ZIP Code 48235: Population, Income, Housing

State: MI

Total population: 45,600 Household income: $39,265 Rent: $1,169

Overview

Total population

45,600

Rent

$1,169

Year built

1953

Household income

$39,265

Per capita income

$23,500

Poverty rate

31.5%

Unemployment rate

N/A

Household size

2.4 persons

Rent over 30% of income

57.7%

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

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available. New 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Michigan

County

Wayne County

City

Detroit

Total population

45,600

Adults over 25

30,411

Total households

18,654

Household size

2.4 persons

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

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$39,265

Per capita income

$23,500

Poverty rate

31.5%

Unemployment rate

N/A

Rent over 30% of income

57.7%

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

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Housing

Rent

$1,169

Year built

1953

Households that rent

46.5%

Households that own

53.5%

Rooms per home (all homes)

6.0

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

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Race

White

2.6%

Black

93.8%

Asian

0.4%

Two or more races

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

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

1.8%

Not Hispanic or Latino

98.2%

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

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Commute

Commute rate

13,834 (90.6%)

Commute time to work

24 mins

Work from home

1,443 (9.4%)

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

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Education

Less than high school

38.6%

High school graduate or GED

35.5%

Some college or associate degree

11.1%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

14.8%

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

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Comparison of ZIP Code 48235 with: Wayne County, MI Detroit, MI Detroit metro area, MI Michigan United States

ZIP 48235

Total population45,600

Rent$1,169

Year built1953

Household income$39,265

Per capita income$23,500

Poverty rate31.5%

Unemployment rateN/A

Wayne County, MI

Total population1,772,259

Rent$1,132

Year built1956

Household income$60,539

Per capita income$34,906

Poverty rate20.8%

Unemployment rate5.5%

Detroit, MI

Total population638,530

Rent$1,074

Year built1947

Household income$39,938

Per capita income$24,594

Poverty rate32.7%

Unemployment rate9.2%

Detroit Metro Area, MI

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	ZIP48235	CountyWayne, MI	CityDetroit, MI	Metro AreaDetroit metro area, MI	StateMichigan	CountryUnited States
Total population	45,600	1,772,259	638,530	4,376,828	10,077,761	334,922,499
Rent	$1,169	$1,132	$1,074	$1,207	$1,129	$1,413
Year built	1953	1956	1947	1968	1972	1980
Household income	$39,265	$60,539	$39,938	$76,664	$72,875	$80,734
Per capita income	$23,500	$34,906	$24,594	$43,384	$40,735	$44,673
Poverty rate	31.5%	20.8%	32.7%	13.6%	13.2%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	N/A	5.5%	9.2%	4.5%	4.7%	4%

View the full multi-level comparison →

Summary for 48235

Rent & Income

In 48235, the typical monthly rent is $1,169 and the typical household income is $39,265. Rent here is higher than Detroit and similar to Michigan, and household income is similar to Detroit and lower than Michigan. The estimated poverty rate is 31.5%, which is similar to the Detroit rate and higher than the Michigan rate.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 46.5% of households, indicating a relatively balanced mix of renters and owners. About 57.7% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Only about 14.8% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher, indicating lower levels of formal education.

ZIP 48235 — Rent vs Household Income

ZIP 48235 — Poverty

How ZIP 48235 compares in Michigan (88 ZIP Codes)

Metric	This ZIP	Rank	Starts from	State range
Rent	$1,169	36 / 88	from lower rent	$856 – $2,049
Household income	$39,265	82 / 88	from higher income	$30,680 – $131,558
Poverty rate	31.5%	77 / 88	from lower poverty	3.2% – 41.8%

Rankings are calculated among ZIP Codes in Michigan with total population > 30,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for ZIP Code 48235

Rent

When it comes to rent, ZIP Code 48235 ranks 36th out of 88 ZIP Codes in Michigan. Statewide, values range from $856 in ZIP 48601 up to $2,049 in ZIP 48322.

Household income

Income-wise, this area is placed 82nd out of 88 ZIP Codes. Across Michigan, figures vary from $30,680 in ZIP 48228 up to $131,558 in ZIP 48178.

Poverty rate

When it comes to poverty, ZIP Code 48235 places 77th out of 88 ZIP Codes. Throughout Michigan, numbers span from 3.2% in ZIP 48042 up to 41.8% in ZIP 48228.

💰 Rent in ZIP Code 48235 (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,169 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 like heat, water, and electricity.

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 ZIP Code 48235

Annual Household Income: $39,265

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in the ZIP code — 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 ZIP Code 48235

Estimated Rate: 31.5%

💡 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 ZIP Code 48235

In ZIP Code 48235, households that rent: 8,674 (46.5%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this ZIP Code?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	8,674	46.5%
Owner-Occupied	9,980	53.5%

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 ZIP Code 48235

In ZIP Code 48235, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 5,007 (57.7%)

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

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	5,007	57.7%
Other renter households	3,667	42.3%
Total renter households	8,674	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in the ZIP code 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 ZIP Code 48235

Less than High School: 11,751 people (38.6%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 10,791 people (35.5%)

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

Some College or Associate Degree: 3,365 people (11.1%)

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

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 4,504 people (14.8%)

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

👥 Total Adults (25+): 30,411

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.