Detroit, MI · standard
ZIP Code 48238
Wayne County, Michigan - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 31,743
- 2,271/sq mi High-density area
- $33,315
- Median income Below-median income area
- $64,800
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 13.5%
- Bachelor's or higher Below-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
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.
- 3rd pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 2nd pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 2,271
- people per sq mi
- 47%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 48238 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 48238 (Detroit, MI) rose +12.6% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 140.2 in 2023 to 157.9 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 48238 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, with 31,743 residents across 14.0 square miles, a density of 2,271 people per square mile, in the Detroit time zone.
ZIP 48238 sits on the lower end of the income spectrum: median household income is $33,315 (55% below the average Michigan ZIP), while per-capita income is $20,989. Economic pressure is pronounced: 35.0% of residents are below the poverty line and unemployment is 19.2%. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $64,800 (70% below the average Michigan ZIP), and median rent is $1,010; owner occupancy is 47.0%.
Formal educational attainment runs low here: just 13.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 36, and the average commute is 28 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Wayne County, so 48238 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 48238
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Detroit, MI
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 + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, 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; 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 ZIP avg
$20,989
Per Capita Income
35.0%
Poverty Rate
19.2%
Unemployment Rate
27.5 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 48238 ranks nationally
Detroit, MI household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$33,315 3rd percentile higher than 3% of 30,318 US ZIPs
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?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
16,014housing units
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 ZIP avg
$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 48238 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 48227
Detroit (48227)
45,380 residents
- 48235
Detroit (48235)
45,063 residents
- 48221
Detroit (48221)
38,727 residents
- 48238
Detroit (48238)
31,743 residents
- 48210
Detroit (48210)
31,017 residents
- 48203
Highland Park (48203)
28,409 residents
- 48204
Detroit (48204)
27,997 residents
- 48220
Ferndale (48220)
22,319 residents
- 48206
Detroit (48206)
21,954 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 48238 ranks #4 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 48238 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 48069
Pleasant Ridge (48069)
$171,125 median income
- 48220
Ferndale (48220)
$89,881 median income
- 48221 $57,878
Detroit (48221)
$57,878 median income
- 48206 $45,046
Detroit (48206)
$45,046 median income
- 48202 $43,627
Detroit (48202)
$43,627 median income
- 48235 $39,265
Detroit (48235)
$39,265 median income
- 48203 $38,404
Highland Park (48203)
$38,404 median income
- 48210 $37,838
Detroit (48210)
$37,838 median income
- 48227 $36,527
Detroit (48227)
$36,527 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 48238 ranks #null of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| 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 |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 48238, 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 (31,743 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 48238 in?
ZIP code 48238 (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 48238?
ZIP code 48238 in Detroit, MI has a population of 31,743 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 48238?
The median household income in ZIP 48238 is $33,315, which is 56% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 48238?
The median home value in ZIP 48238 is $64,800, which is 77% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 48238?
The largest racial group in ZIP 48238 is African American at 93.9%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 0.7% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 48238?
ZIP code 48238 has 264 business establishments employing approximately 2,611 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 48238?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 48238 are: Retail trade (83), Other services (except public administration) (43), Health care and social assistance (27). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 48238?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 48238 increased by 12.6% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 58%. 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 48238?
In ZIP code 48238, 45.7% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 13.5% 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 48238?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 48238 is 27.5 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 48238?
In ZIP code 48238, approximately 47.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 53.0% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 48238?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 48238 is 35.0% 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 48238's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 48238 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Detroit, MI ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.