Highland Park, MI · standard
ZIP Code 48203
Wayne County, Michigan - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 28,409
- 1,369/sq mi High-density area
- $38,404
- Median income Below-median income area
- $76,200
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 19.7%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Highland Park pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with among the most affordable home values nationally, in a low-density, mixed-tenure area.
- 5th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 4th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 1,369
- people per sq mi
- 51%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 48203 against every reporting US ZIP.
ZIP code 48203 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Highland Park, Wayne County, Michigan, with 28,409 residents across 20.8 square miles, a density of 1,369 people per square mile, in the Detroit time zone.
ZIP 48203 sits on the lower end of the income spectrum: median household income is $38,404 (48% below the average Michigan ZIP), while per-capita income is $27,294. Economic pressure is pronounced: 38.2% of residents are below the poverty line and unemployment is 16.9%. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $76,200 (65% below the average Michigan ZIP), and median rent is $801; owner occupancy is 51.3%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 19.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 39.4, and the average commute is 24 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Wayne County, so 48203 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 48203
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Highland Park, MI
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 48203.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
121 establishments
- Health care and social assistance 46
Health care and social assistance
46 establishments
- Other services (except public administration) 40
Other services (except public administration)
40 establishments
- Accommodation and food services 37
Accommodation and food services
37 establishments
- Manufacturing 19
Manufacturing
19 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 48203, Highland Park, 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
28,409
Population
20.8
Area (sq mi)
1,369
People / sq mi
Detroit
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 48203?
39.4
Median Age
50.4%
Male
49.6%
Female
2.3%
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?
$38,404
Median Household Income
-48% vs state ZIP avg
$27,294
Per Capita Income
38.2%
Poverty Rate
16.9%
Unemployment Rate
23.7 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 48203 ranks among Michigan ZIPs
Highland Park, MI household income vs. every Michigan ZIP code
Median household income among 962 reporting Michigan ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$38,404 3rd percentile higher than 3% of 962 Michigan ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Michigan 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
13,468housing units
13,468
Total Housing Units
8,534
Occupied Units
4,934
Vacant Units
2.29
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$76,200
Median Home Value
-65% vs state ZIP avg
$801
Median Rent
1944
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
+0.5%
YoY Change (2024)
141
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+41%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 48203 have increased 0.5% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +41% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +4.8% | 128 |
| 2021 | +6.7% | 137 |
| 2022 | +10.9% | 152 |
| 2023 | -7.5% | 140 |
| 2024 | +0.5% | 141 |
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 375 business establishments in ZIP 48203, employing approximately 10,913 people with a combined annual payroll of $636,290,000.
375
Businesses
10,913
Employees
$636.3M
Annual Payroll
14
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 121 | 32.3% |
| Health care and social assistance | 46 | 12.3% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 40 | 10.7% |
| Accommodation and food services | 37 | 9.9% |
| Manufacturing | 19 | 5.1% |
| Wholesale trade | 15 | 4.0% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 15 | 4.0% |
| Construction | 14 | 3.7% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 14 | 3.7% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 13 | 3.5% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 12 | 3.2% |
| Finance and insurance | 12 | 3.2% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 9 | 2.4% |
| Information | 4 | 1.1% |
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 48203 vs 48030 →
ZIP 48203 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 48212
Hamtramck (48212)
39,038 residents
- 48221
Detroit (48221)
38,727 residents
- 48234
Detroit (48234)
36,140 residents
- 48238
Detroit (48238)
31,743 residents
- 48071
Madison Heights (48071)
29,694 residents
- 48203
Highland Park (48203)
28,409 residents
- 48220
Ferndale (48220)
22,319 residents
- 48206
Detroit (48206)
21,954 residents
- 48202
Detroit (48202)
16,603 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 48203 ranks #6 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 48203 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 48220
Ferndale (48220)
$89,881 median income
- 48071
Madison Heights (48071)
$69,503 median income
- 48030
Hazel Park (48030)
$67,073 median income
- 48221
Detroit (48221)
$57,878 median income
- 48206
Detroit (48206)
$45,046 median income
- 48202
Detroit (48202)
$43,627 median income
- 48203
Highland Park (48203)
$38,404 median income
- 48212
Hamtramck (48212)
$38,186 median income
- 48208
Detroit (48208)
$36,194 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 48203 ranks #7 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 48030 | Hazel Park, MI | 16,422 | 2.8 mi |
| 48221 | Detroit, MI | 38,727 | 2.4 mi |
| 48206 | Detroit, MI | 21,954 | 3.2 mi |
| 48212 | Hamtramck, MI | 39,038 | 2.5 mi |
| 48238 | Detroit, MI | 31,743 | 2.7 mi |
| 48220 | Ferndale, MI | 22,319 | 3.0 mi |
| 48202 | Detroit, MI | 16,603 | 3.5 mi |
| 48234 | Detroit, MI | 36,140 | 3.3 mi |
| 48208 | Detroit, MI | 10,234 | 5.1 mi |
| 48071 | Madison Heights, MI | 29,694 | 5.9 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 48203, 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 (28,409 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 48203 in?
ZIP code 48203 (Highland Park) 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 48203?
ZIP code 48203 in Highland Park, MI has a population of 28,409 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 48203?
The median household income in ZIP 48203 is $38,404, which is 50% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 48203?
The median home value in ZIP 48203 is $76,200, which is 73% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 48203?
The largest racial group in ZIP 48203 is African American at 83.3%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 2.2% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 48203?
ZIP code 48203 has 375 business establishments employing approximately 10,913 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 48203?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 48203 are: Retail trade (121), Health care and social assistance (46), Other services (except public administration) (40). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 48203?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 48203 increased by 0.5% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 41%. 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 48203?
In ZIP code 48203, 49.7% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 19.7% 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 48203?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 48203 is 23.7 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 48203?
In ZIP code 48203, approximately 51.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 48.7% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 48203?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 48203 is 38.2% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
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What to do with ZIP 48203's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 48203 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Highland Park, MI ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.