Romulus, MI · standard
ZIP Code 48174
Wayne County, Michigan - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 31,515
- 297/sq mi High-density area
- $67,056
- Median income Near-median income area
- $162,100
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 16.7%
- Bachelor's or higher Below-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Romulus pairs a below-median household income with below-median home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- 42nd pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 31st pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 297
- people per sq mi
- 74%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 48174 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 48174 (Romulus, MI) rose +9.5% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 158.8 in 2023 to 173.9 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 48174 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Romulus, Wayne County, Michigan, with 31,515 residents across 106.2 square miles, a density of 297 people per square mile, in the Detroit time zone.
ZIP 48174 reports a modest median household income of $67,056 (9% below the average Michigan ZIP), while per-capita income is $31,379. The poverty rate is 13.3%, with unemployment at 5.8%; those measures add context to the income figure. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $162,100 (26% below the average Michigan ZIP), and median rent is $1,058; owner occupancy is 74.2%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 16.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 37.4, and the average commute is 26 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Wayne County, so 48174 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
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 48174
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Romulus, MI
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 48174.
- Transportation and warehousing
Transportation and warehousing
198 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
89 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
82 establishments
- Construction 74
Construction
74 establishments
- Manufacturing 74
Manufacturing
74 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, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 48174, Romulus, 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
31,515
Population
106.2
Area (sq mi)
297
People / sq mi
Detroit
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 48174?
37.4
Median Age
50.2%
Male
49.8%
Female
3.2%
Foreign-Born
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?
$67,056
Median Household Income
-9% vs state ZIP avg
$31,379
Per Capita Income
13.3%
Poverty Rate
5.8%
Unemployment Rate
25.5 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 48174 ranks nationally
Romulus, MI household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$67,056 42nd percentile higher than 42% of 30,318 US ZIPs
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?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
13,403housing units
13,403
Total Housing Units
12,362
Occupied Units
1,041
Vacant Units
2.59
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$162,100
Median Home Value
-26% vs state ZIP avg
$1,058
Median Rent
1975
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
+9.5%
YoY Change (2024)
174
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+74%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 48174 have increased 9.5% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +74% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +3.4% | 116 |
| 2021 | +10.6% | 128 |
| 2022 | +23.2% | 158 |
| 2023 | +0.6% | 159 |
| 2024 | +9.5% | 174 |
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 849 business establishments in ZIP 48174, employing approximately 27,008 people with a combined annual payroll of $1,540,098,000.
849
Businesses
27,008
Employees
$1.5B
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Transportation and warehousing | 198 | 23.3% |
| Retail trade | 89 | 10.5% |
| Accommodation and food services | 82 | 9.7% |
| Construction | 74 | 8.7% |
| Manufacturing | 74 | 8.7% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 66 | 7.8% |
| Wholesale trade | 63 | 7.4% |
| Health care and social assistance | 60 | 7.1% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 53 | 6.2% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 32 | 3.8% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 27 | 3.2% |
| Finance and insurance | 8 | 0.9% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 7 | 0.8% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 6 | 0.7% |
| Educational services | 5 | 0.6% |
| Information | 4 | 0.5% |
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 48174 vs 48242 →
ZIP 48174 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 48180
Taylor (48180)
63,131 residents
- 48185
Westland (48185)
47,618 residents
- 48186
Westland (48186)
36,506 residents
- 48174
Romulus (48174)
31,515 residents
- 48195
Southgate (48195)
30,047 residents
- 48135
Garden City (48135)
27,665 residents
- 48141
Inkster (48141)
25,366 residents
- 48125 21,273
Dearborn Heights (48125)
21,273 residents
- 48184 17,643
Wayne (48184)
17,643 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 48174 ranks #4 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 48174 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 48164
New Boston (48164)
$107,827 median income
- 48135
Garden City (48135)
$67,294 median income
- 48174
Romulus (48174)
$67,056 median income
- 48195
Southgate (48195)
$66,118 median income
- 48186
Westland (48186)
$65,187 median income
- 48180
Taylor (48180)
$61,081 median income
- 48185
Westland (48185)
$60,854 median income
- 48125
Dearborn Heights (48125)
$60,195 median income
- 48184
Wayne (48184)
$59,171 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 48174 ranks #3 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 48242 | Detroit, MI | 0 | 0.2 mi |
| 48180 | Taylor, MI | 63,131 | 4.5 mi |
| 48184 | Wayne, MI | 17,643 | 5.0 mi |
| 48186 | Westland, MI | 36,506 | 6.0 mi |
| 48164 | New Boston, MI | 9,175 | 5.9 mi |
| 48141 | Inkster, MI | 25,366 | 6.2 mi |
| 48135 | Garden City, MI | 27,665 | 8.0 mi |
| 48195 | Southgate, MI | 30,047 | 7.6 mi |
| 48185 | Westland, MI | 47,618 | 8.9 mi |
| 48125 | Dearborn Heights, MI | 21,273 | 6.6 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 48174, both outside MI so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (31,515 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Wayne County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 48174 in?
ZIP code 48174 (Romulus) 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 48174?
ZIP code 48174 in Romulus, MI has a population of 31,515 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 48174?
The median household income in ZIP 48174 is $67,056, which is 12% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 48174?
The median home value in ZIP 48174 is $162,100, which is 42% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 48174?
The largest racial group in ZIP 48174 is White at 51.4%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 2.8% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 48174?
ZIP code 48174 has 849 business establishments employing approximately 27,008 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 48174?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 48174 are: Transportation and warehousing (198), Retail trade (89), Accommodation and food services (82). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 48174?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 48174 increased by 9.5% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 74%. 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 48174?
In ZIP code 48174, 53.8% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 16.7% 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 48174?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 48174 is 25.5 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 48174?
In ZIP code 48174, approximately 74.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 25.8% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 48174?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 48174 is 13.3% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 48174's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 48174 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Romulus, MI ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.