With 649,095 people, Detroit can't be summed up by one letter: its D averages neighborhoods that are worlds apart. It ranks 680th of 697 graded places in Michigan. It is easier to get around on foot or by transit than 95% of U.S. towns. What weighs on its grade: its police reported 10,590 violent crimes reported to the FBI in 2025, a higher rate per resident than 100% of U.S. towns, and on CDC health estimates it is near the bottom nationally. History is its standout character grade: an A+, better than 100% of U.S. towns, with 286 places on the National Register. 33% of residents live below the poverty line in Detroit, above both the Michigan town median (8.9%) and the median of U.S. towns (9.6%). Its National Register listings include Pewabic Pottery and Parke-Davis Research Laboratory. Only 26 of Michigan’s 1,265 towns score lower on civic life.

StrongestA⁺History A⁺Walkability A⁻Hazard riskWeakestD⁻Safety D⁻Health C⁻Jobs & income C⁻Schools

What makes Detroit stand out

Where Detroit beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.

Pewabic Pottery

HistoryA⁺

Settled in 1701

A history going back 325 years.

Biggest of 6

College	Students
Wayne State University	20,601
Wayne County Community College District	10,687
University of Detroit Mercy	5,421

Colleges in town

6 colleges

38,384 students on campus

Students are 5% of residents.

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

Detroit16.5

Michigan4.3

U.S.3.3

Worth knowing · SafetyD⁻

3.8 times the violent crime than MI

More crime per resident than 99% of U.S. towns

FBI data, 2025. Crimes reported to police.

Pewabic Pottery · National Register of Historic Places

Detroit’s story

325 years in pictures

Pewabic Pottery is one of 11 National Historic Landmarks here, the National Register’s top tier. Its founding year, 1701, is the earliest of any Michigan town we grade.

Census counts: 1,422 in 1820, a peak of 1,849,568 in 1950, 639,111 in 2020. The archive holds 18 old photos and papers going back to 1821 and 8 maps from 1905 on.

286 places on the National Register of Historic Places.

1701Detroit is settled

Explore the history →

How Detroit grades

Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Michigan), ordered by how far Detroit is from typical.

How grading works

SafetyMore crime per resident than almost any U.S. townD⁻Open →HealthHenry Ford Health Hospital 1.5 miles awayD⁻Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 12.7 of 20; 20.1% of households have no car; 8.1% of workers walk, bike or ride transitA⁺Open →Jobs & income$40K median household incomeC⁻Open →SchoolsC⁻Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 24% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listA⁻Open →Cost of livingTypical home $75K, 1 years of the Detroit metro’s $77K median household incomeB⁺Open →

Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.

Outdoors6% conserved landB⁺Open →History28 notable people born hereA⁺Open →Civic life0.5 library visits per resident; 4.4 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsDOpen →

Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.

Climate–Open →Housing market54 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 35.2; 18% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →

How TownRatings grades towns →

Nearby attractions

Ford Field and 53 more within 40 miles

Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Detroit. Close and well known come first.

All 68 attractions →

Big drawin town Stadium & arenaFord Field

in town Stadium & arenaComerica Park

in town TheatreFox Theatre

Big draw34 mi Stadium & arenaMichigan Stadium

in town MuseumDetroit Institute of Arts

in town GardenBelle Isle Park

Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons

Photo credits

Ford Field: Unknown, CC BY 2.5 · Comerica Park: City of Detroit, Public domain · Fox Theatre: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Michigan Stadium: Lectrician2, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Detroit Institute of Arts: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Belle Isle Park: WMrapids, CC0

Getting set up

Moving to Detroit: who provides what

Who provides power, water and the rest in Detroit, and how to reach them.

The full setup list →

PowerDTE20.2¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA

WaterCity of Detroit water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA

Internet4 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC

Trash & dumpJ. Fons YardDrop-offTown site

SchoolsDetroit Public Schools Community DistrictWhich school depends on your addressNCES

Register to voteOnlineIn Michigan you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before).vote.gov

Who runs elections hereDetroit City ClerkThe town itself; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Nov 2025

ZIP codes48228, 48219, 48235, 4822748228 8% · 48219 7% · 48235 7% · 48227 6%Census 2020

EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 12, 2025.

The data

Ordered by what stands out in Detroit.

Detroit has homes that are cheap against local pay, but it reports violent crime at 4 times the Michigan rate and has poverty well above the Michigan rate.

HousingCost of living grade B⁺

Compared with most of Michigan and the rest of the country, fewer of Detroit’s households own their home

At 1 years of the Detroit metro’s $77K median household income, the typical home (about $75K) costs less against local pay than in 99% of Michigan towns; that ratio is one input to its B+ for cost of living. Its typical home is the least expensive on its borders; River Rouge is next at $83K.

50% of households own their home in Detroit. Typical home values fell 6% in the year to September 2026. 61% of renter households spend 30% or more of their income on rent in Detroit.

$75KZillow home value

	Detroit	Michigan towns	U.S. towns
Households that own their home	50%	84%	73%
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent	61%	45%	48%

Typical home value

Detroit$75K

Michigan$264K

Market temperature

days on market

94.5%

sale-to-list price

−6%

value change, 1 year

407

homes sold in May

Full pageDetroit’s housing & cost-of-living pageOpen the page

Prices over the yearsDown 6% in a year Years of income to buyA typical home costs 1.9 years of income Rents$1,074 a month · Median rent Vs. the neighborsAhead of 8 of its 10 graded neighbors

Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center

SchoolsC⁻

Public schools in Detroit fall behind 83% of Michigan districts

Its public schools are run by the Detroit Public Schools Community District. Three of its 204 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.

17%of MI districts it outscoresC⁻School Grade

School	Level	Students	Letter
Oakland International Academy 28Largest public middle schoolGrades 2–8	Grades 2–8	1,034	D
Cass Technical High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12	Grades 9–12	2,493	B
Chrysler Elementary SchoolTop results in townGrades PK–5	Grades PK–5	137	A⁺

Full pageDetroit’s schools pageOpen the page

The districtsDetroit Public Schools Community District Vs. the neighborsAhead of 1 of its 10 graded neighbors Every school204 schools · Earhart ElementaryMiddle School Questions“Are Detroit’s schools good?”

NCES · EDFacts · graded within MI on state tests and graduation

SafetyD⁻

Violent crime in Detroit is higher than in the typical Michigan or U.S. town

Violent crime runs at 16.5 per 1,000 residents, 4 times the Michigan rate; the Safety Grade counts each violent crime four times, so this weighs most on its D−. Each of the 6 graded towns on its borders reports less crime per resident, from Harper Woods (D−) to Grosse Pointe Park (B).

The violent crime rate in Detroit is 16.5 per 1,000 residents. Only 8 of the 272 Michigan towns we compare have a higher property crime rate than Detroit. Detroit reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 100% report less.

1%of U.S. towns report more crimeD⁻Safety Grade

	Detroit	Michigan towns	U.S. towns
Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025)	16.5 per 1,000 residents	1.9	1.6
Property crimes per 1,000 (2025)	38.8 per 1,000 residents	7.8	9.9

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

Detroit16.5

Michigan4.3

U.S.3.3

Property crime per 1,000 residents

Detroit38.8

Michigan13

U.S.15.5

1st

percentile among U.S. towns we grade

1st

percentile among MI towns

10,590

violent crimes reported in 2025

24,930

property crimes reported in 2025

Full pageDetroit’s safety reportOpen the page

Violent crime by type16.5 violent crimes per 1,000 Crime over the yearsDown since 2023 Vs. the neighborsBehind its 9 graded neighbors Questions“Is Detroit, MI safe?”

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police

HealthD⁻

Health in Detroit trails 98% of U.S. towns

Detroit beats the Michigan average on 3 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 24. 19% of Detroit adults have diabetes. Only 4 of the 701 Michigan towns we compare have a higher share of adults who sleep under 7 hours than Detroit.

2%healthier than U.S. townsD⁻Health Grade

	Detroit	Michigan towns	U.S. towns
Diabetes (CDC PLACES)	19%	12%	12%
Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES)	23%	18%	17%
Get no exercise (CDC PLACES)	38%	25%	25%
Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES)	49%	34%	36%

32 measures vs. Michigan

3 better5 too close to call24 worse

What stands out	Detroit	MI
Fewer adults who have had cancer	5.1%	8.9%
Fewer binge drinkers	11.8%	15.9%
More adults facing a utility shut-off	25.6%	8.7%

Henry Ford Health Hospital

1.5 mi away · emergency room

3 of 3

care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health

1st

percentile among MI towns

Full pageDetroit’s health reportOpen the page

Everyday habitsMore adults who get no exercise Hospitals & doctors nearby1.5 miles to an ER · Henry Ford Health Hospital How adults are doingMore adults in fair or poor health Every CDC estimateBetter than MI on 3 of 32

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA

OutdoorsB⁺

Detroit has set aside 6.2% of its land for conservation

107 miles of trail in 296 parks and preserves. River Rouge Park, at 903 acres with 13 miles of trail, is the biggest park or preserve. Detroit’s trail density is 0.8 miles per square mile.

#198for trails in MI

	Detroit	Michigan towns	U.S. towns
Miles of trail per square mile	0.8 miles per square mile	0.3	0.4
Conserved land	6.2%	4.4%	4.3%

6.2%

conserved · 5,611 of 90,943 acres

107 mi

of trails · 0.8 per sq mi

Biggest places to walk	Trails	Acres
1. River Rouge Park	13 mi	903
2. Belle Isle	11.7 mi	895
3. Palmer Park	4.2 mi	296

Full pageDetroit’s outdoors pageOpen the page

Trail map107 miles of trail, mapped Pick a walk13 miles of trail · River Rouge Park Conserved land6.2% conserved · 5,611 acres protected Questions“Where can I hike in Detroit?”

Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US

Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A⁻

Low risk in Detroit, with inland flooding at the top

379 flood insurance claims have been filed here, and 68 properties have flooded more than once.

Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 76% of U.S. communities. Since 1979, 379 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Detroit.

24risk score of 100

FEMA risk score

Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes

379

paid flood claims since 1979

federal disasters paid out here

Full pageDetroit’s hazards pageOpen the page

What it facesLow risk Flood claims379 paid flood claims · Since 1979 Past disasters6 federal disasters · Paid out in Detroit Get ready3.1 events a year, on average · Ready for inland flooding

FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

Climate

In Detroit, expect four seasons and pleasant summers

Detroit has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers. July afternoons reach 84°, January nights drop to 19° and about 31 inches of snow falls in a winter.

31″snow a winter

Typical low → high °F

Winter21–35°

Spring38–58°

Summer61–82°

Fall44–61°

Oct 31

typical first frost

Apr 21

typical last frost

+1.6°

vs. the 20th-century average

Full pageDetroit’s climate pageOpen the page

A year of weatherJuly highs 84°, January lows 19°Rain & snow31″ of snow a winter · 34 inches of rain and snow a year Heating & coolingMostly a heating bill Then and now+1.6° vs. the 20th century · Warmer than the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

Work & commuteJobs & income grade C⁻

With 1.3 jobs for every working resident, Detroit draws in 165,775 commuters

About one in 3 of Detroit’s working residents works in town. Among 701 Michigan towns, just 10 have a lower median household income than Detroit. Since 2011, Detroit has lost 14,079 jobs, to 217,738 in 2021.

31%work in town

	Detroit	Michigan towns	U.S. towns
Working residents who work in town	31%	5.9%	8%
Median household income	$40,000	$77,000	$80,000
Work from home	12%	10%	11%

Where working residents work

In Detroit31%

Warren6%

Southfield6%

Dearborn5%

Troy4%

10 mi

median commute distance

217,738

jobs based in Detroit

Balanced

jobs vs. working residents

A+

Walkability grade: more walkable than 95% of U.S. towns

Full pageDetroit’s work & commute pageOpen the page

The jobs here217,738 jobs based here · Balanced Where people work31% work in Detroit Commute times25 minutes · The average commute How far they goHalf commute less than 10 miles

Census LEHD 2021 · ACS

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Detroit

20pages on Detroit

The big questions

SchoolsC⁻Behind 83% of MI districts · 204 schools SafetyD⁻16.5 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthD⁻Better than MI on 3 of 32 CDC measures Cost of livingB⁺$75K typical home · down 6% in a year Work & commuteC⁻$40K median household income · 217,738 jobs here Natural hazardsA⁻FEMA risk higher than 24% of U.S. communities · inland flooding

Out and about

OutdoorsB⁺107 mi of trails · 6% conserved land PlacesAttractions68 nearby · Ford Field under 1 mi LibraryD0.5 library visits per resident CollegesWayne County Community College District, in town

The story

HistoryA⁺Settled 1701 · 286 on the National Register Famous people28 born in Detroit Town Hall & politicsOne full-time town employee per 61 residents Climate84° summer highs · 31″ of snow

Day to day

News12 recent stories about Detroit WeatherHandbookZIP code 48201, 48202, 48204 Town SquareNeighbors

After high school

Colleges nearby

15 within 15 miles of the center of Detroit

Wayne County Community College DistrictCommunity college · Public · DetroitIn town$3,112 in-state tuition Wayne State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · DetroitIn town$15,190 in-state tuition Ecumenical Theological SeminaryUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · DetroitIn town

About 5 of every 100 Detroit residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Michigan.

Prices by family income, graduation and earnings →

College town

Wayne State University calls Detroit home

6 colleges in town.

Wayne State University20,601 students on campus

Admission: 81%
Net price: $12,766
Graduate: 58%

Wayne County Community College District10,687 students on campus

Admission: Open
Net price: $7,656
Graduate: 22%

University of Detroit Mercy5,421 students on campus

Admission: 75%
Net price: $15,232
Graduate: 67%

College Scorecard · IPEDS

Landmarks

286 places in Detroit on the National Register of Historic Places.

All landmarks →

Pewabic PotteryNational Historic Landmark

Parke-Davis Research LaboratoryNational Historic Landmark

General Motors BuildingBuilt 1922 · National Historic Landmark

Fisher and New Center BuildingsNational Historic Landmark

Famous people from Detroit

28 notable people were born in Detroit.

See all 28 →

Francis Ford CoppolaAmerican filmmaker · born 1939

Charles LindberghAmerican aviator, author, inventor, explorer, and social activist · 1902–1974

Diana RossAmerican singer and actress · born 1944

Alice CooperAmerican singer · born 1948

Steve BallmerAmerican businessman, former chief executive officer of Microsoft · born 1956

Ellen BurstynAmerican actress · born 1932

About Detroit

Most populous city in Michigan, United States

Official town website ↗

Detroit ( dih-TROYT, locally also DEE-troyt) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated on the bank of the Detroit River across from the Canadian city of Windsor, Ontario. It is the 26th-most populous city in the United States and the largest U.S. city on the Canada–United States border, with a population of 639,111 at the 2020 census, and an estimated 2025 population of 649,095, its first population increase since 1950. The Metro Detroit area, at over 4.4 million people, is the 14th-largest metropolitan area in the nation and second-largest in the Midwest (after the Chicago metropolitan area). The county seat of Wayne County, Detroit is a significant cultural c…

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Established: 1701
Area: 143 sq mi
Elevation: 600 ft
ZIP code: 48201, 48202, 48204
Area code: 313

Detroit’s neighbors

10 towns share a border with Detroit.

Explore the map →

All 7 graded towns on its borders grade higher than its D; Harper Woods (D) is closest. Grosse Pointe Park next door grades higher for schools (A to Detroit’s C−) and lower for cost of living (D to B+).

How the neighbors grade

Town	MI rank	Overall	Cost	Safety	Schools	Health
Detroit	#680	D	B⁺	D⁻	C⁻	D⁻
Dearborn	#601	C⁻	C⁻	C	B	C
River Rouge	#625	C⁻	A⁻	—	D	D⁻
Grosse Pointe Park	#71	A	D	B	A	A⁺
Dearborn Heights	#594	C⁻	C	C	B⁺	C
Melvindale	#654	D	B	C	C	D⁻
Harper Woods	#656	D	C⁺	D⁻	A⁻	C⁻
Redford Township	#641	D	C⁺	D	C	C

River Rouge reports no FBI crime data of its own. Compare Detroit with a neighbor →

Questions about Detroit

Short answers, built from the data on this page.

Is Detroit, MI a good place to live?

Detroit grades D overall, better than 6% of U.S. towns and #680 of 697 in Michigan. It grades D− for health, D− for safety and C− for schools. Safety is its weak spot, with a D−.

What is Detroit, MI known for?

28 notable people were born here, including Francis Ford Coppola and Charles Lindbergh.

Post to Detroit

Check your email

DetroitMI

What is it like to live in Detroit?

What makes Detroit stand out

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

325 years in pictures

How Detroit grades

Ford Field and 53 more within 40 miles

Moving to Detroit: who provides what

The data

Compared with most of Michigan and the rest of the country, fewer of Detroit’s households own their home

Typical home value

Public schools in Detroit fall behind 83% of Michigan districts

Violent crime in Detroit is higher than in the typical Michigan or U.S. town

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

Property crime per 1,000 residents

Health in Detroit trails 98% of U.S. towns

Detroit has set aside 6.2% of its land for conservation

Low risk in Detroit, with inland flooding at the top

In Detroit, expect four seasons and pleasant summers

Typical low → high °F

With 1.3 jobs for every working resident, Detroit draws in 165,775 commuters

Where working residents work

Everything we know about Detroit

Colleges nearby

Wayne State University calls Detroit home

Landmarks

Famous people from Detroit

About Detroit

Detroit’s neighbors

Questions about Detroit