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Detroit city, MI

ZIP Code 48221 — Detroit city, MI Demographics & Data

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2019–2023 5-Year Estimates. Page data updated 2026-08-02.

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Map, Quick Facts & Location

Quick Facts

Local time
Population
41,750
Median Income
$55,583
-26% vs US avg
Home Value
$138,700
-60% vs US avg
Median Rent
$852
-27% vs US avg
Median Age
38.3 yrs
-2% vs US avg
Area Code
Congress
Top Ancestry
AmericanGermanEnglish
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Location
Coordinates
42.4270, -83.1486
Elevation
605 ft
Land Area
5.5 sq mi
Water Area
0.0 sq mi (0% water)

At a glance

Population
41,750
Density
N/A
Median income
$55,583
-26% vs US avg
Home value
$138,700
-60% vs US avg
Median rent
$852
-27% vs US avg
Timezone

Overview of ZIP Code 48221

UniversityUniversity / college area
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What to know about ZIP 48221

ZIP code 48221 covers Detroit, MI in Wayne County with a population of about 41,750.

At a glance, the area shows median age of 38.3 (near the U.S. median).

It sits in telephone area code 313; U.S. House district MI-13; the DETROIT media market.

Local search focus: University

Detroit, MI sits in a university / college context (near metro detroit barber college (0.7 mi)). Expect stronger interest in student housing, rentals, walkability, transit, and a younger adult age mix versus typical suburban ZIPs.

Income and economy in Detroit, MI

Median household income in ZIP 48221 is about $55,583 — about 26% below the U.S. median ($75,149).

On socioeconomic markers, US5 shows a poverty rate of 19.8%; unemployment rate near 13.1%; 29.3% of adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (about 4.4 points below the national share (33.7%)).

Labor and commute patterns include leading industry context around Healthcare, Manufacturing, and Education; about 15.8% of workers reporting work-from-home (roughly in line with the U.S. share (15.2%)); a mean commute of about 180.0 minutes (U.S. average near 26.8).

Housing and affordability in ZIP 48221

Median home value is about $138,700 — about 60% below the U.S. median home value ($348,079).

Housing tenure and rents show median gross rent around $852 (about 27% below the U.S. median rent ($1,163)), and owner-occupancy near 65.0% (roughly in line with the national owner-occupancy rate (65.4%)).

To comfortably buy a median-priced home in ZIP 48221 in Detroit, MI, a household would need roughly $38,000 in annual income under a 20% down, 30-year loan at 6.8% (illustrative), keeping housing costs near 28% of income. Estimated monthly PITI is about $891. That sits below the local median household income ($55,583), suggesting the typical household income is closer to a workable buy-in level under these assumptions. Rates, taxes, insurance, and HOA fees vary — treat this as a planning estimate, not a lender quote.

Climate risk and migration signals

FEMA’s National Risk Index rates natural-hazard risk for Detroit city, MI as Relatively High (composite score 99.0), which is among the highest nationally. The strongest component scores on US5 are flood (99.4) and hurricane (57.8). These scores are county-linked NRI values published for planning context — all ZIP codes in the same county share the same composite score on US5. Useful when comparing insurance and disaster exposure across areas, not a substitute for a parcel-level flood or fire determination.

Climate normals for Detroit city, MI show little to no average snow and around 34.9 inches of annual precipitation.

IRS migration statistics show a net inflow of about 1,634 for ZIP 48221 (Detroit city, MI) on US5’s published series — a signal of people/tax filers moving in relative to those leaving. Inflows often track job growth, housing demand, or lifestyle migration; treat the figure as a directional indicator rather than a precise headcount.

Nearby (from this ZIP)

Airport DET (7.2 miles (11.6 km)) · Metro Detroit Barber College (0.7 miles (1.1 km)) · River Raisin National Battlefield Park (37.4 miles (60.2 km)) · VA: John D. Dingell VA Medical Center (6.7 miles (10.8 km))

Full lists and map pins are in the Infrastructure section below.