Inkster, Michigan Demographics & Population 2026
Demographic data: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. Sources and methodology
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Inkster, Michigan had a total population of 25,428, the 47th largest city in Michigan, with a median household income of $39,252, which is 46% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 35.2%.
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 46% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
- More than 1 in 4 residents live below the poverty line (35.2%), well above the national average of 12.4%.
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.0x.
- Unemployment rate of 14.4% is notably above the national average.
Inkster Quick Facts
How Inkster Changed
Change from the non-overlapping 2015–2019 ACS period to 2020–2024. Earlier dollar figures are adjusted to 2024 dollars; changes marked “no clear change” are within the combined 90% margins of error.
| Metric | 2015–2019 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 24,520 | 25,428 | +3.7% |
| Median household income | $39,400 | $39,252 | No clear change (-0.4%) |
| Median home value¹ | $59,935 | $80,400 | +34.1% |
| Median gross rent | $1,092 | $1,170 | +7.2% |
How Inkster Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
- White: 16.8%
- Black: 70.3%
- Hispanic: 3.7%
- Asian: 1.4%
- Other: 0.5%
Diversity Index
Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.
State average: 45 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
- < High School: 16.0%
- HS Diploma: 40.1%
- Some College: 25.0%
- Associate's: 5.9%
- Bachelor's: 9.2%
- Graduate+: 3.9%
Inkster Rankings in Michigan
Explore Michigan Rankings
Other Cities in Wayne County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit | 638,530 | $39,938 | 32.7% | $83,900 |
| 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 |
Cities Similar to Inkster
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hamtramck | 27,743 | $39,293 | $131,000 | 17.8% | 39.9% |
| Port Huron | 28,620 | $50,366 | $149,300 | 18.1% | 22.6% |
| Mount Pleasant | 21,236 | $44,706 | $173,100 | 42.9% | 31.4% |
| Jackson | 31,058 | $44,558 | $103,200 | 16.1% | 24.6% |
| Romulus | 24,831 | $69,151 | $159,500 | 16.2% | 13.5% |
Population Overview
Inkster is a mid-sized community located in Michigan, within Wayne County. The total population is 25,428. It ranks as the 47th most populous out of 745 Census-designated places in Michigan.
Age Demographics
The median age in Inkster is 35.0 years. This is 13% lower than the state median of 40.2 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Inkster is $39,252. This is 46% 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 35.2%. This is 167% 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 14.4%. This is 153% higher than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $80,400. Housing costs are 65% lower than the state median of $231,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.0x, Inkster is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 46.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 36% lower than the state average of 73.2%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Inkster is Black or African American, making up 70.3% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 16.8%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (16.8%) is well below the state average of 72.4%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (70.3% vs 13.1%). The Asian population (1.4%) is well below the state average of 3.4%.
Education
13.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 60% 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 84.0%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Inkster, 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 Inkster, Michigan?
Inkster, Michigan has a population of 25,428 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Inkster, MI?
The median household income in Inkster is $39,252, which is 51% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Inkster, MI?
The poverty rate in Inkster is 35.2%. This means approximately 8,936 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Inkster, Michigan?
Inkster's population is 16.8% White, 70.3% Black, 3.7% Hispanic/Latino, and 1.4% Asian.
What is the median home value in Inkster, MI?
The median home value in Inkster is $80,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 2.0x.
How educated is Inkster, Michigan?
13.1% of adults (25+) in Inkster hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 3.9% hold a graduate or professional degree.