Detroit Metro Area, MI Local Data & Statistics

State: MI

Total population: 4,376,828 Household income: $76,664 Rent: $1,207

Overview

Total population

4,376,828

Rent

$1,207

Year built

1968

Household income

$76,664

Per capita income

$43,384

Poverty rate

13.6%

Unemployment rate

4.5%

Household size

2.5 persons

Rent over 30% of income

46.9%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Total population

4,376,828

Adults over 25

3,077,577

Total households

1,768,816

Household size

2.5 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$76,664

Per capita income

$43,384

Poverty rate

13.6%

Unemployment rate

4.5%

Rent over 30% of income

46.9%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,207

Year built

1968

Households that rent

28.8%

Households that own

71.2%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.9

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

64.6%

Black

21.4%

Asian

5.1%

Two or more races

6.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

5.3%

Not Hispanic or Latino

94.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

84.3%

Commute time to work

26 mins

Work from home

15.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

29%

High school graduate or GED

25.7%

Some college or associate degree

10.5%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

34.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Detroit Metro Area, MI with: Michigan United States

Detroit Metro Area

Total population4,376,828

Rent$1,207

Year built1968

Household income$76,664

Per capita income$43,384

Poverty rate13.6%

Unemployment rate4.5%

Michigan State

Total population10,077,761

Rent$1,129

Year built1972

Household income$72,875

Per capita income$40,735

Poverty rate13.2%

Unemployment rate4.7%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	Metro AreaDetroit Metro Area	StateMichigan	CountryUnited States
Total population	4,376,828	10,077,761	334,922,499
Rent	$1,207	$1,129	$1,413
Year built	1968	1972	1980
Household income	$76,664	$72,875	$80,734
Per capita income	$43,384	$40,735	$44,673
Poverty rate	13.6%	13.2%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	4.5%	4.7%	4%

View the complete comparison of Detroit Metro Area, Michigan and United States →

Summary for Detroit Metro Area, MI

Detroit metro area is located in MI.

Rent & Income

The typical monthly rent in this metro area is $1,207, while the typical household income is $76,664. Rent in this metro area is higher than Michigan and lower than the U.S., and household income is higher than Michigan and lower than the U.S.

Housing & Affordability

This metro area is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 28.8% of households. About 46.9% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating a high cost burden. The poverty rate is about 13.6%, which is similar to the Michigan rate and higher than the national rate.

Education & Employment

The local unemployment rate is about 4.5%, which is similar to the Michigan rate and higher than the national rate.

Detroit Metro Area, MI — Rent vs Household Income

Detroit Metro Area, MI — Poverty vs Unemployment

💰 Rent in Detroit Metro Area, MI (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,207 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Detroit Metro Area, MI

Annual Household Income: $76,664

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Detroit Metro Area, MI

Estimated Rate: 13.6%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Detroit Metro Area, MI

In Detroit Metro Area, MI, households that rent: 509,448 (28.8%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	509,448	28.8%
Owner-Occupied	1,259,368	71.2%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Detroit Metro Area, MI

In Detroit Metro Area, MI, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 239,073 (46.9%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	239,073	46.9%
Other renter households	270,375	53.1%
Total renter households	509,448	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Detroit Metro Area, MI

Less than High School: 893,944 people (29%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 791,104 people (25.7%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 322,163 people (10.5%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 1,070,366 people (34.8%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 3,077,577

📊 Unemployment Rate in Detroit Metro Area, MI

Estimated Rate: 4.5%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.