PlainZIP

Detroit, MI · standard

ZIP Code 48234

Wayne County, Michigan - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

36,140
1,781/sq mi
$35,322
Median income
$61,200
Median home value
9.8%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Detroit 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.

3th pct
household income, US ZIPs
2th pct
home value, US ZIPs
1,781
people per sq mi
53%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 48234 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 48234 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, with 36,140 residents across 20.3 square miles, a density of 1,781 people per square mile, in the Detroit time zone.

ZIP 48234 sits on the lower end of the income spectrum: median household income is $35,322 (52% below the Michigan average), while per-capita income is $20,113. The poverty rate stands at 37.4% and the unemployment rate at 14.0%. The typical home here is valued at $61,200 (72% below the state average); renters pay a median of $1,015 monthly, and 53.0% of units are owner-occupied.

Formal educational attainment runs low here: just 9.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 32.9, and the average commute is 25 minutes. Beyond these figures, 10 nearby ZIP codes within about 10 miles are surfaced below, along with 6 more sharing Wayne County, letting you compare 48234 to its immediate surroundings rather than a national baseline alone.

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 48234

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Detroit, MI

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 48234.

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 · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

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 48234, 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

36,140

Population

20.3

Area (sq mi)

1,781

People / sq mi

Detroit

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 48234?

32.9

Median Age

44.5%

Male

55.5%

Female

1.4%

Foreign-Born

White 3.9%
African American 92.2%
Asian 0.3%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 3.2%
Hispanic or Latino 0.7%

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?

$35,322

Median Household Income

-52% vs state

$20,113

Per Capita Income

37.4%

Poverty Rate

14.0%

Unemployment Rate

24.5 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 48234 ranks nationally

Detroit, MI household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$35,322 3rd percentile higher than 3% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). This entry sits in this band. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). Above this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

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?

High School Graduate or Higher 51.7%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 9.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

15,493

Total Housing Units

12,699

Occupied Units

2,794

Vacant Units

2.57

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 53.0%
Renter 47.0%

$61,200

Median Home Value

-72% vs state

$1,015

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

+9.5%

YoY Change (2024)

124

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+24%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 48234 have increased 9.5% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +24% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2019 -23.3% 74
2021 – 109
2022 +3.4% 113
2023 +0.8% 114
2024 +9.5% 124

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 321 business establishments in ZIP 48234, employing approximately 3,770 people with a combined annual payroll of $181,886,000.

321

Businesses

3,770

Employees

$181.9M

Annual Payroll

14

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 104 32.4%
Other services (except public administration) 43 13.4%
Health care and social assistance 39 12.2%
Accommodation and food services 32 10.0%
Manufacturing 27 8.4%
Wholesale trade 17 5.3%
Construction 13 4.0%
Transportation and warehousing 12 3.7%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 9 2.8%
Information 7 2.2%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 4 1.3%
Educational services 4 1.3%
Finance and insurance 3 0.9%
Real estate and rental and leasing 3 0.9%

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 48234 vs 48212 →

ZIP 48234 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 48234 ranks #3 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 48234 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

median income

What this shows By household income, ZIP 48234 ranks #9 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
48212 Hamtramck, MI 39,038 1.7 mi
48091 Warren, MI 31,106 2.7 mi
48211 Detroit, MI 7,082 3.5 mi
48205 Detroit, MI 44,045 3.0 mi
48015 Center Line, MI 8,257 3.5 mi
48397 Warren, MI 0 4.4 mi
48203 Highland Park, MI 28,409 3.3 mi
48213 Detroit, MI 27,712 3.2 mi
48089 Warren, MI 31,978 3.5 mi
48030 Hazel Park, MI 16,422 3.6 mi

More ZIP Codes in Wayne County

48180 standard
Taylor, MI
Pop: 63,131
48228 standard
Detroit, MI
Pop: 52,130
48187 standard
Canton, MI
Pop: 49,148
48185 standard
Westland, MI
Pop: 47,618
48126 standard
Dearborn, MI
Pop: 47,465
48219 standard
Detroit, MI
Pop: 46,931

Related Areas

Wayne County Detroit, MI Michigan

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 48234 in? ▼
ZIP code 48234 (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 48234? ▼
ZIP code 48234 in Detroit, MI has a population of 36,140 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 48234? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 48234 is $35,322, which is 54% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 48234? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 48234 is $61,200, which is 78% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 48234? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 48234 is African American at 92.2%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 0.7% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 48234? ▼
ZIP code 48234 has 321 business establishments employing approximately 3,770 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 48234? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 48234 are: Retail trade (104), Other services (except public administration) (43), Health care and social assistance (39). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 48234? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 48234 increased by 9.5% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 24%. 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 48234? ▼
In ZIP code 48234, 51.7% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 9.8% 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 48234? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 48234 is 24.5 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 48234? ▼
In ZIP code 48234, approximately 53.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 47.0% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 48234? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 48234 is 37.4% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.