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.

Harper Woods, MI Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

15,116

Median Agei

37.1

Race & Ethnicityi

Black

62.4%9,432

White

29.2%4,411

Two or More

5.3%797

Hispanic/Latino

2.2%331

Asian

0.6%94

Other

0.2%35

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.1%16

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

5.3%515

High School Diploma

22.5%2,200

Some College (<1 yr)

8.7%853

Some College (1+ yr)

19.1%1,863

Associate's Degree

10.1%984

Bachelor's Degree

17%1,660

Master's Degree

7.6%742

Professional Degree

1%102

Doctorate

0.5%49

HS or Higher

91.8%

BA or Higher

26.1%

Graduate+

9.1%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$157,200

Median Renti

$1,351

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

67.1%3,757

Renter-Occupied

32.9%1,838

Total Units

5,961

Homeownership

67.1%

Vacancy Rate

6.1%

Home Values

Under $50K

4.2%158

$50K–$100K

16%600

$100K–$150K

25.1%942

$150K–$200K

29.7%1,116

$200K–$300K

21.1%793

$300K–$500K

3.7%138

$1M+

0.3%10

Rent Distribution

Under $500

223

$500–$750

$750–$1,000

112

$1,000–$1,250

281

$1,250–$1,500

597

$1,500–$2,000

459

$2,000+

Year Built

1990–1999

2.1%128

1980–1989

8%478

1970–1979

5.7%342

1960–1969

10.7%638

1950–1959

47.6%2,835

1940–1949

20%1,195

1939 or earlier

5.8%345

Heating Fuel

Utility Gas

85.6%4,791

Electricity

12.5%698

Bottled/LP Gas

0.8%46

Other

0.8%46

No Fuel

0.3%14

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$65,022

Mean Household Incomei

$77,156

Per Capita Incomei

$30,520

Poverty Ratei

19.6%

Unemploymenti

7.1%

Labor Forcei

7,345

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

6.3%354

$10K–$15K

4.8%267

$15K–$20K

5.3%296

$20K–$25K

4.5%251

$25K–$30K

1.6%87

$30K–$35K

3.1%174

$35K–$40K

3.4%189

$40K–$45K

3.6%200

$45K–$50K

3%168

$50K–$60K

11.3%631

$60K–$75K

11.9%667

$75K–$100K

12.7%711

$100K–$125K

8.8%491

$125K–$150K

7.7%429

$150K–$200K

7.9%443

$200K+

4.2%237

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

450

Residentsi

889

Avg. Tenant Renti

$467/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

47 months

Programs in this community

Housing Choice Vouchers319 homes81% occupied$504/mo rent

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

Project Based Section 8131 homes98% occupied$378/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $65,022/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $20K/yr

78.3%

Very low income$20K–$33K/yr

16.4%

Low income$33K–$52K/yr

5.3%

Who Receives This Housing

83.3% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

94.2% of subsidized households are minority

21.5% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

37.7% 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

4322.9%

By Region

Top Countries

Philippines

Canada

Korea

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

6,449

Avg. Commutei

26.4 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

6,825

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

440(4% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

93.4%Insured

6.6%Uninsured