CensusEasy
CITY

River Rouge

Michigan · 6,814 residents (2025 est.) · 2.668 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Detroit metro area
Compare
Notable rankings
#219Fastest shrinkingof 6,642-8.6%
The short version

River Rouge has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $41,053. Population has fallen 29% since 2000, a loss of 2,909 residents. 7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value is $65,100. At a median age of 34.4, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. Households here earn about 44% less than the Michigan median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 34.4
US median: 38.9
Less educated
7% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
More affordable
home values down 23%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
7,008
−29%since 2000
from 9,917 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
2,627 / sq mi
−29%since 2000
from 3,717 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
34.4
+11%since 2000
from 31.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:6,814 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
7K8K9K10K12K1990201020202024River Rouge
20247K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$41,053
−23%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $29,214 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$22,576
+64%since 2000
from $13,728 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
18.7%
+5.8 ptssince 2009
from 12.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
39.8%
+17.8 ptssince 2000
from 22.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.500
+8%since 2010
from 0.464 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade20.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance12.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical10.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Information9.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade8.2%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services5.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration4.2%
US avg: 4.8%
Education & health services1.6%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Transportation & warehousing0%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 1.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$65,100
−23%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $46,300 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$839
+8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $428 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
57.3%
−0.6 ptssince 2000
from 57.9% in 2000
42.7% rent
Vacancy rate
12.1%
−12.3 ptssince 2009
from 24.5% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
21.5%
−15.0 ptssince 2009
from 36.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
54.3%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 53.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.6
Unchangedsince 2000
from 1.6 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
30
RELATED:See current rent listings in River Rouge on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic49.9%(4,951)
Black41.8%(4,144)
Hispanic / Latino5%(492)
Asian0.2%(15)
Other0%
Diversity Score68.2%(6,759)
2024
White, non-Hispanic31.4%(2,204)
Black45.5%(3,191)
Hispanic / Latino17%(1,189)
Asian0%(0)
Other6.1%(424)
Diversity Score82.7%(5,793)
Diversity Score
83
+21%since 2000
from 68 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
6.6%
+1.1 ptssince 2000
from 5.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
77.7%
+8.2 ptssince 2000
from 69.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
2.4%
+0.1 ptssince 2000
from 2.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
25.6 min
+71%since 2000
from 15.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
72.7%
−6.5 ptssince 2009
from 79.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
12.7%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 12.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.2%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 3.4% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
7.6%
+7.0 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.4%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 4.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
11.9%
−5.4 ptssince 2009
from 17.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
11.4%
−17.9 ptssince 2011
from 29.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
55.8%
+2.0 ptssince 2011
from 53.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
12.1%
+2.8 ptssince 2009
from 9.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
19.3%
−39.4 ptssince 2009
from 58.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.6%
+2.1 ptssince 2009
from 47.5% in 2009
Female
50.4%
−2.1 ptssince 2009
from 52.5% in 2009
Foreign born
8.2%
+5.9 ptssince 2009
from 2.4% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
3.7%
−43.1 ptssince 2009
from 46.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
17.5%
−4.2 ptssince 2012
from 21.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
11.1%
−71.3 ptssince 2013
from 82.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
80.8%
+29.5 ptssince 2017
from 51.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
82.8%
−6.4 ptssince 2016
from 89.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
14.3%
+4.2 ptssince 2016
from 10.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to River Rouge

Marianna
Pop 7,289
Fort Pierce North
Pop 7,224
Arcadia
Pop 8,046
Inverness
Pop 7,796
Places similar to River Rouge
Head to head

Compare River Rouge to nearby cities

RIVER ROUGE VS
Ecorse
Income$40,241−2%
Home value$65,400same
Population8,893+31%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RIVER ROUGE VS
Melvindale
Income$42,185+3%
Home value$125,800+93%
Population12,325+81%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RIVER ROUGE VS
Lincoln Park
Income$58,616+43%
Home value$131,000+101%
Population38,529+465%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RIVER ROUGE VS
Allen Park
Income$81,655+99%
Home value$183,700+182%
Population27,445+303%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in River Rouge, Michigan?

River Rouge, Michigan has about 7,008 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in River Rouge, Michigan?

The typical household in River Rouge, Michigan earns about $41,053 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is River Rouge, Michigan expensive?

In River Rouge, Michigan, the median home is worth about $65,100, and the typical rent is about $839 a month.

How educated are people in River Rouge, Michigan?

About 6.6% of adults age 25 and over in River Rouge, Michigan hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in River Rouge, Michigan?

About 39.8% of people in River Rouge, Michigan live below the federal poverty line.

Has River Rouge, Michigan grown since 1990?

Yes, River Rouge, Michigan has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 4,306 residents, a change of about -38 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
Michigan
Rankings
Highest income citiesFastest growing citiesMost educated cities
Compare
Compare River Rouge with another place

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

How we source and harmonize this data →