Detroit, Michigan has an overall cost of living index of 98.2, which is 1.8 points below the US average of 100 — making it about average versus most American cities. Renters pay a median of $1,074 per month, while the typical home is valued around $83,900. Households earn a median of $39,938 per year, so rent absorbs a relatively high share of local income. Air quality is moderate, with an average AQI of 51. Below: housing costs, local wages by occupation, neighborhoods, climate, jobs and major industries, and healthcare access — all drawn from US Census, BEA, BLS, HUD, EPA, and NOAA data.
$39,938
Median Income / yr
Census ACS
$1,074
Median Rent / mo
Census ACS
$83,900
Median Home Value
Census ACS
98.2
Cost of Living Index
Studio FMR
$1,009
HUD · FY2024
1BR Fair Market Rent
$1,122
HUD · FY2024
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,411
HUD · FY2024
3BR Fair Market Rent
$1,724
HUD · FY2024
Fair Market Rent is the 40th percentile of gross rents in the metro area · HUD FY2024
Each category indexed to the US average of 100. Below 100 = cheaper than average.
Overall
98.2
Goods
97.9
Rents / Housing
93.1
Services
106.8
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro-level)
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Software Developer | $120,520 |
| Registered Nurse | $92,680 |
| Elementary Teacher | $69,550 |
| Electrician | $75,730 |
| Accountant | $91,040 |
| Plumber | $76,710 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $166,070 |
| Civil Engineer | $94,800 |
| Operations Manager | $135,830 |
| Market Research Analyst | $82,160 |
| Health Services Manager | $127,670 |
| Truck Driver | $56,190 |
| Physician Assistant | N/A |
| Surgeon | N/A |
| Data Scientist | N/A |
| Computer Engineer | $128,270 |
Source: BLS OEWS 2023 (metro-level data)
Population
638,530
Latest estimate
Median Age
35.2 yrs
Census ACS
51.0
Moderate0 = clean · 50 = moderate boundary · lower is better
Source: EPA AirNow
Total Neighborhoods
34
Tracked in our database
Avg Walk Score
N/A
0–100 scale
Avg Median Rent
$1,013
Per month
Avg Home Value
$116,406
Census ACS
| Neighborhood | Walk Score | Median Rent | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZIP 48126 | — | $1,168 | $183,500 |
| ZIP 48201 | — | $765 | $381,500 |
| ZIP 48202 | — | $842 | $187,800 |
| ZIP 48203 | — | $764 | $61,100 |
| ZIP 48204 | — | $931 | $46,600 |
| ZIP 48205 | — | $1,123 | $47,800 |
| ZIP 48206 | — | $812 | $84,600 |
| ZIP 48207 | — | $1,022 | $158,100 |
| ZIP 48208 | — | $789 | $162,700 |
| ZIP 48209 | — | $800 | $68,900 |
Showing top 10 of 34 tracked neighborhoods.
January Avg
24°F
July Avg
75°F
Sunny Days / Year
—
Annual Snowfall
—
Climate category: Continental · Source: NOAA/NCEI 30-year normals.
Healthcare Score
30.8
poor
Hospitals
10
Doctors per 1,000
1.00
Insurance Coverage
92.6%
Detroit has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 98.2. The US national average is 100, so Detroit is 1.8 points below the national average.
The median gross rent in Detroit is $1,074 per month according to US Census ACS data.
The median household income in Detroit is $39,938 per year.
The median home value in Detroit is $83,900 based on the latest Census ACS survey.
Detroit has an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 51.0, which is rated "Moderate" by the EPA. Lower AQI values indicate cleaner air.
Tax data for Michigan is not yet available.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
