Data / Rankings / Poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate) / Cities in Michigan

Cities in Michigan by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate)

Hamtramck, MI had the highest poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate) of 90 cities in 2021, at 43.1%. East Grand Rapids, MI had the lowest, at 1.6%. The median was 13.4% and the figure for Michigan was 13.3%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest43.1Hamtramck, MI
Lowest1.6East Grand Rapids, MI
Median13.490 cities
Michigan13.3History

Top 40 cities, 2021

Hamtramck, MI: 43.1 %Hamtramck, MI43.1Inkster, MI: 37.8 %Inkster, MI37.8Saginaw, MI: 35.6 %Saginaw, MI35.6Flint, MI: 35.5 %Flint, MI35.5East Lansing, MI: 35.5 %East Lansing, MI35.5Mount Pleasant, MI: 34.1 %Mount Pleasant, MI34.1Detroit, MI: 31.9 %Detroit, MI31.9Ypsilanti, MI: 28.9 %Ypsilanti, MI28.9Melvindale, MI: 28 %Melvindale, MI28Kalamazoo, MI: 27.8 %Kalamazoo, MI27.8Pontiac, MI: 27.7 %Pontiac, MI27.7Marquette, MI: 26.4 %Marquette, MI26.4Adrian, MI: 26 %Adrian, MI26Dearborn, MI: 24.7 %Dearborn, MI24.7Jackson, MI: 23.8 %Jackson, MI23.8Bay City, MI: 23.6 %Bay City, MI23.6Ann Arbor, MI: 22.6 %Ann Arbor, MI22.6Muskegon, MI: 22.5 %Muskegon, MI22.5Niles, MI: 22.2 %Niles, MI22.2Battle Creek, MI: 22 %Battle Creek, MI22Port Huron, MI: 22 %Port Huron, MI22Sault Ste. Marie, MI: 22 %Sault Ste. Marie, MI22Lansing, MI: 21.8 %Lansing, MI21.8Harper Woods, MI: 21.6 %Harper Woods, MI21.6Lincoln Park, MI: 21 %Lincoln Park, MI21Sturgis, MI: 20.6 %Sturgis, MI20.6Cadillac, MI: 20.4 %Cadillac, MI20.4Dearborn Heights, MI: 20.2 %Dearborn Heights, MI20.2Wayne, MI: 19.8 %Wayne, MI19.8Mount Clemens, MI: 19.1 %Mount Clemens, MI19.1Grand Rapids, MI: 18.6 %Grand Rapids, MI18.6Alpena, MI: 18.4 %Alpena, MI18.4Hazel Park, MI: 18.3 %Hazel Park, MI18.3Escanaba, MI: 17.3 %Escanaba, MI17.3Eastpointe, MI: 17.1 %Eastpointe, MI17.1Monroe, MI: 17 %Monroe, MI17Burton, MI: 16.2 %Burton, MI16.2Ionia, MI: 16.1 %Ionia, MI16.1Wyandotte, MI: 16 %Wyandotte, MI16Warren, MI: 15.3 %Warren, MI15.3Hamtramck, MI: 43.1 %Hamtramck, MI43.1Inkster, MI: 37.8 %Inkster, MI37.8Saginaw, MI: 35.6 %Saginaw, MI35.6Flint, MI: 35.5 %Flint, MI35.5East Lansing, MI: 35.5 %East Lansing, MI35.5Mount Pleasant, MI: 34.1 %Mount Pleasant, MI34.1Detroit, MI: 31.9 %Detroit, MI31.9Ypsilanti, MI: 28.9 %Ypsilanti, MI28.9Melvindale, MI: 28 %Melvindale, MI28Kalamazoo, MI: 27.8 %Kalamazoo, MI27.8Pontiac, MI: 27.7 %Pontiac, MI27.7Marquette, MI: 26.4 %Marquette, MI26.4Adrian, MI: 26 %Adrian, MI26Dearborn, MI: 24.7 %Dearborn, MI24.7Jackson, MI: 23.8 %Jackson, MI23.8Bay City, MI: 23.6 %Bay City, MI23.6Ann Arbor, MI: 22.6 %Ann Arbor, MI22.6Muskegon, MI: 22.5 %Muskegon, MI22.5Niles, MI: 22.2 %Niles, MI22.2Battle Creek, MI: 22 %Battle Creek, MI22Port Huron, MI: 22 %Port Huron, MI22Sault Ste. Marie, MI: 22 %Sault Ste. Marie, MI22Lansing, MI: 21.8 %Lansing, MI21.8Harper Woods, MI: 21.6 %Harper Woods, MI21.6Lincoln Park, MI: 21 %Lincoln Park, MI21Sturgis, MI: 20.6 %Sturgis, MI20.6Cadillac, MI: 20.4 %Cadillac, MI20.4Dearborn Heights, MI: 20.2 %Dearborn Heights, MI20.2Wayne, MI: 19.8 %Wayne, MI19.8Mount Clemens, MI: 19.1 %Mount Clemens, MI19.1Grand Rapids, MI: 18.6 %Grand Rapids, MI18.6Alpena, MI: 18.4 %Alpena, MI18.4Hazel Park, MI: 18.3 %Hazel Park, MI18.3Escanaba, MI: 17.3 %Escanaba, MI17.3Eastpointe, MI: 17.1 %Eastpointe, MI17.1Monroe, MI: 17 %Monroe, MI17Burton, MI: 16.2 %Burton, MI16.2Ionia, MI: 16.1 %Ionia, MI16.1Wyandotte, MI: 16 %Wyandotte, MI16Warren, MI: 15.3 %Warren, MI15.3
%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCities2021 (%)
1Hamtramck, MI43.1
2Inkster, MI37.8
3Saginaw, MI35.6
4Flint, MI35.5
5East Lansing, MI35.5
6Mount Pleasant, MI34.1
7Detroit, MI31.9
8Ypsilanti, MI28.9
9Melvindale, MI28
10Kalamazoo, MI27.8
11Pontiac, MI27.7
12Marquette, MI26.4
13Adrian, MI26
14Dearborn, MI24.7
15Jackson, MI23.8
16Bay City, MI23.6
17Ann Arbor, MI22.6
18Muskegon, MI22.5
19Niles, MI22.2
20Battle Creek, MI22
20Port Huron, MI22
22Sault Ste. Marie, MI22
23Lansing, MI21.8
24Harper Woods, MI21.6
25Lincoln Park, MI21
26Sturgis, MI20.6
27Cadillac, MI20.4
28Dearborn Heights, MI20.2
29Wayne, MI19.8
30Mount Clemens, MI19.1
31Grand Rapids, MI18.6
32Alpena, MI18.4
33Hazel Park, MI18.3
34Escanaba, MI17.3
35Eastpointe, MI17.1
36Monroe, MI17
37Burton, MI16.2
38Ionia, MI16.1
39Wyandotte, MI16
40Warren, MI15.3
41Coldwater, MI15
42Taylor, MI15
43Flat Rock, MI14.4
44Westland, MI13.6
45Roseville, MI13.5
46Owosso, MI13.4
47Oak Park, MI13
48Romulus, MI12.7
49Grand Haven, MI12.1
50Madison Heights, MI11.7
51Wyoming, MI11.4
52Auburn Hills, MI11.2
53Southfield, MI11.1
54Garden City, MI11
55Holland, MI10.9
56Fraser, MI10.9
57Southgate, MI10.7
58Midland, MI10.5
59Kentwood, MI10
60Sterling Heights, MI9.8
61Traverse City, MI9.8
62Fenton, MI9.7
63Ferndale, MI8.9
64Allen Park, MI8.6
65Norton Shores, MI8.2
66Riverview, MI8.1
67Wixom, MI7.8
68Walker, MI7.7
69St. Clair Shores, MI7.6
70Clawson, MI7.5
71Portage, MI7.4
72Trenton, MI6.5
73Woodhaven, MI6.3
74New Baltimore, MI6.3
75Royal Oak, MI6.3
76Grandville, MI6.2
77Rochester, MI5.9
78Farmington Hills, MI5.8
79Troy, MI5.3
80Grosse Pointe Woods, MI5.1
81South Lyon, MI5
82Livonia, MI4.7
83Birmingham, MI4.5
84Farmington, MI4.5
85Grosse Pointe Park, MI4.3
86Berkley, MI4.3
87Rochester Hills, MI4.3
88Novi, MI4
89Beverly Hills, MI1.9
90East Grand Rapids, MI1.6

Other periods

About this ranking

People with income in the past 12 months below the official US poverty thresholds, as a percentage of people whose poverty status is determined. United States: American Community Survey five-year estimate, where the period shown is the last year of the five-year span.

The headline single-year rate for states and counties is poverty_rate (SAIPE). Poverty status is not determined for people in institutions, military group quarters or college dormitories, or for unrelated children under 15. Absolute thresholds set by the US government, so not comparable with the EU at_risk_of_poverty_rate.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the cities are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b17001.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Census Bureau. (2026). American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more) (Cities in Michigan by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b17001.dat

MLA 9

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more), Cities in Michigan by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021. U.S. Census Bureau, 29 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b17001.dat. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/michigan-cities?period=2021. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2026. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). Cities in Michigan by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b17001.dat. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/michigan-cities?period=2021.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2026) American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more), Cities in Michigan by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b17001.dat, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/michigan-cities?period=2021 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_cities_in_michigan_by_2021,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more): Cities in Michigan by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b17001.dat},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/michigan-cities?period=2021. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary\_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b17001.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more): Cities in Michigan by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/29
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b17001.dat
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/michigan-cities?period=2021
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/michigan-cities?period=2021.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b17001.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Rank Cities in Michigan by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate) using official data, and cite the source.
rank_places {"indicator":"poverty_rate_acs","level":"municipality","within":"Michigan","limit":10}
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Questions

Which city has the highest poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate)?

Hamtramck, MI, with 43.1% in 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which city has the lowest poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate)?

East Grand Rapids, MI, with 1.6% in 2021.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate): other rankings

Cities in Michigan: more rankings