Detroit, MI · standard
ZIP Code 48217
Wayne County, Michigan - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 8,210
- 1,389/sq mi High-density area
- $44,447
- Median income Below-median income area
- $65,500
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 12.5%
- 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 low-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- 9th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 2nd pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 1,389
- people per sq mi
- 63%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 48217 against every reporting US ZIP.
ZIP code 48217 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, home to 8,210 residents across 5.9 square miles, a density of 1,389 people per square mile, in the Detroit time zone.
ZIP 48217 reports a modest median household income of $44,447 (39% below the average Michigan ZIP), while per-capita income is $24,277. The poverty rate is 20.0%, so the area-level income figures should not be treated as typical household experience. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $65,500 (70% below the average Michigan ZIP), and median rent is $966; owner occupancy is 63.3%.
Formal educational attainment runs low here: just 12.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 33.4, and the average commute is 30 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Wayne County, so 48217 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 48217
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Detroit, MI
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 48217.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
20 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
18 establishments
- Transportation and warehousing
Transportation and warehousing
10 establishments
- Wholesale trade
Wholesale trade
8 establishments
- Construction 7
Construction
7 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 48217, 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
8,210
Population
5.9
Area (sq mi)
1,389
People / sq mi
Detroit
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 48217?
33.4
Median Age
49.5%
Male
50.5%
Female
3.4%
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?
$44,447
Median Household Income
-39% vs state ZIP avg
$24,277
Per Capita Income
20.0%
Poverty Rate
7.1%
Unemployment Rate
29.9 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 48217 ranks among Michigan ZIPs
Detroit, 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)
$44,447 7th percentile higher than 7% 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
3,139housing units
3,139
Total Housing Units
2,677
Occupied Units
462
Vacant Units
2.45
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$65,500
Median Home Value
-70% vs state ZIP avg
$966
Median Rent
1951
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 91 business establishments in ZIP 48217, employing approximately 1,605 people with a combined annual payroll of $129,986,000.
91
Businesses
1,605
Employees
$130.0M
Annual Payroll
9
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 20 | 22.0% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 18 | 19.8% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 10 | 11.0% |
| Wholesale trade | 8 | 8.8% |
| Construction | 7 | 7.7% |
| Manufacturing | 7 | 7.7% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 5 | 5.5% |
| Health care and social assistance | 4 | 4.4% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 3 | 3.3% |
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 48217 vs 48122 →
ZIP 48217 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 48126
Dearborn (48126)
47,465 residents
- 48146
Lincoln Park (48146)
38,098 residents
- 48209
Detroit (48209)
32,262 residents
- 48210
Detroit (48210)
31,017 residents
- 48101
Allen Park (48101)
28,200 residents
- 48192
Wyandotte (48192)
25,883 residents
- 48122 10,727
Melvindale (48122)
10,727 residents
- 48229 9,556
Ecorse (48229)
9,556 residents
- 48120 8,274
Dearborn (48120)
8,274 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 48217 ranks #0 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 48217 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 48101
Allen Park (48101)
$81,655 median income
- 48192
Wyandotte (48192)
$71,987 median income
- 48120
Dearborn (48120)
$66,006 median income
- 48146
Lincoln Park (48146)
$58,616 median income
- 48217
Detroit (48217)
$44,447 median income
- 48209
Detroit (48209)
$43,161 median income
- 48122
Melvindale (48122)
$42,185 median income
- 48126
Dearborn (48126)
$42,140 median income
- 48218
River Rouge (48218)
$41,033 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 48217 ranks #5 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 48122 | Melvindale, MI | 10,727 | 1.2 mi |
| 48218 | River Rouge, MI | 7,903 | 1.4 mi |
| 48229 | Ecorse, MI | 9,556 | 2.0 mi |
| 48120 | Dearborn, MI | 8,274 | 2.2 mi |
| 48146 | Lincoln Park, MI | 38,098 | 2.8 mi |
| 48209 | Detroit, MI | 32,262 | 2.7 mi |
| 48101 | Allen Park, MI | 28,200 | 3.2 mi |
| 48126 | Dearborn, MI | 47,465 | 3.6 mi |
| 48192 | Wyandotte, MI | 25,883 | 4.8 mi |
| 48210 | Detroit, MI | 31,017 | 4.2 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 48217, 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 (8,210 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 48217 in?
ZIP code 48217 (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 48217?
ZIP code 48217 in Detroit, MI has a population of 8,210 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 48217?
The median household income in ZIP 48217 is $44,447, which is 42% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 48217?
The median home value in ZIP 48217 is $65,500, which is 76% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 48217?
The largest racial group in ZIP 48217 is African American at 70.6%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 16.8% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 48217?
ZIP code 48217 has 91 business establishments employing approximately 1,605 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 48217?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 48217 are: Retail trade (20), Other services (except public administration) (18), Transportation and warehousing (10). There are 9 industry sectors represented in total.
What is the education level in ZIP code 48217?
In ZIP code 48217, 51.0% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 12.5% 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 48217?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 48217 is 29.9 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 48217?
In ZIP code 48217, approximately 63.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 36.7% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 48217?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 48217 is 20.0% 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 48217's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 48217 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.