City · Michigan
Inkster, Michigan
Inkster, city, in Wayne County, Michigan. Inkster had 24,959 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 4.3% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 26,088 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 25,428 (±30). GEOID 2640680.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
24,959
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 26,088 · ACS 2020-2024: 25,428 ±30
Median household income
$39,252
±$5,394 (90% margin)
Michigan: $72,875
Median home value
$80,400
±$7,672 (90% margin)
Michigan: $231,600
Median gross rent
$1,170
±$53 (90% margin)
Michigan: $1,129
Where is Inkster and what county is it in?
Inkster is a city in Wayne County, Michigan. It covers 6.3 square miles of land, 4,172 residents per square mile in 2020.
Inkster is in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 6 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Inkster, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 24,959 people lived in Inkster on July 1, 2025, down 4.3% since 2020, while Michigan grew 0.5%. The 2020 Census counted 26,088 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 25,428 (±30).
| Measure | Inkster | Wayne County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 25,428 ±30 | 1,772,259 | +908 |
| Households | 9,750 ±576 | 700,591 | +748 |
| Average household size | 2.59 ±0.15 | 2.50 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 11,517 ±482 | 801,083 | +845 |
Inkster's population since 2000
From 30,115 in 2000 to 24,959 in 2025: down 17.1%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Inkster as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Inkster?
The median resident of Inkster is 35.0 years old; 26.5% are under 18 and 12.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic Black residents at 70.3%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 16.8%. 5.2% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Inkster | Wayne County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.0 ±2.4 | 37.9 | +4.0 |
| Under 18 years | 26.5% ±3.0 pts | 23.6% | – |
| 65 years and over | 12.2% ±1.9 pts | 16.6% | – |
| Male | 49.8% ±2.3 pts | 48.4% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3.7% ±1.5 pts | 6.9% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 16.8% ±3.3 pts | 47.9% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 70.3% ±4.0 pts | 36.6% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.4% ±1.0 pts | 3.7% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.4 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 6.9% ±2.2 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.5% ±0.6 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 5.2% ±1.6 pts | 10.3% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 7.5% ±1.9 pts | 16.4% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 4.0% ±1.3 pts | 4.8% | – |
| With a disability | 18.4% ±2.6 pts | 15.9% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 8.8% ±2.6 pts | 5.6% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 84.0% ±2.7 pts | 88.0% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 13.1% ±2.8 pts | 27.6% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 3.9% ±1.5 pts | 10.8% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 87.0% ±2.5 pts | 89.9% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.4% ±1.2 pts | 1.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Inkster earn?
Half of Inkster's 9,750 households earn less than $39,252 a year (±$5,394), against $60,539 in Wayne County and $72,875 in Michigan. In 2015-2019 it was $39,399 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 35.2% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Inkster | Wayne County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $39,252 ±$5,394 | $60,539 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $61,188 ±$5,899 | $85,604 | – |
| Per capita income | $25,587 ±$2,666 | $34,906 | +$5,058 |
| People below the poverty line | 35.2% ±4.6 pts | 20.8% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 54.0% ±9.5 pts | 30.9% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 33.7% ±4.0 pts | 23.0% | – |
| Households with a computer | 95.5% ±1.6 pts | 94.6% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 92.7% ±2.1 pts | 89.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Inkster?
Owners occupy 46.8% of Inkster's occupied homes and renters 53.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $80,400 by its owner (±$7,672). The median renter pays $1,170 a month including utilities, and 49.4% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Inkster | Wayne County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $80,400 ±$7,672 | $178,500 | +$20,465 |
| Median gross rent | $1,170 ±$53 | $1,132 | +$78 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 49.4% ±7.1 pts | 45.3% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,215 ±$86 | $1,556 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 46.8% ±4.4 pts | 64.8% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 53.2% ±4.4 pts | 35.2% | – |
| Housing units | 11,517 ±482 | 801,083 | +845 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 5.1% ±2.9 pts | 1.5% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.3% ±2.1 pts | 4.6% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 73.4% ±3.6 pts | 69.6% | – |
| Mobile homes | 1.3% ±1.0 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 2.4% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 6.3% ±1.8 pts | 21.2% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 16.5% ±3.6 pts | 11.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Inkster building?
Builders took permits for 2 new housing units in Inkster in 2025 (2 in single-family houses), 0.1 per 1,000 residents against 2.3 across Michigan.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Inkster work and get to work?
76.7% of Inkster's workers drive alone and 5.9% work from home. The average trip to work takes 26.9 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 14.4%.
| Measure | Inkster | Wayne County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 57.6% ±3.8 pts | 59.2% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 14.4% ±3.0 pts | 8.7% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 76.7% ±4.1 pts | 71.9% | – |
| Carpooled | 10.0% ±2.5 pts | 8.5% | – |
| Public transportation | 3.5% ±2.1 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Walked | 1.4% ±1.5 pts | 1.6% | – |
| Worked from home | 5.9% ±2.3 pts | 14.1% | no clear change |
| Mean travel time to work | 26.9 min ±2.3 | 24.7 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Inkster?
8 census tracts lie mostly in Inkster (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $30,774 (Tract 5702) to $55,000 (Tract 5701).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 5704Wayne County | 5,334 | $31,450 |
| Tract 5701Wayne County | 4,307 | $55,000 |
| Tract 5705Wayne County | 3,714 | $46,991 |
| Tract 5702Wayne County | 2,876 | $30,774 |
| Tract 5708Wayne County | 2,764 | $32,988 |
| Tract 5709Wayne County | 2,353 | $45,625 |
| Tract 5710Wayne County | 2,134 | $42,548 |
| Tract 5706Wayne County | 1,946 | $50,034 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Inkster) · Census block assignment files
How does Inkster compare with other places in Michigan?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Inkster is the 1,623rd-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 47th-most populous of 533 in Michigan.
Inkster ranks 1,334th of 1,354 places in Michigan with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 47th | 533 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 1,270th | 1,281 |
| Residents per square mile | 36th | 1,356 |
| Median household income | 1,334th | 1,354 |
| Per capita income | 1,257th | 1,355 |
| Median home value | 1,338th | 1,354 |
| Median gross rent | 297th | 1,212 |
| Poverty rate | 12th | 1,213 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 1,184th | 1,350 |
| Median age | 1,236th | 1,356 |
| Owner-occupied share | 1,335th | 1,356 |
| Work from home | 937th | 1,062 |
| Travel time to work | 516th | 1,356 |
Inkster's figures with every place in Michigan (CSV)
Every place in Michigan, sortable · Compare Inkster with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Inkster?
9 of the 57 figures for Inkster on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Inkster are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Inkster.