PlainZIP

Detroit, MI · standard

ZIP Code 48235

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

45,063
2,783/sq mi
$39,265
Median income
$90,000
Median home value
14.8%
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 suburban-density, mixed-tenure area.

5th pct
household income, US ZIPs
7th pct
home value, US ZIPs
2,783
people per sq mi
54%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 48235 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 48235 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, with 45,063 residents across 16.2 square miles, a density of 2,783 people per square mile, in the Detroit time zone.

ZIP 48235 sits on the lower end of the income spectrum: median household income is $39,265 (46% below the Michigan average), while per-capita income is $23,500. The poverty rate stands at 31.5% and the unemployment rate at 13.2%. Housing costs here run $90,000 for a typical home value (59% below the state average), with rent averaging $1,169 a month; 53.5% of homes are owner-occupied.

Formal educational attainment runs low here: just 14.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 39.3, and the average commute is 24 minutes. To put 48235 in local context, 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles appear further down this page alongside 6 additional ZIPs in Wayne County, for a geography-aware comparison.

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 48235

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Detroit, MI

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 48235.

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 48235, 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

45,063

Population

16.2

Area (sq mi)

2,783

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 48235?

39.3

Median Age

41.8%

Male

58.2%

Female

1.4%

Foreign-Born

White 2.6%
African American 93.8%
Asian 0.4%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.3%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 2.0%
Hispanic or Latino 1.8%

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?

$39,265

Median Household Income

-46% vs state

$23,500

Per Capita Income

31.5%

Poverty Rate

13.2%

Unemployment Rate

24.4 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 48235 ranks nationally

Detroit, MI household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$39,265 5th percentile higher than 5% 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 50.3%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 14.8%

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

What does housing look like?

21,285

Total Housing Units

18,654

Occupied Units

2,631

Vacant Units

2.42

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 53.5%
Renter 46.5%

$90,000

Median Home Value

-59% vs state

$1,169

Median Rent

1953

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

+16.7%

YoY Change (2024)

142

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+42%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 48235 have increased 16.7% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +42% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +16.6% 90
2021 +12.3% 101
2022 +15.0% 117
2023 +4.6% 122
2024 +16.7% 142

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 338 business establishments in ZIP 48235, employing approximately 5,286 people with a combined annual payroll of $241,801,000.

338

Businesses

5,286

Employees

$241.8M

Annual Payroll

15

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 94 27.8%
Health care and social assistance 70 20.7%
Other services (except public administration) 54 16.0%
Accommodation and food services 41 12.1%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 13 3.9%
Real estate and rental and leasing 12 3.5%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 11 3.3%
Construction 8 2.4%
Finance and insurance 8 2.4%
Information 6 1.8%
Educational services 5 1.5%
Manufacturing 4 1.2%
Wholesale trade 4 1.2%
Transportation and warehousing 4 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 4 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 48235 vs 48227 →

ZIP 48235 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 48235 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 48235 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 48235 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
48227 Detroit, MI 45,380 2.8 mi
48221 Detroit, MI 38,727 2.4 mi
48237 Oak Park, MI 29,319 2.7 mi
48219 Detroit, MI 46,931 3.0 mi
48075 Southfield, MI 21,790 3.0 mi
48072 Berkley, MI 14,970 4.9 mi
48070 Huntington Woods, MI 6,238 4.0 mi
48238 Detroit, MI 31,743 3.5 mi
48223 Detroit, MI 25,336 3.5 mi
48220 Ferndale, MI 22,319 3.7 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 48235 in? ▼
ZIP code 48235 (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 48235? ▼
ZIP code 48235 in Detroit, MI has a population of 45,063 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 48235? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 48235 is $39,265, which is 49% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 48235? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 48235 is $90,000, which is 68% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 48235? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 48235 is African American at 93.8%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 1.8% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 48235? ▼
ZIP code 48235 has 338 business establishments employing approximately 5,286 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 48235? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 48235 are: Retail trade (94), Health care and social assistance (70), Other services (except public administration) (54). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 48235? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 48235 increased by 16.7% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 42%. 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 48235? ▼
In ZIP code 48235, 50.3% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 14.8% 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 48235? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 48235 is 24.4 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 48235? ▼
In ZIP code 48235, approximately 53.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 46.5% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 48235? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 48235 is 31.5% 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.