How long is the commute from Detroit, MI?
Workers who live in Detroit, MI take an average of 24.8 minutes to get to work (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
65.5% of workers drive alone to work.
4.9% take public transportation.
2.8% of workers walk to work.
12.0% work from home.
20.1% of households have no vehicle.
Figures last updated on .
- Average commute
- 24.8 minutes (±0.4)
- Public transportation
- 4.9%
- Work from home
- 12.0%
- Households without a car
- 20.1%
How people in Detroit get to work
| Means of transportation | Detroit | Wayne County | Michigan | United States |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drove alone | 65.5% (±1.0 points) | 71.9% | 74.3% | 68.8% |
| Carpooled | 10.6% (±0.6 points) | 8.5% | 7.9% | 8.5% |
| Public transportation | 4.9% (±0.5 points) | 1.8% | 0.9% | 3.2% |
| Walked | 2.8% (±0.3 points) | 1.6% | 2.0% | 2.4% |
| Other means (bicycle, taxi, motorcycle) | 4.2% (±0.4 points) | 2.2% | 1.4% | 2.0% |
| Worked from home | 12.0% (±0.6 points) | 14.1% | 13.5% | 15.1% |
In Detroit, the average commute is not measurably different from Wayne County (24.7 minutes).
It is also higher than in Michigan (24.2 minutes).
It is lower than the national figure (26.4 minutes).
In Detroit, the share commuting by public transportation is higher than in Wayne County (1.8%).
It is also higher than in Michigan (0.9%).
It is higher than the national figure (3.2%).
In Wayne County, Detroit ranks 21 of 43 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest average commute.
Statewide, it ranks 856 of 1,515.
Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.
Cars per household in Detroit
| Vehicles available | Detroit | Wayne County | Michigan | United States |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No vehicle | 20.1% (±0.7 points) | 11.6% | 7.0% | 8.4% |
| 1 vehicle | 48.2% (±0.8 points) | 41.0% | 34.8% | 33.1% |
| 2 vehicles | 22.8% (±0.7 points) | 32.5% | 38.3% | 36.6% |
| 3 or more vehicles | 8.9% (±0.5 points) | 15.0% | 19.8% | 21.9% |
In Detroit, the share of households without a vehicle is higher than in Wayne County (11.6%).
It is also higher than in Michigan (7.0%).
It is higher than the national figure (8.4%).
Working from home and internet access in Detroit
| Detroit | Wayne County | Michigan | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Workers working from home | 12.0% (±0.6 points) | 14.1% (±0.4 points) | 13.5% (±0.1 points) | 15.1% |
| Households with a computer | 92.4% (±0.5 points) | 94.6% (±0.2 points) | 95.1% (±0.1 points) | 95.5% |
| Households with broadband internet | 85.7% (±0.6 points) | 89.7% (±0.3 points) | 90.5% (±0.1 points) | 91.0% |
In Detroit, the share of households with a broadband subscription is lower than in Wayne County (89.7%).
It is also lower than in Michigan (90.5%).
It is lower than the national figure (91.0%).
Average commute in places near Detroit
| Place | Distance | Average commute | Compared with this place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit | — | 24.8 minutes (±0.4) | — |
| Highland Park | 1.6 mi | 22.3 minutes (±2.7) | Not measurably different |
| Hamtramck | 2.5 mi | 23.9 minutes (±2.1) | Not measurably different |
| Hazel Park | 5.5 mi | 24.6 minutes (±2.0) | Not measurably different |
| Ferndale | 5.5 mi | 23.2 minutes (±1.2) | Lower |
| Royal Oak Charter Township | 5.5 mi | 23.6 minutes (±2.9) | Not measurably different |
| Pleasant Ridge | 6.5 mi | 24.7 minutes (±3.1) | Not measurably different |
| Oak Park | 7.0 mi | 23.3 minutes (±1.3) | Lower |
| Dearborn | 7.4 mi | 21.7 minutes (±0.7) | Lower |
Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Ferndale, MI (23.2 minutes), Oak Park, MI (23.3 minutes), Dearborn, MI (21.7 minutes).
Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.
Average commute across Wayne County, place by place
| Rank | Place | Average commute |
|---|---|---|
| 15 (tie) | Trenton | 25.4 minutes (±1.8) |
| 15 (tie) | Westland | 25.4 minutes (±1.0) |
| 15 (tie) | Brownstown Charter Township | 25.4 minutes (±1.4) |
| 18 | Melvindale | 25.1 minutes (±3.1) |
| 19 | Romulus | 25.0 minutes (±1.6) |
| 20 | Redford Charter Township | 24.9 minutes (±1.7) |
| 21 (tie) | Detroit | 24.8 minutes (±0.4) |
| 21 (tie) | Grosse Pointe Park | 24.8 minutes (±2.3) |
| 23 | Northville Township | 24.5 minutes (±1.3) |
| 24 (tie) | Grosse Pointe | 24.4 minutes (±2.3) |
| 24 (tie) | Lincoln Park | 24.4 minutes (±1.1) |
| 24 (tie) | Wyandotte | 24.4 minutes (±1.4) |
| 24 (tie) | Van Buren Charter Township | 24.4 minutes (±1.7) |
Showing 13 of 43 places in Wayne County, ranked from highest to lowest.
Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).
Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.
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Questions about Detroit
How long is the average commute in Detroit?
Workers who live in Detroit, MI take an average of 24.8 minutes each way (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
Can you live in Detroit without a car?
20.1% of households in Detroit have no vehicle, and 4.9% of workers commute by public transportation.
How many people work from home in Detroit?
12.0% (±0.6 points) of workers who live in Detroit worked from home, and 85.7% of households have a broadband subscription.
Sources
- Selected Economic Characteristics (DP03), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Detroit city, Michigan
- Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Detroit city, Michigan
- Selected Social Characteristics (DP02), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Detroit city, Michigan
To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) for Detroit city, Michigan (place:22000, in state:26).
Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).
The API needs a free key.
DP03_0018E, DP03_0018M, DP03_0025E, DP03_0025M, DP03_0019PE, DP03_0019PM, DP03_0020PE, DP03_0020PM, DP03_0021PE, DP03_0021PM, DP03_0022PE, DP03_0022PM, DP03_0023PE, DP03_0023PM, DP03_0024PE, DP03_0024PM, DP04_0058PE, DP04_0058PM, DP04_0059PE, DP04_0059PM, DP04_0060PE, DP04_0060PM, DP04_0061PE, DP04_0061PM, DP02_0153PE, DP02_0153PM, DP02_0154PE, DP02_0154PM
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.
Figures last updated on .
Related
- Housing in Detroit at a glance
- Median rent in Detroit
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- Rent burden in Detroit
- Renters and owners in Detroit
- Income and affordability in Detroit
- Home values in Detroit
- Homeowner costs in Detroit
- Property taxes in Detroit
- Types of homes in Detroit
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- Age of homes in Detroit
- Vacancy rate in Detroit
- Heating fuel in Detroit
- Crime reported to police in Detroit
- Population growth in Detroit
- How long people stay in Detroit
- Crowding and facilities in Detroit
- Fair Market Rent in Detroit
- Michigan landlord and tenant rules
- Housing across Wayne County
- Michigan places ranked by commute time
- Housing data for every place in Michigan