Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Pontiac, MI Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

62,104

Median Agei

36.5

Race & Ethnicityi

Black

41.7%25,918

Hispanic/Latino

24.1%14,941

White

22.8%14,184

Two or More

6.2%3,854

Asian

4.2%2,630

Other

0.7%452

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.2%125

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

5.1%2,164

High School Diploma

31.6%13,499

Some College (<1 yr)

8.2%3,503

Some College (1+ yr)

14.5%6,189

Associate's Degree

6.6%2,830

Bachelor's Degree

11.3%4,822

Master's Degree

3.6%1,544

Professional Degree

0.9%394

Doctorate

0.3%116

HS or Higher

82.1%

BA or Higher

16.1%

Graduate+

4.8%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$121,700

Median Renti

$1,063

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

46.6%11,940

Renter-Occupied

53.4%13,677

Total Units

28,325

Homeownership

46.6%

Vacancy Rate

9.6%

Home Values

Under $50K

9.6%1,144

$50K–$100K

26.9%3,213

$100K–$150K

24.9%2,970

$150K–$200K

16.6%1,985

$200K–$300K

16.3%1,944

$300K–$500K

3.8%449

$500K–$1M

1.7%204

$1M+

0.3%31

Rent Distribution

Under $500

1,638

$500–$750

1,517

$750–$1,000

2,541

$1,000–$1,250

3,182

$1,250–$1,500

2,371

$1,500–$2,000

1,285

$2,000+

474

Year Built

2020 or later

0.7%209

2010–2019

2.1%589

2000–2009

9.6%2,706

1990–1999

7.1%2,009

1980–1989

5.3%1,494

1970–1979

13.3%3,780

1960–1969

13.3%3,765

1950–1959

18.6%5,259

1940–1949

10.1%2,870

1939 or earlier

19.9%5,644

Heating Fuel

Utility Gas

83.2%21,305

Electricity

13.7%3,497

Bottled/LP Gas

1.7%442

No Fuel

0.7%186

Other

0.5%128

Fuel Oil

0.1%31

Wood

0.1%28

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$44,329

Mean Household Incomei

$60,069

Per Capita Incomei

$26,080

Poverty Ratei

23.7%

Unemploymenti

10.1%

Labor Forcei

30,625

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

10.2%2,612

$10K–$15K

7.4%1,905

$15K–$20K

4.1%1,060

$20K–$25K

5.1%1,300

$25K–$30K

4.7%1,201

$30K–$35K

6.8%1,749

$35K–$40K

7.2%1,838

$40K–$45K

5.2%1,338

$45K–$50K

3.4%880

$50K–$60K

8.3%2,130

$60K–$75K

10%2,561

$75K–$100K

9.7%2,486

$100K–$125K

8.8%2,257

$125K–$150K

3.9%991

$150K–$200K

2.7%696

$200K+

2.4%613

Federally Subsidized Housingi

HUD

The federal government helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford housing through several programs. Residents typically pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest. This data shows how many households in this community receive that assistance.

Subsidized Homesi

4,115

Residentsi

6,232

Avg. Tenant Renti

$291/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

30 months

Programs in this community

Housing Choice Vouchers699 homes63% occupied$293/mo rent

Rental vouchers (Section 8) that help tenants pay for private-market housing

Project Based Section 81,948 homes82% occupied$283/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

202/PRAC126 homes95% occupied$384/mo rent

811/PRAC20 homes97% occupied$345/mo rent

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $44,329/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $13K/yr

86.5%

Very low income$13K–$22K/yr

12.3%

Low income$22K–$35K/yr

1.2%

Who Receives This Housing

66.4% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

81.9% of subsidized households are minority

20.7% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

30% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

7,53812.1%

By Region

Top Countries

Mexico

2,744

China

271

Philippines

240

Canada

189

Guatemala

132

Korea

United Kingdom

Germany

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

25,956

Avg. Commutei

21.2 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

27,534

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

1,745(3.6% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

87.5%Insured

12.5%Uninsured