PlainZIP

Melvindale, MI · standard

ZIP Code 48122

Wayne County, Michigan - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

10,727
1,520/sq mi
$42,185
Median income
$125,800
Median home value
14.0%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Melvindale pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with among the most affordable home values nationally, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.

7th pct
household income, US ZIPs
19th pct
home value, US ZIPs
1,520
people per sq mi
61%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 48122 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 48122 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Melvindale, Wayne County, Michigan, home to 10,727 residents across 7.1 square miles, a density of 1,520 people per square mile, in the Detroit time zone.

ZIP 48122 reports a modest median household income of $42,185 (42% below the Michigan average), while per-capita income is $20,408. Poverty here runs at 39.1%, with unemployment measured at 6.1%. The typical home here is valued at $125,800 (43% below the state average); renters pay a median of $1,110 monthly, and 60.8% of units are owner-occupied.

Formal educational attainment runs low here: just 14.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 31.3, and the average commute is 25 minutes. We also surface 10 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Wayne County, so you can benchmark 48122 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone.

Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →

Top industries in ZIP 48122

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Melvindale, MI

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 48122.

establishments

What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 48122, Melvindale, MI · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.

Quick Facts

10,727

Population

7.1

Area (sq mi)

1,520

People / sq mi

Detroit

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 48122?

31.3

Median Age

52.2%

Male

47.8%

Female

22.5%

Foreign-Born

White 68.4%
African American 10.4%
Asian 0.0%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 12.1%
Hispanic or Latino 26.5%

Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How much do residents earn?

$42,185

Median Household Income

-42% vs state

$20,408

Per Capita Income

39.1%

Poverty Rate

6.1%

Unemployment Rate

25.1 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 48122 ranks nationally

Melvindale, MI household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$42,185 7th percentile higher than 7% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What is the education profile here?

High School Graduate or Higher 51.5%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 14.0%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

4,582

Total Housing Units

4,250

Occupied Units

332

Vacant Units

2.95

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 60.8%
Renter 39.2%

$125,800

Median Home Value

-43% vs state

$1,110

Median Rent

1950

Median Year Built

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How have home values changed over time?

FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals

+4.5%

YoY Change (2024)

158

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+58%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 48122 have increased 4.5% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +58% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +1.9% 106
2021 +10.2% 117
2022 +19.5% 139
2023 +8.3% 151
2024 +4.5% 158

Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.

What businesses operate in this ZIP?

Census Bureau data shows 230 business establishments in ZIP 48122, employing approximately 2,535 people with a combined annual payroll of $166,641,000.

230

Businesses

2,535

Employees

$166.6M

Annual Payroll

11

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Transportation and warehousing 79 34.4%
Retail trade 32 13.9%
Other services (except public administration) 28 12.2%
Accommodation and food services 20 8.7%
Construction 15 6.5%
Wholesale trade 12 5.2%
Manufacturing 11 4.8%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 10 4.3%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 7 3.0%
Finance and insurance 5 2.2%
Health care and social assistance 4 1.7%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.

Nearby ZIP Codes

Want a side-by-side? Compare 48122 vs 48217 →

ZIP 48122 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 48122 ranks #7 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 48122 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

median income

What this shows By household income, ZIP 48122 ranks #8 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
48217 Detroit, MI 8,210 1.2 mi
48120 Dearborn, MI 8,274 1.9 mi
48146 Lincoln Park, MI 38,098 2.6 mi
48126 Dearborn, MI 47,465 3.1 mi
48101 Allen Park, MI 28,200 2.2 mi
48218 River Rouge, MI 7,903 2.6 mi
48229 Ecorse, MI 9,556 2.7 mi
48209 Detroit, MI 32,262 3.6 mi
48124 Dearborn, MI 31,732 3.8 mi
48192 Wyandotte, MI 25,883 5.0 mi

More ZIP Codes in Wayne County

48180 standard
Taylor, MI
Pop: 63,131
48228 standard
Detroit, MI
Pop: 52,130
48187 standard
Canton, MI
Pop: 49,148
48185 standard
Westland, MI
Pop: 47,618
48126 standard
Dearborn, MI
Pop: 47,465
48219 standard
Detroit, MI
Pop: 46,931

Related Areas

Wayne County Melvindale, MI Michigan

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 48122 in? ▼
ZIP code 48122 (Melvindale) is located in Wayne County, Michigan. Wayne County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/wayne-mi.
What is the population of ZIP code 48122? ▼
ZIP code 48122 in Melvindale, MI has a population of 10,727 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 48122? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 48122 is $42,185, which is 45% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 48122? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 48122 is $125,800, which is 55% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 48122? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 48122 is White at 68.4%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 26.5% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 48122? ▼
ZIP code 48122 has 230 business establishments employing approximately 2,535 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 48122? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 48122 are: Transportation and warehousing (79), Retail trade (32), Other services (except public administration) (28). There are 11 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 48122? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 48122 increased by 4.5% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 58%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 48122? ▼
In ZIP code 48122, 51.5% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 14.0% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 48122? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 48122 is 25.1 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 48122? ▼
In ZIP code 48122, approximately 60.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 39.2% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 48122? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 48122 is 39.1% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.