What are the schools like in River Rouge, MI?

River Rouge is served primarily by River Rouge School District of the City of. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 28.0:1.

What is the median household income in River Rouge?

The median household income in River Rouge, MI is $26,343 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 12.9%.

What is the weather like in River Rouge, MI?

River Rouge has an average high temperature of 33.0°F in January and 84.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 37.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 53.5 inches.

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

Q: Is River Rouge, MI affordable or expensive?

River Rouge's cost of living index is 98, where 100 represents the national average. This means River Rouge is 2% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $49,200 and the median rent is $731 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in River Rouge, MI?

River Rouge has a violent crime rate of 864.0 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2311.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is River Rouge, MI a Good Place to Live?

River Rouge is a small town of 7,200 in Michigan, with a median household income of $26,343 and a 12.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 98 (US average = 100), which is 2% below the national average.

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

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether River Rouge is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All River Rouge 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

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

Metric	River Rouge, MI	National Avg
Median Home Value	$49,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$731	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	50.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$26,343	$74,755

Crime & Safety

High Crime

River Rouge's violent crime rate is 864.0 per 100,000 residents — 127% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

864.0 /100k

Property Crime

2311.8 /100k

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

Schools & Education

River Rouge is served primarily by River Rouge School District of the City of. The student-to-teacher ratio is 28.0:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	River Rouge, MI	National Avg
School District	River Rouge School District of the City of	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	28.0:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	8.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	80.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

River Rouge sees average highs of 33.0°F in January and 84.1°F in July, with 37.4 inches of annual precipitation and 53.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	River Rouge, MI
Average High — January	33.0°F
Average High — July	84.1°F
Annual Precipitation	37.4"
Annual Snowfall	53.5"

Demographics

Metric	River Rouge, MI	National Avg
Population	7,200	—
Median Age	34.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	12.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	23.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	36.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	46.3%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	10.6%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	22.3%	22.2%
65 and over	11.4%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Ecorse, MI 2 mi Melvindale, MI 3 mi Lincoln Park, MI 4 mi Allen Park, MI 5 mi Wyandotte, MI 5 mi

ZIP Codes in River Rouge

River Rouge, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code:

48218

River Rouge vs Other Cities

River Rouge, MI vs Ecorse, MI River Rouge, MI vs Melvindale, MI River Rouge, MI vs Lincoln Park, MI River Rouge, MI vs Allen Park, MI River Rouge, MI vs Wyandotte, MI

Frequently Asked Questions

Is River Rouge, MI affordable or expensive?

River Rouge's cost of living index is 98, where 100 is the national average. That makes River Rouge roughly 2% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $49,200 and median rent is $731/month.

What is the crime rate in River Rouge, MI?

River Rouge's violent crime rate is 864.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2311.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in River Rouge?

Public schools in River Rouge are operated by River Rouge School District of the City of. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 28.0:1. 8.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is River Rouge, MI a good place to live?

River Rouge, MI has a population of 7,200, a median household income of $26,343, and an unemployment rate of 12.9%. 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 River Rouge?

River Rouge averages 33.0°F in January and 84.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 37.4 inches with about 53.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in River Rouge?

River Rouge, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 48218.

What is the population of River Rouge?

The population of River Rouge, Michigan is 7,200 with a median age of 34.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in River Rouge?

Key numbers for living in River Rouge: cost of living index 98 (100 = US average), median home $49,200, median household income $26,343, crime index 180 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare River Rouge side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.