Detroit, MI · standard
ZIP Code 48205
Wayne County, Michigan - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 44,045
- 2,664/sq mi High-density area
- $38,966
- Median income Below-median income area
- $65,300
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 9.6%
- Bachelor's or higher Below-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Detroit pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with among the most affordable home values nationally, in a suburban-density, mixed-tenure area.
- 5th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 2nd pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 2,664
- people per sq mi
- 51%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 48205 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 48205 (Detroit, MI) rose +6.8% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 111.0 in 2023 to 118.6 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 48205 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, with 44,045 residents across 16.5 square miles, a density of 2,664 people per square mile, in the Detroit time zone.
ZIP 48205 sits on the lower end of the income spectrum: median household income is $38,966 (47% below the average Michigan ZIP), while per-capita income is $20,780. Economic pressure is pronounced: 33.0% of residents are below the poverty line and unemployment is 19.4%. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $65,300 (70% below the average Michigan ZIP), and median rent is $1,215; owner occupancy is 50.6%.
Formal educational attainment runs low here: just 9.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 32.8, and the average commute is 25 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Wayne County, so 48205 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 48205
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Detroit, MI
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 48205.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
105 establishments
- Accommodation and food services 36
Accommodation and food services
36 establishments
- Other services (except public administration) 33
Other services (except public administration)
33 establishments
- Health care and social assistance 27
Health care and social assistance
27 establishments
- Finance and insurance 9
Finance and insurance
9 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 48205, Detroit, 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
44,045
Population
16.5
Area (sq mi)
2,664
People / sq mi
Detroit
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 48205?
32.8
Median Age
49.8%
Male
50.2%
Female
2.8%
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?
$38,966
Median Household Income
-47% vs state ZIP avg
$20,780
Per Capita Income
33.0%
Poverty Rate
19.4%
Unemployment Rate
24.6 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 48205 ranks nationally
Detroit, MI household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$38,966 5th percentile higher than 5% 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
16,754housing units
16,754
Total Housing Units
12,951
Occupied Units
3,803
Vacant Units
2.62
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$65,300
Median Home Value
-70% vs state ZIP avg
$1,215
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
+6.8%
YoY Change (2024)
119
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+19%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 48205 have increased 6.8% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +19% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +19.7% | 67 |
| 2021 | +26.7% | 85 |
| 2022 | +14.1% | 97 |
| 2023 | +14.7% | 111 |
| 2024 | +6.8% | 119 |
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 255 business establishments in ZIP 48205, employing approximately 2,272 people with a combined annual payroll of $94,804,000.
255
Businesses
2,272
Employees
$94.8M
Annual Payroll
14
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 105 | 41.2% |
| Accommodation and food services | 36 | 14.1% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 33 | 12.9% |
| Health care and social assistance | 27 | 10.6% |
| Finance and insurance | 9 | 3.5% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 7 | 2.8% |
| Construction | 6 | 2.4% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 6 | 2.4% |
| Manufacturing | 5 | 2.0% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 5 | 2.0% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 5 | 2.0% |
| Information | 4 | 1.6% |
| Wholesale trade | 3 | 1.2% |
| Educational services | 3 | 1.2% |
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 48205 vs 48213 →
ZIP 48205 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 48224
Detroit (48224)
44,439 residents
- 48205
Detroit (48205)
44,045 residents
- 48234
Detroit (48234)
36,140 residents
- 48021
Eastpointe (48021)
32,353 residents
- 48089
Warren (48089)
31,978 residents
- 48236
Grosse Pointe (48236)
30,607 residents
- 48213
Detroit (48213)
27,712 residents
- 48214
Detroit (48214)
22,759 residents
- 48088
Warren (48088)
22,255 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 48205 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 48205 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 48236
Grosse Pointe (48236)
$128,242 median income
- 48088
Warren (48088)
$81,601 median income
- 48021
Eastpointe (48021)
$62,325 median income
- 48225
Harper Woods (48225)
$61,750 median income
- 48089
Warren (48089)
$52,366 median income
- 48224 $44,856
Detroit (48224)
$44,856 median income
- 48205 $38,966
Detroit (48205)
$38,966 median income
- 48234 $35,322
Detroit (48234)
$35,322 median income
- 48213 $34,003
Detroit (48213)
$34,003 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 48205 ranks #7 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 48213 | Detroit, MI | 27,712 | 2.5 mi |
| 48089 | Warren, MI | 31,978 | 2.7 mi |
| 48225 | Harper Woods, MI | 14,554 | 2.7 mi |
| 48234 | Detroit, MI | 36,140 | 3.0 mi |
| 48224 | Detroit, MI | 44,439 | 2.6 mi |
| 48021 | Eastpointe, MI | 32,353 | 2.9 mi |
| 48214 | Detroit, MI | 22,759 | 4.7 mi |
| 48088 | Warren, MI | 22,255 | 5.7 mi |
| 48215 | Detroit, MI | 13,565 | 4.2 mi |
| 48236 | Grosse Pointe, MI | 30,607 | 4.3 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 48205, 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 (44,045 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 48205 in?
ZIP code 48205 (Detroit) 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 48205?
ZIP code 48205 in Detroit, MI has a population of 44,045 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 48205?
The median household income in ZIP 48205 is $38,966, which is 49% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 48205?
The median home value in ZIP 48205 is $65,300, which is 77% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 48205?
The largest racial group in ZIP 48205 is African American at 89.9%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 2.9% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 48205?
ZIP code 48205 has 255 business establishments employing approximately 2,272 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 48205?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 48205 are: Retail trade (105), Accommodation and food services (36), Other services (except public administration) (33). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 48205?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 48205 increased by 6.8% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 19%. 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 48205?
In ZIP code 48205, 53.8% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 9.6% 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 48205?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 48205 is 24.6 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 48205?
In ZIP code 48205, approximately 50.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 49.4% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 48205?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 48205 is 33.0% 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 48205's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 48205 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Detroit, 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.