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CITY

Pontiac

Michigan · 62,077 residents (2025 est.) · 19.885 sq mi
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The short version

Pontiac has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $44,329. Population has declined 6% since 2000. 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $121,700. The poverty rate of 24.4% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 39% less than the Michigan median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 36.5
US median: 38.9
Less educated
16% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
More affordable
home values down 9%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
62,104
−6%since 2000
from 66,337 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
3,123 / sq mi
−6%since 2000
from 3,336 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
36.5
+22%since 2000
from 30.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:62,077 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
58K62K65K69K72K1990201020202024Pontiac
202462K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$44,329
−22%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $31,207 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$26,080
+65%since 2000
from $15,842 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
27.5%
+13.2 ptssince 2009
from 14.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
24.4%
+2.3 ptssince 2000
from 22.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.459
Unchangedsince 2010
from 0.460 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade17.1%
US avg: 9.9%
Information14.9%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade8.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services5%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance4.2%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration3.7%
US avg: 4.8%
Arts, entertainment, food2%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing0.7%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0.4%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$121,700
−9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $73,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,063
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $554 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
46.6%
−6.2 ptssince 2000
from 52.8% in 2000
53.4% rent
Vacancy rate
9.6%
−6.3 ptssince 2009
from 15.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
21.7%
−17.0 ptssince 2009
from 38.7% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
50.0%
−6.9 ptssince 2009
from 56.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.7
+17%since 2000
from 2.4 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
38
RELATED:See current rent listings in Pontiac on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic34.5%(22,875)
Black47.4%(31,416)
Hispanic / Latino12.8%(8,463)
Asian2.4%(1,576)
Other0%
Diversity Score77.1%(51,175)
2024
White, non-Hispanic22.8%(14,184)
Black41.7%(25,918)
Hispanic / Latino24.1%(14,941)
Asian4.2%(2,630)
Other7.1%(4,431)
Diversity Score88.6%(55,033)
Diversity Score
89
+15%since 2000
from 77 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
16.1%
+5.8 ptssince 2000
from 10.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
82.1%
+13.2 ptssince 2000
from 68.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
4.8%
+1.7 ptssince 2000
from 3.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.2 min
+45%since 2000
from 14.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
72.3%
−4.6 ptssince 2009
from 76.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
18.1%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 16.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.6%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
4.8%
+2.6 ptssince 2009
from 2.2% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.4%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
15.6%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 14.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
10.1%
−11.5 ptssince 2011
from 21.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
61.3%
+0.3 ptssince 2011
from 61.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
8.1%
−3.0 ptssince 2009
from 11.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
23.5%
−32.6 ptssince 2009
from 56.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.7%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 49.9% in 2009
Female
50.3%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 50.1% in 2009
Foreign born
12.1%
+4.0 ptssince 2009
from 8.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
3.6%
−45.6 ptssince 2009
from 49.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
19.6%
+2.6 ptssince 2012
from 17.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
12.5%
−68.3 ptssince 2013
from 80.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
86.0%
+17.6 ptssince 2017
from 68.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
77.1%
−5.8 ptssince 2016
from 82.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
18.2%
+4.2 ptssince 2016
from 14.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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PONTIAC VS
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Pontiac, Michigan?

Pontiac, Michigan has about 62,104 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Pontiac, Michigan?

The typical household in Pontiac, Michigan earns about $44,329 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Pontiac, Michigan expensive?

In Pontiac, Michigan, the median home is worth about $121,700, and the typical rent is about $1,063 a month.

How educated are people in Pontiac, Michigan?

About 16.1% of adults age 25 and over in Pontiac, Michigan hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Pontiac, Michigan?

About 24.4% of people in Pontiac, Michigan live below the federal poverty line.

Has Pontiac, Michigan grown since 1990?

Yes, Pontiac, Michigan has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 9,062 residents, a change of about -13 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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