The Detroit metro is home to 4,367,620 people (up 1.2% over five years), with a median household income of $75,123. Typical rent of $1,514/month works out to 24.2% of the median household income — comfortably below the 30% affordability threshold (Census ACS + Zillow, September 2026).
The share of Detroit's workforce by sector — the base of tenant demand:
| Sector | % of workforce |
|---|---|
| Education & health care | 21.7% |
| Manufacturing | 19.2% |
| Professional & management | 11.8% |
| Retail trade | 10.5% |
| Arts, food & hospitality | 8.3% |
Education & health care is the metro's largest employment base — sectors like education and health care are recession-resilient anchors for rental demand.
Rents at 24.2% of median income leave room for rent growth without pricing out the median tenant. Market pricing, yields and the Star Score live on the Detroit market page; run a deal in the calculator.
At the 30%-of-income affordability rule, typical rent of $1,514/month suggests a household income around $61,000/year. The metro's median household income is $75,123.
By workforce share: Education & health care (21.7%), Manufacturing (19.2%), Professional & management (11.8%) (Census ACS 5-year).