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Wayne County, Michigan Demographics 2026

Wayne County, Michigan has a population of 1,772,259, the 1st most populous county in Michigan. The median household income is $60,539 and the median home value is $178,500. The poverty rate is 20.8%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Wayne County Quick Facts

Population 1,772,259
Median Household Income $60,539
Median Home Value $178,500
Poverty Rate 20.8%
Unemployment Rate 8.7%
Median Age 37.9 years
Homeownership Rate 64.8%
Affordability Ratio 2.9x
Bachelor's Degree+ 27.6%
High School Graduation 88.0%
Cities/Places 34
Population 1,772,259 1st of 83
Median Income $60,539 17% lower than state
Poverty Rate 20.8%
Unemployment 8.7%

How Wayne County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population1,773,7671,772,259-0.1%
Median household income$59,521$60,539+1.7%
Median home value$170,200$178,500+4.9%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 22.5%
$25K-$50K 20.3%
$50K-$100K 27.6%
$100K+ 29.6%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
8.1%
$10K-$15K
5.9%
$15K-$20K
4.2%
$20K-$25K
4.3%
$25K-$30K
3.8%
$30K-$35K
4.2%
$35K-$40K
4.2%
$40K-$45K
4.4%
$45K-$50K
3.9%
$50K-$60K
6.8%
$60K-$75K
9.2%
$75K-$100K
11.6%
$100K-$125K
8.9%
$125K-$150K
6.1%
$150K-$200K
6.9%
$200K+
7.8%

Employment

8.7% Unemployment Rate State: 5.7%|National: 5.2%
59.2% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 64.8%
Renter 35.3%
Affordability Index Very Affordable
2.9x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $1,132/mo 22.4% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

63out of 100
High Diversity

A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.

State average: 45 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Wayne County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Detroit638,530$39,93832.7%$83,900
Dearborn107,423$65,32424.3%$218,800
Livonia93,851$98,4604.7%$281,100
Westland83,633$62,07614.3%$184,600
Taylor62,081$61,08118.4%$152,600
Dearborn Heights61,771$60,39121.9%$185,100
Lincoln Park39,257$58,61621.5%$131,000
Southgate29,366$66,1189.4%$173,600
Allen Park27,925$81,6556.9%$183,700
Hamtramck27,743$39,29339.9%$131,000
Garden City26,739$67,29410.7%$168,800
Inkster25,428$39,25235.2%$80,400
Romulus24,831$69,15113.5%$159,500
Wyandotte24,489$71,98713.0%$166,900
Trenton18,125$82,2125.5%$210,600
Wayne17,310$59,03815.7%$157,800
Grosse Pointe Woods16,094$126,3954.9%$342,100
Harper Woods15,116$65,02219.8%$157,200
Woodhaven12,690$78,64813.0%$231,800
Melvindale12,554$42,18539.1%$125,800
Riverview12,186$73,4687.3%$215,100
Grosse Pointe Park11,319$124,1114.9%$473,100
Flat Rock10,340$81,58510.3%$228,800
Grosse Pointe Farms9,904$161,2082.5%$442,000
Plymouth9,214$112,1453.2%$448,600
Ecorse9,064$40,24129.4%$65,400
Highland Park8,628$29,30940.9%$79,200
River Rouge7,008$41,05339.8%$65,100
Northville6,069$145,5302.8%$465,400
Grosse Pointe5,541$158,8532.8%$436,800
Gibraltar4,873$91,6513.2%$223,200
Belleville3,910$62,9915.5%$148,300
Rockwood3,161$88,08011.4%$188,600
Village of Grosse Pointe Shores2,795$189,5832.7%$733,500

Explore Michigan Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Wayne County is located in Michigan with a total population of 1,772,259. It is the 1st most populous county out of 83 in Michigan. The county encompasses 34 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Wayne County is 37.9 years. This is 6% lower than the state median of 40.2 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Wayne County is $60,539. This is 17% lower than the state median of $72,875. It is also 25% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 20.8%. This is 57% 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 8.7%. This is 52% higher than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $178,500. Housing costs are 23% lower than the state median of $231,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.9x, Wayne County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 64.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 12% lower than the state average of 73.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Wayne County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 47.9% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 36.6%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (36.6% vs 13.1%).

Education

27.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 15% 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 88.0%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Wayne County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Michigan and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Wayne County, Michigan?

Wayne County has a population of 1,772,259, making it the 1st most populous county in Michigan.

What is the median income in Wayne County?

The median household income in Wayne County is $60,539 with a poverty rate of 20.8%.

How many cities are in Wayne County, Michigan?

Wayne County contains 34 Census-designated places.