The Town FilesHighland Park, Michigan
City in Wayne County · population 8,977 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $79,200
- Household income
- $29,309
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 31 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 42.7
Highland Park is a city of 8,977 people in Wayne County, Michigan. The median home is worth $79,200, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better transit than 100% of Michigan towns, more walkable than 98% of Michigan towns, hipper than 98% of Michigan towns.
- #3 in The 25 Most Walkable Small Towns in Michigan With Little Snow
- #5 in The 25 Most Walkable Historic Small Towns in Michigan
- #9 in 25 Small Towns in Michigan With the Cheapest Homes
- #11 in The 25 Most Walkable Small Towns in Michigan
- #11 in 25 Small Towns in Michigan With the Oldest Homes
- #12 in 25 Small Towns in Michigan With the Least Snow
How Highland Park 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 Highland Park is worth $79,200, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $29,309, which is more affordable than 61% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $688 a month. 44.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Highland Park | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $79,200 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $688 | $955 |
| Median household income | $29,309 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 44.5% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1944 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Highland Park
| People | Highland Park | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.7 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.2% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.3% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 40.9% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 5.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.3% | — |
| Work from home | 8.9% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 22.3 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 73.0% | 88.8% |
Weather in Highland Park
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 19.8°F. About 29.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 30.8 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 112 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Highland Park since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on July 4, 1957 about 8.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 113 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 2, 1997.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 68 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 Highland Park itself the ACS puts it at 18.7%.
Public schools in Highland Park
4 public schools with 802 students, about 21.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barber Elementary School (charter) | PK-8 | 352 | 88.0 |
| George Washington Carver Elementary School (charter) | PK-4 | 210 | 13.1 |
| George Washington Carver Middle School (charter) | 5-8 | 165 | 20.6 |
| Covenant School Spectrum (charter) | 7-12 | 75 | 8.3 |
Towns near Highland Park
- Detroit, MI1.6 mi · 639,111 people · home $83,900
- Hamtramck, MI2.2 mi · 28,433 people · home $131,000
- Hazel Park, MI3.9 mi · 14,983 people · home $158,600
- Ferndale, MI4.1 mi · 19,190 people · home $247,700
- Pleasant Ridge, MI5.2 mi · 2,627 people · home $448,700
- Oak Park, MI6.0 mi · 29,560 people · home $212,300
- Center Line, MI6.3 mi · 8,552 people · home $156,600
- Huntington Woods, MI6.4 mi · 6,388 people · home $473,900
Highland Park questions
Is Highland Park, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Highland Park scores better for retirees than 2% of Michigan towns and quieter than 4%. 24.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.7).
How much does a house cost in Highland Park?
The median owner-occupied home in Highland Park is valued at $79,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $29,309, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $688 a month.
What is the weather like in Highland Park?
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 19.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 29.9 inches of precipitation a year and 30.8 inches of snow.
Does Highland Park get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Highland Park 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)