% |
| Sterling Heights | 133,573 | $79,909 | $274,300 | 31.1% | 11.1% |
| Ann Arbor | 122,036 | $82,212 | $453,400 | 77.9% | 23.8% |
Population Overview
Detroit is a major urban center located in Michigan, within Wayne County. The total population is 638,530. It ranks as the 1st most populous out of 745 Census-designated places in Michigan.
Age Demographics
The median age in Detroit is 35.2 years. This is 12% lower than the state median of 40.2 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Detroit is $39,938. This is 45% lower than the state median of $72,875. It is also 51% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 32.7%. This is 148% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 14.0%. This is 146% higher than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $83,900. Housing costs are 64% lower than the state median of $231,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.1x, Detroit is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 50.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 31% lower than the state average of 73.2%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Detroit is Black or African American, making up 75.0% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 10.8%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (10.8%) is well below the state average of 72.4%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (75.0% vs 13.1%).
Education
18.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 44% lower than the state rate of 32.5%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 83.3%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Detroit, Michigan is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Michigan state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 745 Census-designated places in Michigan. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Detroit, Michigan?
Detroit, Michigan has a population of 638,530 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Detroit, MI?
The median household income in Detroit is $39,938, which is 51% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Detroit, MI?
The poverty rate in Detroit is 32.7%. This means approximately 205,716 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Detroit, Michigan?
Detroit's population is 10.8% White, 75.0% Black, 8.3% Hispanic/Latino, and 1.7% Asian.
What is the median home value in Detroit, MI?
The median home value in Detroit is $83,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 2.1x.
How educated is Detroit, Michigan?
18.1% of adults (25+) in Detroit hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 7.3% hold a graduate or professional degree.