The Town FilesDetroit, Michigan
City in Wayne County · population 639,111 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $83,900
- Household income
- $39,938
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 31 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 35.2
Detroit is a city of 639,111 people in Wayne County, Michigan. The median home is worth $83,900, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks more walkable than 99% of Michigan towns, better transit than 99% of Michigan towns, more vibrant than 96% of Michigan towns.
How Detroit ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Detroit is worth $83,900, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $39,938, which is more affordable than 92% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,074 a month. 50.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Detroit | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $83,900 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,074 | $955 |
| Median household income | $39,938 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 50.3% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1947 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in Detroit
| People | Detroit | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.2 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.1% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.1% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 32.7% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 4.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.6% | — |
| Work from home | 12.0% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 24.8 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.7% | 88.8% |
Weather in Detroit
July highs average 84.1°F and January lows 19.4°F. About 34.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 30.8 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 125 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Detroit since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on July 4, 1957 about 9.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 107 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 15, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 63 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on November 13, 1955.
Severe weather in Wayne County since 1996
Wayne County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 8, 2024 | Flood | DR-4757: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 15, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4607: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| September 25, 2014 | Flood | DR-4195: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Wayne County
Wayne County had 725,504 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $76,411 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Detroit itself the ACS puts it at 14%.
Public schools in Detroit
185 public schools with 80,470 students, about 17.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cass Technical High School | 9-12 | 2,485 | 25.1 |
| Western International High School | 9-12 | 1,931 | 23.3 |
| Renaissance High School | 9-12 | 1,171 | 20.2 |
| Munger ElementaryMiddle School | PK-8 | 933 | 19.9 |
| Detroit Service Learning Academy Campus (charter) | PK-8 | 919 | 17.3 |
| Earhart ElementaryMiddle School | PK-8 | 899 | 18.7 |
| University Preparatory Art Design MiddleHigh (charter) | 6-12 | 882 | 18.0 |
| Mackenzie ElementaryMiddle School | PK-8 | 879 | 20.4 |
| Ronald Brown Academy | PK-8 | 874 | 20.8 |
| Detroit Edison Public School Academy (charter) | PK-8 | 855 | 18.2 |
| Mumford High School | 9-12 | 852 | 20.8 |
| John R King Academic and Performing Arts Academy | PK-8 | 845 | 19.2 |
Towns near Detroit
- Highland Park, MI1.6 mi · 8,977 people · home $79,200
- Hamtramck, MI2.5 mi · 28,433 people · home $131,000
- Hazel Park, MI5.5 mi · 14,983 people · home $158,600
- Ferndale, MI5.5 mi · 19,190 people · home $247,700
- Pleasant Ridge, MI6.5 mi · 2,627 people · home $448,700
- Oak Park, MI7.0 mi · 29,560 people · home $212,300
- Dearborn, MI7.4 mi · 109,976 people · home $218,800
- River Rouge, MI7.6 mi · 7,224 people · home $65,100
Detroit questions
Is Detroit, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Detroit scores better for retirees than 1% of Michigan towns and quieter than 1%. 15.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.2).
How much does a house cost in Detroit?
The median owner-occupied home in Detroit is valued at $83,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $39,938, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $1,074 a month.
What is the weather like in Detroit?
July highs average 84.1°F and January lows 19.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.9 inches of precipitation a year and 30.8 inches of snow.
Does Detroit get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Detroit since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on July 4, 1957. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)