Zip code 48238: Detroit, Michigan

Q: What city is zip code 48238?

48238 is assigned to Detroit, Michigan. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 48238 in?

48238 is in Wayne County, Michigan.

Q: What is the population of 48238?

About 24,731 people live in 48238, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 48238?

The median household income in 48238 is $33,315.

Q: What zip codes are near 48238?

The closest zip codes to 48238 are 48204, 48206, 48221, 48203, 48227.

Residential delivery areaWayne CountyEastern Time

Population

24,731

Median household income

$33K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$65K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$1,010/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

U.S. 38.9

Land area

5.4 sq mi

4,580 people/sq mi

Boundary is the Census Bureau's ZIP Code Tabulation Area, which closely tracks the postal delivery area.

About 48238

48238 is an urban zip code in Detroit, Michigan (Wayne County), covering 5.4 sq mi of land. About 24,731 people live here, or 4,580 per square mile. The median resident is 36 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $33,315 a year, about 41% of the national median of $80,734. 35% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $64,800, or 1.9 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 47% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $1,010 a month.

14% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 27.5 minutes each way, and 14% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in healthcare; production and manufacturing; and office and administrative support.

How 48238 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Unemployment rate19.2%
99th
WeaknessU.S. 5.2% · MI 5.7%12th of 961 in MI
Housing vacancy36%
99th
U.S. 10.1% · MI 11.8%170th of 958 in MI
Poverty rate35%
98th
WeaknessU.S. 12.5% · MI 13.2%29th of 959 in MI
Income inequality (Gini)0.522
94th
WeaknessU.S. 0.483 · MI 0.46533rd of 958 in MI
Rent-burdened renters62.1%
88th
WeaknessU.S. 51.1% · MI 50.4%136th of 931 in MI
Healthcare workers12.9%
88th
U.S. 9.7% · MI 10.1%148th of 961 in MI
Self-employed workers13.6%
86th
U.S. 10% · MI 8.6%184th of 961 in MI
Residents under 1826.7%
85th
U.S. 22% · MI 21.2%88th of 962 in MI
Population density4,580/sq mi
79th
U.S. 95/sq mi · MI 178/sq mi45th of 962 in MI
Average commute27.5 min
60th
U.S. 26.4 min · MI 24.2 min331st of 941 in MI
Work from home13.8%
55th
U.S. 15.1% · MI 13.5%258th of 961 in MI
Uninsured rate5.8%
41st
U.S. 8.4% · MI 4.9%324th of 961 in MI
Residents 65 and older15.3%
40th
U.S. 17.2% · MI 18.6%802nd of 962 in MI
Population24,731
39th
U.S. 334,922,499 · MI 10,077,761135th of 962 in MI
Government workers11.1%
28th
U.S. 14.5% · MI 11.6%524th of 961 in MI
Median age36
27th
U.S. 38.9 · MI 40.2841st of 962 in MI
Veterans3.8%
24th
U.S. 6.2% · MI 5.8%858th of 962 in MI
Median gross rent$1,010
22nd
U.S. $1,413 · MI $1,129376th of 851 in MI
Tech workers1.4%
20th
U.S. 3.8% · MI 3.1%563rd of 961 in MI
Homeownership rate47%
15th
WeaknessU.S. 65.2% · MI 73.2%926th of 958 in MI
Broadband access84.3%
11th
WeaknessU.S. 91% · MI 90.5%721st of 958 in MI
Bachelor's degree or higher13.5%
7th
WeaknessU.S. 35.7% · MI 32.4%813th of 961 in MI
Diversity index11.8
5th
U.S. 61.4 · MI 45.3786th of 962 in MI
Foreign-born residents0.8%
5th
U.S. 14.1% · MI 7.2%756th of 962 in MI
Median earnings per worker$31,921
4th
WeaknessU.S. $49,666 · MI $47,178895th of 960 in MI
Per capita income$20,989
3rd
WeaknessU.S. $44,673 · MI $40,735931st of 962 in MI
Median household income$33,315
2nd
WeaknessU.S. $80,734 · MI $72,875946th of 952 in MI
Median home value$64,800
1st
U.S. $332,700 · MI $231,600933rd of 946 in MI

Measure	48238	Wayne	MI	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in MI
Unemployment rateWeakness	19.2%	8.7%	5.7%	5.2%	99th	12th of 961
Housing vacancy	36%	12.5%	11.8%	10.1%	99th	170th of 958
Poverty rateWeakness	35%	20.8%	13.2%	12.5%	98th	29th of 959
Income inequality (Gini)Weakness	0.522	0.493	0.465	0.483	94th	33rd of 958
Rent-burdened rentersWeakness	62.1%	54.3%	50.4%	51.1%	88th	136th of 931
Healthcare workers	12.9%	10.5%	10.1%	9.7%	88th	148th of 961
Self-employed workers	13.6%	7.6%	8.6%	10%	86th	184th of 961
Residents under 18	26.7%	23.6%	21.2%	22%	85th	88th of 962
Population density	4,580/sq mi	2,897/sq mi	178/sq mi	95/sq mi	79th	45th of 962
Average commute	27.5 min	24.7 min	24.2 min	26.4 min	60th	331st of 941
Work from home	13.8%	14.1%	13.5%	15.1%	55th	258th of 961
Uninsured rate	5.8%	5.6%	4.9%	8.4%	41st	324th of 961
Residents 65 and older	15.3%	16.6%	18.6%	17.2%	40th	802nd of 962
Population	24,731	1,772,259	10,077,761	334,922,499	39th	135th of 962
Government workers	11.1%	10.7%	11.6%	14.5%	28th	524th of 961
Median age	36	37.9	40.2	38.9	27th	841st of 962
Veterans	3.8%	4.8%	5.8%	6.2%	24th	858th of 962
Median gross rent	$1,010	$1,132	$1,129	$1,413	22nd	376th of 851
Tech workers	1.4%	3.1%	3.1%	3.8%	20th	563rd of 961
Homeownership rateWeakness	47%	64.8%	73.2%	65.2%	15th	926th of 958
Broadband accessWeakness	84.3%	89.7%	90.5%	91%	11th	721st of 958
Bachelor's degree or higherWeakness	13.5%	27.6%	32.4%	35.7%	7th	813th of 961
Diversity index	11.8	62.9	45.3	61.4	5th	786th of 962
Foreign-born residents	0.8%	10.3%	7.2%	14.1%	5th	756th of 962
Median earnings per workerWeakness	$31,921	$44,724	$47,178	$49,666	4th	895th of 960
Per capita incomeWeakness	$20,989	$34,906	$40,735	$44,673	3rd	931st of 962
Median household incomeWeakness	$33,315	$60,539	$72,875	$80,734	2nd	946th of 952
Median home value	$64,800	$178,500	$231,600	$332,700	1st	933rd of 946

The percentile is the share of Americans who live in a zip code with a lower value, so the 50th percentile is typical. Rank 1 is the highest value in the state. Both include zip codes with at least 100 residents. Strengths and weaknesses mark measures in the best or worst fifth nationally, where higher or lower is clearly better (income, poverty, education, commute, broadband, insurance and similar). Measures like age or density are left unmarked.

People

Age

Under 5

19%

5–17

18–24

16%

25–34

11%

35–44

13%

45–54

12%

55–64

65–74

75+

Median age

Under 18

26.7%

65 and over

15.3%

Race and ethnicity

White1%
Black94%
Hispanic0.7%
Asian0.1%
Native American0.0%
Pacific Islander0%
Other1%
Multiracial3%

Diversity index

11.8

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

0.8%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

86.2%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

99%

Spanish

0.5%

Other Indo-European

0.2%

Asian / Pacific

0.1%

Other

0.4%

Households

Households: 10,251
Average household size: 2.4
Family households: 48.4%
Married couples: 12%
Living alone: 48%
Veterans (of adults): 3.8%
Male / female: 49% / 51%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

44%

$25–50k

24%

$50–75k

13%

$75–100k

$100–150k

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

48238

$33,315

Wayne Co.

$60,539

Michigan

$72,875

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$20,989

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

35%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

4.3%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.522

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

48238

$64,800

Wayne Co.

$178,500

Michigan

$231,600

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

48238

$1,010

Wayne Co.

$1,132

Michigan

$1,129

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

60%

2–4 units

27%

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

0.9%

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 16,014
Owner-occupied: 47%
Vacant: 36%
Median year built: 1942
Median rooms: 5.9
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 62.1%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 47%
Home value to income: 1.9× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

57%

Carpooled

13%

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

14%

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

10–19

32%

20–29

21%

30–44

23%

45–59

60+

11%

Average commute

27.5 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

19.2%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

55.8%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Healthcare

13%

Production

13%

Office and admin

13%

Sales

11%

Transportation and moving

10%

Food service

Construction and repair

Cleaning and personal care

Education

Management

Business and finance

Legal and social services

Arts, media and sports

Computer and math

Police and fire

Engineering and science

0.5%

Farming, fishing and forestry

Industries

Health care and social assistance

20%

Manufacturing

15%

Restaurants and hotels

11%

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

10%

Retail

Education

Admin, support and management

Finance, insurance and real estate

Construction

Other services

Wholesale

Arts and recreation

Professional and technical services

Public administration

Information

Agriculture and mining

Median earnings per worker

$31,921

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

13.6%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

11.1%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

8.1%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	48238	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$50,994	$74,888
Service	$21,810	$26,804
Sales and office	$20,077	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$44,028	$49,199
Production and transportation	$36,395	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

16%

High school

32%

Some college

32%

Associate's

Bachelor's

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 84.2%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 13.5%
Graduate or professional degree: 4.4%
Households with broadband: 84.3%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 58.5%
No internet access: 10.1%
Without health insurance: 5.8%
Limited-English households: 0.1%

Geography

City (USPS): Detroit
State: Michigan
County: Wayne County
Center point: 42.3963° N, 83.1413° W
Land area: 5.4 sq mi
Water area: under 0.1 sq mi
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Cities and towns within this zip

Detroit100% of zip

Census places overlapping the zip's area. Mail may use a different city name than the municipality.

Zip codes near 48238

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
48204	Detroit, MI	2.1 mi	20,696	$34,468	$59,200
48206	Detroit, MI	2.2 mi	15,227	$45,046	$116,300
48221	Detroit, MI	2.2 mi	41,392	$57,878	$154,600
48203	Highland Park, MI	2.5 mi	20,049	$38,404	$76,200
48227	Detroit, MI	2.7 mi	40,302	$36,527	$75,100
48235	Detroit, MI	3.5 mi	45,600	$39,265	$90,000
48202	Detroit, MI	3.6 mi	15,780	$43,627	$186,500
48208	Detroit, MI	4.2 mi	8,037	$36,194	$176,400
48210	Detroit, MI	4.2 mi	26,722	$37,838	$67,800
48220	Ferndale, MI	4.3 mi	21,527	$89,881	$243,900
48212	Hamtramck, MI	4.5 mi	43,384	$38,186	$109,200
48228	Detroit, MI	4.8 mi	50,117	$30,680	$59,500

Zip codes like 48238 elsewhere

Matched on income, home values, age, density, education, housing and commuting

Questions about 48238

What city is zip code 48238?

48238 is assigned to Detroit, Michigan. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 48238 in?

48238 is in Wayne County, Michigan.

What is the population of 48238?

About 24,731 people live in 48238, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 48238 in?

48238 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 48238?

The median household income in 48238 is $33,315.

What zip codes are near 48238?

The closest zip codes to 48238 are 48204, 48206, 48221, 48203, 48227.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 48238, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.