Should I Move To
Detroit, Michigan is home to about 636,787 people. On cost of living, it lands in the moderate band — essentially matching the national average. The median renter pays around $989 a month against a typical household income of $37,761. Our composite UrbRank Score lands at 26 out of 100 (grade F), putting it at #981 nationally.
UrbRank Score · General
Each dimension scored 0-100 against every other US city.
Based on overall cost of living vs. other US cities.
Inverse of violent + property crime rate per 100,000 residents.
Temperate summers & winters, moderate precipitation.
Walk Score — how feasible daily errands are on foot.
Unemployment rate plus household income vs. national median.
Air quality index (EPA AQS data).
Share of residents 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
Detroit's composite cost-of-living index lands at 98 (100 = US average), which puts it in the moderate band. At $989/mo against $37,761 in median household income, the typical renter spends about 31% of income on housing — a bit above the 30% rule, meaning housing is on the tight side for the median household. Median home value sits around $66,700.
Full cost-of-living breakdown →Climate is cold-winter — summer averages around 82°F, winter averages around 22°F. Precipitation totals about 34 inches a year. Car-dependent for most errands, with small walkable pockets downtown or in older neighborhoods. Crime statistics are on the rougher end of the US distribution; the citywide aggregate hides safer pockets but the headline number isn't great. Air quality is moderate (AQI 52).
Verdict by lifestyle profile — same data, different priorities.
Detroit doesn't obviously fit families. It earns 29/100 (grade F) on the families profile. Strongest on affordability (71/100); weakest on job market (1/100).
Detroit doesn't obviously fit retirees. It earns 35/100 (grade F) on the retirees profile. Strongest on affordability (71/100); weakest on job market (1/100).
Detroit doesn't obviously fit remote workers. It earns 39/100 (grade F) on the remote workers profile. Strongest on affordability (71/100); weakest on job market (1/100).
Detroit doesn't obviously fit young professionals. It earns 28/100 (grade F) on the young professionals profile. Strongest on affordability (71/100); weakest on job market (1/100).
Detroit, Michigan pulls a 26/100 overall on the UrbRank Score (grade F), currently ranked #981 nationally. The composite weights seven lifestyle dimensions: affordability, safety, climate, walkability, jobs, environment, and education.
Detroit's cost-of-living index is 98 (with 100 as the US average), which lands in the moderate band — essentially matching the national average. Median rent runs about $989/mo.
Cold-winter — summer averages around 82°F, winter averages around 22°F, with about 34 inches of precipitation a year.
Walk Score: 33/100. Car-dependent for most errands, with small walkable pockets downtown or in older neighborhoods.
Detroit has about 636,787 residents, 17% of adults 25+ holding a bachelor's degree or higher with a median age of 35.
Use UrbRank's comparison tool to put Detroit head-to-head against any other US city — housing, salaries, demographics, and quality-of-life metrics side by side. The leaderboard pages also show how Detroit stacks up for families, retirees, remote workers, and young professionals specifically.
Every US city is scored 0-100 on seven dimensions using public data from the US Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, FBI Crime Data Explorer, EPA Air Quality System, NOAA NCEI, and Walk Score. Each dimension is a percentile rank against every other city — so a score of 80 means the city is in the top 20% nationally on that dimension.
The overall score is a weighted average. Five lifestyle profiles — general, families, retirees, remote workers, young professionals — weight the dimensions differently to reflect what each cares about. Families get more weight on safety and schools; young professionals get more weight on jobs and walkability; retirees get more weight on climate.
Compare Detroit with other Michigan cities scored on UrbRank.
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