Property Makler
Advanced analytics for residential real estate investing

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI housing market

Housing market indicators

Indicator	2022	2023	2024	2025*	2022	2023	2024	YTD
Median Listing Price per Square Feet	$161	$170	$172	$179	2.5%	5.6%	1.2%	4.1%
Active Listing Count	8,673	7,359	7,942	10,811	37.8%	-15.2%	7.9%	36.1%
Median Days on Market	52	50	50	42	20.9%	-3.8%	0%	-16%
Share of listings with price increase	1.3%	1%	0.9%	0.8%
Share of listings with price decrease	16.8%	14.1%	12.9%	14.8%

* last available value

Note: 12M MA - 12 months moving average, Permits - New Private Housing Structures Authorized by Building Permits. Source: FRED

The Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) spans about 3,892 square miles across seven counties: Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Livingston, St. Clair, Lapeer, and Monroe.
2024 population estimate: 4,400,578, with slight annual growth of 0.04% from 2020.
Key geographic regions: Urban core (Detroit in Wayne County), northern suburbs (Oakland County affluent areas like Troy, Farmington Hills), eastern suburbs (Macomb County like Warren, Sterling Heights), and outer ring (Livingston, St. Clair counties).
Population density: 1,115.6 people per square mile overall, higher in urban Detroit (around 4,500/sq mi) vs. suburban areas (500-2,000/sq mi).

Area	City/town	Population	Density	Income	Quality of Schools	Crime Level	Property Tax (%)	Comments
Urban Core	Detroit	631,524 (2025)	High (4,500/sq mi)	Low ($40k median HH)	2-6/10 GreatSchools	High	2.2-3.0%	Declining pop -0.27%/yr; revitalizing downtown.
Northern Suburbs	Troy	87,000	Med (2,800/sq mi)	High ($120k+ median HH)	8-10/10 GreatSchools	Low	1.5-2.0%	Affluent, tech hub; strong job growth.
Northern Suburbs	Farmington Hills	83,000	Med (2,200/sq mi)	High ($110k median HH)	7-9/10 GreatSchools	Low	1.6-2.1%	Corporate offices; family-friendly.
Eastern Suburbs	Warren	137,686	High (3,900/sq mi)	Med ($65k median HH)	5-8/10 GreatSchools	Med	2.0-2.5%	Auto manufacturing base; stable working-class.
Eastern Suburbs	Sterling Heights	134,342	Med (3,000/sq mi)	Med-High ($85k median HH)	6-9/10 GreatSchools	Low-Med	1.8-2.3%	Diverse, growing immigrant pop.
Outer Ring	Dearborn	110,000	High (4,200/sq mi)	Med ($70k median HH)	4-7/10 GreatSchools	Med	2.1-2.6%	Arab American hub; Ford HQ.
Outer Ring	Livonia	95,000	Med (2,600/sq mi)	High ($90k median HH)	7-10/10 GreatSchools	Low	1.7-2.2%	Suburban retail; retiree-friendly.

To view all table columns, please open this table on a laptop or desktop screen.

Median household income: $75,123 (2023), up 3.68% from prior year.
Per capita income varies: $35k metro-wide; low in Detroit ($25k), high in Oakland County ($60k+).
Education: 30% bachelor's degree or higher metro-wide; 25% in Detroit vs. 50%+ in Troy/Farmington Hills.
Median age: 40.2 years; working-age (18-64) 60% of pop.
Racial/ethnic: 64.1% White, 21.4% Black, 4.8% Asian; 10% immigrants (high from Iraq, India, Lebanon).

Manufacturing: 15% employment, led by automotive (Ford, GM, Stellantis); Warren-Troy-Farmington Hills division 62% of metro jobs.
Health care/social assistance: 13%, growing with aging pop (19% over 65).
Retail trade: 11%; professional/scientific services: 8% in suburbs.
Education: Strong universities (Univ Michigan-Dearborn, Wayne State); supports tech R&D.
Logistics/transport: Proximity to Great Lakes, major ports.

Zoning: Mixed; urban Detroit more open post-bankruptcy for infill/reuse, suburbs restrictive (large lots in Oakland/Macomb limit density).
Regulatory strictness: Moderate; Michigan streamlined permits but local NIMBYism slows multi-family in suburbs.
Construction workforce: Available, lower costs ($40-60/hr labor vs. national $70+); unionized auto skills adaptable.
Land availability: Abundant vacant lots in Detroit (40 sq mi), constrained in suburbs.
New builds: 5,000-7,000 units/yr metro-wide, focused on suburbs/multi-family.

Migration: Net out-migration -0.18% pop decline 2022-23; inflows from immigrants (54% post-1990 arrivals).
Growing industries: EV/auto tech (battery plants in suburbs), health care expansion; adds 10k jobs/yr.
Declining: Traditional auto assembly (automation cuts jobs); legacy manufacturing.
Remote work boosts suburbs; young professionals to downtown Detroit (pop gain 1,852 in 2022-23).
Median home price: $250k metro (2025 est.), up 5%/yr; Detroit $120k, Troy $450k.

Affordability gap: Suburbs prices 3x Detroit, but incomes 2x; low-income trapped in core.
Inventory shortage: Suburban zoning blocks townhomes/apartments; 2-3 months supply.
Urban blight: 100k+ vacant properties in Detroit, high demo costs.
Crime/decline perception deters buyers despite improvements.
Interest rates/layoffs: Auto strikes volatile; pop projections to 610k Detroit by 2030.
Infrastructure aging: Water/sewer upgrades needed $billions.

Area	Appreciation Potential	Risk	Key Drivers
Downtown Detroit	High	Med	Revitalization, young influx, low entry prices; office-to-resi conversions.
Northern Suburbs (Troy/Farmington)	High	Low	Tech/auto jobs, top schools, low crime; limited supply.
Eastern Suburbs (Warren/Sterling Hts)	Med	Low-Med	Stable manufacturing, immigration; value buys.
Urban Core Outer (Dearborn/Livonia)	Med-High	Low	Diverse pop, corporate anchors; family demand.
Outer Ring (Livingston/St. Clair)	Med	Med	Spillover growth, land avail; commute risk.
Far Detroit Neighborhoods	Low	High	Vacancy, crime; blight clearance slow.

To view all table columns, please open this table on a laptop or desktop screen.

Metro home values up 6%/yr past 3 years, driven by suburbs; Detroit core rebounding 10%/yr.
Rental yields high in city (7-9%), low in burbs (4-5%).
Future: EV shift favors Oakland/Macomb; immigration sustains demand.
Investors target multifamily in Detroit, SFH in suburbs.