What are the schools like in Detroit, MI?

Detroit is served primarily by Detroit Public Schools Community District. The district operates 69 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 24 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 16.1:1.

What is the median household income in Detroit?

The median household income in Detroit, MI is $37,761 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 14.7%.

What is the weather like in Detroit, MI?

Detroit has an average high temperature of 33.0°F in January and 84.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 34.9 inches and annual snowfall averages 30.8 inches.

Detroit, MI Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Detroit, MI affordable or expensive?

Detroit's cost of living index is 98, where 100 represents the national average. This means Detroit is 2% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $66,700 and the median rent is $989 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Detroit, MI?

Detroit has a violent crime rate of 1781.3 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 4305.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Detroit, MI a Good Place to Live?

Detroit is a large city of 636,787 in Michigan, with a median household income of $37,761 and a 14.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 98 (US average = 100), which is 2% below the national average.

Strengths: Detroit stands out for below-average home prices, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Detroit is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Detroit city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 98.0

Detroit's overall cost of living index is 98.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Detroit costs roughly 2% less than the average American city.

Metric	Detroit, MI	National Avg
Median Home Value	$66,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$989	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	48.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$37,761	$74,755

Crime & Safety

High Crime

Detroit's violent crime rate is 1781.3 per 100,000 residents — 369% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

1781.3 /100k

Property Crime

4305.3 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Detroit is served primarily by Detroit Public Schools Community District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.1:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Detroit, MI	National Avg
School District	Detroit Public Schools Community District	—
Elementary Schools	69	—
Middle Schools	4	—
High Schools	24	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	16.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	16.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	82.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Detroit sees average highs of 33.0°F in January and 84.1°F in July, with 34.9 inches of annual precipitation and 30.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Detroit, MI
Average High — January	33.0°F
Average High — July	84.1°F
Annual Precipitation	34.9"
Annual Snowfall	30.8"

Demographics

Metric	Detroit, MI	National Avg
Population	636,787	—
Median Age	35.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	14.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	25.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	12.2%	59.3%
Black or African American	77.8%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	5.6%	18.9%
Asian	1.6%	6.3%
Under 18	24.6%	22.2%
65 and over	14.4%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Highland Park, MI 2 mi Hamtramck, MI 3 mi Hazel Park, MI 5 mi Ferndale, MI 5 mi Pleasant Ridge, MI 6 mi

ZIP Codes in Detroit

Detroit, MI is covered by 31 ZIP codes:

48228 48219 48234 48227 48209 48213 48205 48207 48235 48223 48224 48238 48203 48221 48214 48204 48210 48215 48211 48212 48202 48208 48206 48217 48216 48201 48239 48226 48240 48233 48243

Detroit vs Other Cities

Detroit, MI vs Highland Park, MI Detroit, MI vs Hamtramck, MI Detroit, MI vs Hazel Park, MI Detroit, MI vs Ferndale, MI Detroit, MI vs Pleasant Ridge, MI

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Detroit, MI affordable or expensive?

Detroit's cost of living index is 98, where 100 is the national average. That makes Detroit roughly 2% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $66,700 and median rent is $989/month.

What is the crime rate in Detroit, MI?

Detroit's violent crime rate is 1781.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 4305.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Detroit?

Public schools in Detroit are operated by Detroit Public Schools Community District. The district has 69 elementary, 4 middle, and 24 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.1:1. 16.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Detroit, MI a good place to live?

Detroit, MI has a population of 636,787, a median household income of $37,761, and an unemployment rate of 14.7%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Detroit?

Detroit averages 33.0°F in January and 84.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 34.9 inches with about 30.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Detroit?

Detroit, MI is covered by 31 ZIP codes: 48228, 48219, 48234, 48227, 48209, 48213, 48205, 48207, 48235, 48223, 48224, 48238, 48203, 48221, 48214, 48204, 48210, 48215, 48211, 48212, 48202, 48208, 48206, 48217, 48216, 48201, 48239, 48226, 48240, 48233, 48243.

What is the population of Detroit?

The population of Detroit, Michigan is 636,787 with a median age of 35.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Detroit?

Key numbers for living in Detroit: cost of living index 98 (100 = US average), median home $66,700, median household income $37,761, crime index 363 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Detroit side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.