ZIP Code 48234

standard

Source:

Detroit · Wayne County · Michigan

Population
36,140

1,781/sq mi

Median income
$35,322

▼ 54% vs US

higher than 3% of US ZIPs

Median home value
$61,200

▼ 78% vs US

higher than 2% of US ZIPs

Bachelor's or higher
9.8%

Median age 32.9

Land area
20.3 sq mi

Detroit

ZIP code 48234 in Detroit, Michigan has a population of 36,140. The median household income is $35,322, which is 54% below the national average. Median home value is $61,200, 78% below the US average. 9.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

ZIP code 48234 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 20.3 square miles in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan. The area is home to 36,140 residents, producing a population density of 1,781 people per square mile, and falls within the Detroit time zone. These USPS and Census boundary values drive every downstream statistic on this page, including the benchmarks that compare 48234 against Michigan and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 48234 sits at $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%. On housing, the median home value is $61,200 (72% below the state average) with median rent at $1,015 per month, and 53.0% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 48234 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 9.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 32.9, and the average commute is 25 minutes. We also surface 10 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Wayne County, so you can benchmark 48234 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone. Every figure is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, HUD Fair Market Rents, and FHFA Home Price Index data, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with HUD →

Top industries in ZIP 48234

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

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 + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, 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; HUD FMR + 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

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)

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 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

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.

ZIP Code Research Guides

Official Data Resources for Detroit, MI

Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023). Business data: Source: Census ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023. Home value trends: Source: FHFA House Price Index (HPI), Five-Digit ZIP Codes.

PlainZIP is not affiliated with the U.S. Census Bureau or any government agency.