River Rouge, MI · standard
ZIP Code 48218
Wayne County, Michigan - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 7,903
- 1,150/sq mi High-density area
- $41,033
- Median income Below-median income area
- $65,200
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 6.6%
- Bachelor's or higher Below-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
River Rouge 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.
- 6th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 2nd pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 1,150
- people per sq mi
- 57%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 48218 against every reporting US ZIP.
ZIP code 48218 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in River Rouge, Wayne County, Michigan, home to 7,903 residents across 6.9 square miles, a density of 1,150 people per square mile, in the Detroit time zone.
ZIP 48218 reports a modest median household income of $41,033 (44% below the average Michigan ZIP), while per-capita income is $22,582. Economic pressure is pronounced: 39.8% of residents are below the poverty line and unemployment is 11.4%. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $65,200 (70% below the average Michigan ZIP), and median rent is $839; owner occupancy is 57.3%.
Formal educational attainment runs low here: just 6.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 34.4, 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 48218 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 48218
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in River Rouge, MI
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 48218.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
22 establishments
- Health care and social assistance 8
Health care and social assistance
8 establishments
- Other services (except public administration) 8
Other services (except public administration)
8 establishments
- Wholesale trade 7
Wholesale trade
7 establishments
- Construction 6
Construction
6 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 48218, River Rouge, 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
7,903
Population
6.9
Area (sq mi)
1,150
People / sq mi
Detroit
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 48218?
34.4
Median Age
49.6%
Male
50.4%
Female
8.2%
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?
$41,033
Median Household Income
-44% vs state ZIP avg
$22,582
Per Capita Income
39.8%
Poverty Rate
11.4%
Unemployment Rate
25.6 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 48218 ranks among Michigan ZIPs
River Rouge, 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)
$41,033 5th percentile higher than 5% 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
3,132housing units
3,132
Total Housing Units
2,752
Occupied Units
380
Vacant Units
2.55
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$65,200
Median Home Value
-70% vs state ZIP avg
$839
Median Rent
1941
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
196
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+96%
Total Change Since 2000
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | – | 144 |
| 2024 | – | 196 |
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 79 business establishments in ZIP 48218, employing approximately 857 people with a combined annual payroll of $63,841,000.
79
Businesses
857
Employees
$63.8M
Annual Payroll
10
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 22 | 27.9% |
| Health care and social assistance | 8 | 10.1% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 8 | 10.1% |
| Wholesale trade | 7 | 8.9% |
| Construction | 6 | 7.6% |
| Manufacturing | 5 | 6.3% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 5 | 6.3% |
| Accommodation and food services | 5 | 6.3% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 4 | 5.1% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 3 | 3.8% |
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 48218 vs 48217 →
ZIP 48218 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 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
- 48217 8,210
Detroit (48217)
8,210 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 48218 ranks #0 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 48218 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
- 48216
Detroit (48216)
$44,335 median income
- 48209
Detroit (48209)
$43,161 median income
- 48122
Melvindale (48122)
$42,185 median income
- 48218
River Rouge (48218)
$41,033 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 48218 ranks #9 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 48217 | Detroit, MI | 8,210 | 1.4 mi |
| 48229 | Ecorse, MI | 9,556 | 1.7 mi |
| 48209 | Detroit, MI | 32,262 | 2.3 mi |
| 48122 | Melvindale, MI | 10,727 | 2.6 mi |
| 48210 | Detroit, MI | 31,017 | 4.4 mi |
| 48120 | Dearborn, MI | 8,274 | 3.3 mi |
| 48146 | Lincoln Park, MI | 38,098 | 3.4 mi |
| 48101 | Allen Park, MI | 28,200 | 4.4 mi |
| 48192 | Wyandotte, MI | 25,883 | 4.8 mi |
| 48216 | Detroit, MI | 5,645 | 4.4 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 48218, 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 (7,903 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 48218 in?
ZIP code 48218 (River Rouge) 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 48218?
ZIP code 48218 in River Rouge, MI has a population of 7,903 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 48218?
The median household income in ZIP 48218 is $41,033, which is 46% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 48218?
The median home value in ZIP 48218 is $65,200, which is 77% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 48218?
The largest racial group in ZIP 48218 is African American at 45.5%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 17.0% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 48218?
ZIP code 48218 has 79 business establishments employing approximately 857 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 48218?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 48218 are: Retail trade (22), Health care and social assistance (8), Other services (except public administration) (8). There are 10 industry sectors represented in total.
What is the education level in ZIP code 48218?
In ZIP code 48218, 50.3% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 6.6% 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 48218?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 48218 is 25.6 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 48218?
In ZIP code 48218, approximately 57.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 42.7% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 48218?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 48218 is 39.8% 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 48218's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 48218 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where River Rouge, 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.