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CITY · 1990 CENSUS

Pontiac

Michigan · 71,166 residents · 19.9 sq mi
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The short version

With 71,166 people, Pontiac is a city in Michigan. 26.7% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Owners hold 50% of the housing stock. 8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 20% national rate. Median home value sits at $36,000. The median age is 28.4, younger than the US median of 33.0.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $30,130
Younger
median age 28.4
US median: 33.0
Less educated
8% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
More affordable
home values down 35%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01

Population & growth

71,166
+7%vs 2000
vs 66,337 in 2000
1990 – 2025
28.4
−5%vs 2000
vs 30.0 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Land area
19.9 sq mi
Population, 19902024
58K62K65K69K72K19902000201020202024Pontiac
202462K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 1990
Under 59.8%(7,009)
US avg: 7.3%
5 to 97.8%(5,579)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 148%(5,700)
US avg: 6.9%
15 to 198.4%(5,962)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 248.9%(6,310)
US avg: 7.5%
25 to 3419.3%(13,755)
US avg: 17.5%
35 to 4413.3%(9,456)
US avg: 15.1%
45 to 549.1%(6,491)
US avg: 10.2%
55 to 646.6%(4,699)
US avg: 8.5%
65 to 745.2%(3,682)
US avg: 7.3%
75 to 842.8%(1,995)
US avg: 4%
85 and over0.7%(528)
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$21,962
−7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $31,207 in 2000
US average: $30,130
1990 – 2024
$9,847
−38%vs 2000
vs $15,842 in 2000
US average: $14,340
26.7%
+4.6 ptsvs 2000
vs 22.1% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
Section 03

Housing

$36,000
−35%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $73,400 in 2000
US average: $93,722
1990 – 2024
$436
+4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $554 in 2000
US average: $450
49.7%
−3.0 ptsvs 2000
vs 52.8% in 2000
50.3% rent
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%
1990
White, non-Hispanic51.5%(36,634)
Black42.2%(30,018)
Hispanic / Latino7.7%(5,484)
Asian1.1%(810)
Other5.2%(3,704)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Mexican12.8%(7,946)
Puerto Rican3.7%(2,273)
Central American2.8%(1,753)
Salvadoran1.7%(1,077)
Honduran0.9%(536)
Venezuelan0.5%(288)
Dominican0.4%(236)
Colombian0.2%(148)
Guatemalan0.2%(131)
Cuban0.2%(102)
Spaniard0.1%(36)
+ 1 more hispanic origin group with data
Asian origin
Hmong1.9%(1,191)
Laotian0.6%(397)
Filipino0.6%(393)
Chinese0.5%(303)
Vietnamese0.2%(115)
Asian Indian0.2%(98)
Thai0.1%(66)
Korean0.1%(55)
Pacific Islander origin
Chamorro0.1%(92)
Ancestry
German5.5%(3,422)
English4.6%(2,885)
Irish3.6%(2,219)
American3.5%(2,161)
West Indian1.4%(883)
Polish1.3%(794)
Jamaican1.3%(790)
Italian1.2%(743)
French0.7%(442)
Scottish0.7%(408)
Ukrainian0.6%(375)
+ 36 more ancestry groups with data
Nigerian0.5%(332)
Scotch-Irish0.5%(314)
Swedish0.4%(238)
Arab0.4%(233)
Armenian0.2%(151)
Canadian0.2%(150)
Greek0.2%(150)
Hungarian0.2%(142)
Dutch0.2%(131)
Welsh0.2%(130)
British0.2%(116)
Lebanese0.2%(107)
Portuguese0.2%(100)
Czech0.2%(94)
Haitian0.1%(82)
Romanian0.1%(78)
Egyptian0.1%(76)
Iranian0.1%(68)
Brazilian0.1%(67)
Russian0.1%(57)
Finnish0.1%(50)
Austrian0.1%(48)
Macedonian0.1%(46)
Belgian0.1%(36)
Moroccan0%(27)
Serbian0%(24)
Norwegian0%(21)
Swiss0%(14)
Slovak0%(11)
Kenyan0%(6)
Israeli0%(2)
Iraqi0%(1)
Section 05

Education

7.9%
−2.4 ptsvs 2000
vs 10.3% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
62.4%
−6.5 ptsvs 2000
vs 68.9% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
2.2%
−0.9 ptsvs 2000
vs 3.1% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

16.7 min
+15%vs 2000
vs 14.6 min in 2000
US average: 21.9
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married56.6%(14,259)
Married30.3%(7,637)
Widowed1.9%(483)
Divorced11.1%(2,793)
Women 15+
Never married49.4%(12,470)
Married25.3%(6,395)
Widowed8.3%(2,089)
Divorced17%(4,302)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

12.5%
−6.7 ptssince 2013
from 19.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
37.8%
−0.8 ptssince 2020
from 38.6% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
8.8%
−1.0 ptssince 2020
from 9.8% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
17.7%
+0.9 ptssince 2020
from 16.8% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
42.9%
+2.6 ptssince 2020
from 40.3% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
1.2%
−0.1 ptssince 2020
from 1.3% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
44.9%
−2.0 ptssince 2020
from 46.9% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
55.1%
+3.3 ptssince 2020
from 51.8% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)23.3%(406)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)27.1%(473)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era22.5%(392)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War0.9%(15)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 1,745 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Pontiac, Michigan?

Pontiac, Michigan has about 71,166 residents according to the 1990 Census.

What is the median household income in Pontiac, Michigan?

The typical household in Pontiac, Michigan earns about $21,962 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 $36,000, and the typical rent is about $436 a month.

How educated are people in Pontiac, Michigan?

About 7.9% 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 26.7% of people in Pontiac, Michigan live below the federal poverty line.

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

How we source and harmonize this data →