The Town FilesRiver Rouge, Michigan
City in Wayne County · population 7,224 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $65,100
- Household income
- $41,053
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 54 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 34.4
River Rouge is a city of 7,224 people in Wayne County, Michigan. The median home is worth $65,100, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks more walkable than 100% of Michigan towns, more of a college town than 99% of Michigan towns, hipper than 98% of Michigan towns.
- #1 in The 25 Most Walkable Small Towns in Michigan
- #3 in The 25 Most Walkable Historic Small Towns in Michigan
- #4 in 25 Small Towns in Michigan With the Cheapest Homes
- #6 in 25 Small Towns in Michigan With the Oldest Homes
- #9 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Michigan
- #9 in The 25 Best College Small Towns in Michigan
How River Rouge 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 River Rouge is worth $65,100, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 1.6 times the median household income of $41,053, which is more affordable than 99% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $839 a month. 57.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | River Rouge | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $65,100 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $839 | $955 |
| Median household income | $41,053 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 57.3% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1940 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in River Rouge
| People | River Rouge | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.4 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.7% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 6.6% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 39.8% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 3.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.2% | — |
| Work from home | 7.6% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 25.6 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.8% | 88.8% |
Weather in River Rouge
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 53.5 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
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of River Rouge since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 12, 1956 about 3.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 127 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 15, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 45 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 River Rouge itself the ACS puts it at 11.4%.
Public schools in River Rouge
5 public schools with 3,060 students, about 26.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| River Rouge High School | 9-12 | 961 | 19.6 |
| River Rouge Alternative Virtual Academy | K-12 | 838 | 838.0 |
| Ann Visger K5 Preparatory Academy | PK-5 | 618 | 18.7 |
| River Rouge Stem Academy at Dunn | PK-8 | 353 | 18.6 |
| CB Sabbath 68 Preparatory Academy | 6-8 | 290 | 19.3 |
Towns near River Rouge
- Ecorse, MI1.9 mi · 9,305 people · home $65,400
- Melvindale, MI3.0 mi · 12,851 people · home $125,800
- Lincoln Park, MI3.6 mi · 40,245 people · home $131,000
- Allen Park, MI4.5 mi · 28,638 people · home $183,700
- Wyandotte, MI4.7 mi · 25,058 people · home $166,900
- Dearborn, MI5.2 mi · 109,976 people · home $218,800
- Southgate, MI6.4 mi · 30,014 people · home $173,600
- Detroit, MI7.6 mi · 639,111 people · home $83,900
River Rouge questions
Is River Rouge, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, River Rouge scores better for retirees than 17% of Michigan towns and quieter than 1%. 12.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.4).
How much does a house cost in River Rouge?
The median owner-occupied home in River Rouge is valued at $65,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $41,053, so homes cost about 1.6 times income. Median rent is $839 a month.
What is the weather like in River Rouge?
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 53.5 inches of snow.
Does River Rouge get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of River Rouge since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 12, 1956. 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)