ZIP Code 48238
standardSource:
Detroit · Wayne County · Michigan
- Population
- 31,743
- Median income
- $33,315
- Median home value
- $64,800
- Bachelor's or higher
- 13.5%
- Land area
- 14.0 sq mi
2,271/sq mi
▼ 56% vs US
higher than 3% of US ZIPs
▼ 77% vs US
higher than 2% of US ZIPs
Median age 36
Detroit
ZIP code 48238 in Detroit, Michigan has a population of 31,743. The median household income is $33,315, which is 56% below the national average. Median home value is $64,800, 77% below the US average. 13.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
ZIP code 48238 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 14.0 square miles in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan. The area is home to 31,743 residents, producing a population density of 2,271 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 48238 against Michigan and the nation.
On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 48238 sits at $33,315 (55% below the Michigan average), while per-capita income is $20,989. The poverty rate stands at 35.0% and the unemployment rate at 19.2%. On housing, the median home value is $64,800 (70% below the state average) with median rent at $1,010 per month, and 47.0% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 48238 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.
Education and household profile round out the picture: 13.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 36, and the average commute is 28 minutes. We also surface 10 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Wayne County, so you can benchmark 48238 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 48238
Top 5 sectors by establishment count
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 48238.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
83 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
43 establishments
- Health care and social assistance 27
Health care and social assistance
27 establishments
- Accommodation and food services 24
Accommodation and food services
24 establishments
- Manufacturing 16
Manufacturing
16 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 + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, FHFA HPI for ZIP 48238, 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
31,743
Population
14.0
Area (sq mi)
2,271
People / sq mi
Detroit
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 48238?
36.0
Median Age
49.4%
Male
50.6%
Female
0.8%
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?
$33,315
Median Household Income
-55% vs state
$20,989
Per Capita Income
35.0%
Poverty Rate
19.2%
Unemployment Rate
27.5 min
Mean Commute Time
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?
16,014
Total Housing Units
10,251
Occupied Units
5,763
Vacant Units
2.40
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$64,800
Median Home Value
-70% vs state
$1,010
Median Rent
1942
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
+12.6%
YoY Change (2024)
158
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+58%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 48238 have increased 12.6% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +58% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +4.3% | 108 |
| 2021 | +12.5% | 122 |
| 2022 | +12.5% | 137 |
| 2023 | +2.5% | 140 |
| 2024 | +12.6% | 158 |
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 264 business establishments in ZIP 48238, employing approximately 2,611 people with a combined annual payroll of $130,087,000.
264
Businesses
2,611
Employees
$130.1M
Annual Payroll
14
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 83 | 31.4% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 43 | 16.3% |
| Health care and social assistance | 27 | 10.2% |
| Accommodation and food services | 24 | 9.1% |
| Manufacturing | 16 | 6.1% |
| Wholesale trade | 16 | 6.1% |
| Finance and insurance | 10 | 3.8% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 7 | 2.6% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 7 | 2.6% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 6 | 2.3% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 6 | 2.3% |
| Construction | 5 | 1.9% |
| Information | 5 | 1.9% |
| Educational services | 5 | 1.9% |
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 48238 vs 48204 →
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 48204 | Detroit, MI | 27,997 | 2.1 mi |
| 48221 | Detroit, MI | 38,727 | 2.2 mi |
| 48206 | Detroit, MI | 21,954 | 2.2 mi |
| 48227 | Detroit, MI | 45,380 | 2.7 mi |
| 48203 | Highland Park, MI | 28,409 | 2.7 mi |
| 48220 | Ferndale, MI | 22,319 | 4.3 mi |
| 48210 | Detroit, MI | 31,017 | 4.2 mi |
| 48069 | Pleasant Ridge, MI | 2,526 | 5.2 mi |
| 48235 | Detroit, MI | 45,063 | 3.5 mi |
| 48202 | Detroit, MI | 16,603 | 3.6 mi |
More ZIP Codes in Wayne County
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Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 48238 in? ▼
What is the population of ZIP code 48238? ▼
What is the median household income in ZIP 48238? ▼
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What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 48238? ▼
How many businesses are in ZIP code 48238? ▼
What are the main industries in ZIP code 48238? ▼
How have home values changed in ZIP code 48238? ▼
What is the education level in ZIP code 48238? ▼
What is the average commute time in ZIP 48238? ▼
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 48238? ▼
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 48238? ▼
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.
Read our methodology , how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.