City · Michigan
Romulus, Michigan
Romulus, city, in Wayne County, Michigan. Romulus had 24,547 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 2.5% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 25,178 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 24,831 (±24). GEOID 2669420.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
24,547
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 25,178 · ACS 2020-2024: 24,831 ±24
Median household income
$69,151
±$8,013 (90% margin)
Michigan: $72,875
Median home value
$159,500
±$7,997 (90% margin)
Michigan: $231,600
Median gross rent
$1,049
±$109 (90% margin)
Michigan: $1,129
Where is Romulus and what county is it in?
Romulus is a city in Wayne County, Michigan. It covers 35.6 square miles of land, 707 residents per square mile in 2020.
Romulus 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 Romulus, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 24,547 people lived in Romulus on July 1, 2025, down 2.5% since 2020, while Michigan grew 0.5%. The 2020 Census counted 25,178 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 24,831 (±24).
| Measure | Romulus | Wayne County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 24,831 ±24 | 1,772,259 | +1,304 |
| Households | 9,452 ±546 | 700,591 | +939 |
| Average household size | 2.61 ±0.15 | 2.50 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 10,280 ±551 | 801,083 | +1,100 |
Romulus's population since 2000
From 22,979 in 2000 to 24,547 in 2025: up 6.8%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Romulus 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 Romulus?
The median resident of Romulus is 37.9 years old; 25.4% are under 18 and 15.8% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic Black residents at 44.5%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 43.9%. 2.2% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Romulus | Wayne County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.9 ±4.8 | 37.9 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 25.4% ±2.9 pts | 23.6% | – |
| 65 years and over | 15.8% ±2.1 pts | 16.6% | – |
| Male | 48.8% ±2.7 pts | 48.4% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1.6% ±0.7 pts | 6.9% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 43.9% ±5.5 pts | 47.9% | −8.1 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 44.5% ±5.6 pts | 36.6% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.2 pts | 3.7% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.2 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 | 9.3% ±3.3 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.5 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 2.2% ±1.0 pts | 10.3% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 4.3% ±1.6 pts | 16.4% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 4.0% ±1.3 pts | 4.8% | – |
| With a disability | 12.5% ±1.8 pts | 15.9% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 3.9% ±1.0 pts | 5.6% | −3.2 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 90.3% ±2.0 pts | 88.0% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 16.2% ±2.4 pts | 27.6% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 5.2% ±1.9 pts | 10.8% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 91.1% ±2.6 pts | 89.9% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.1% ±0.1 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 Romulus earn?
Half of Romulus's 9,452 households earn less than $69,151 a year (±$8,013), against $60,539 in Wayne County and $72,875 in Michigan. In 2015-2019 it was $63,386 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 13.5% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Romulus | Wayne County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $69,151 ±$8,013 | $60,539 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $78,837 ±$4,397 | $85,604 | – |
| Per capita income | $31,079 ±$1,774 | $34,906 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 13.5% ±3.4 pts | 20.8% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 17.9% ±7.8 pts | 30.9% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 17.7% ±3.5 pts | 23.0% | – |
| Households with a computer | 94.1% ±1.9 pts | 94.6% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 89.3% ±2.3 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 Romulus?
Owners occupy 69.9% of Romulus's occupied homes and renters 30.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $159,500 by its owner (±$7,997). The median renter pays $1,049 a month including utilities, and 34.4% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Romulus | Wayne County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $159,500 ±$7,997 | $178,500 | +$39,753 |
| Median gross rent | $1,049 ±$109 | $1,132 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 34.4% ±9.1 pts | 45.3% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,390 ±$92 | $1,556 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 69.9% ±3.5 pts | 64.8% | +5.5 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 30.1% ±3.5 pts | 35.2% | – |
| Housing units | 10,280 ±551 | 801,083 | +1,100 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.8% ±1.5 pts | 1.5% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.3% ±2.5 pts | 4.6% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 67.4% ±3.4 pts | 69.6% | – |
| Mobile homes | 9.8% ±2.0 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.0% ±0.7 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 6.9% ±2.3 pts | 2.4% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 4.2% ±1.2 pts | 21.2% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 7.0% ±1.9 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 Romulus building?
Builders took permits for 31 new housing units in Romulus in 2025 (31 in single-family houses), 1.3 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 Romulus work and get to work?
79.8% of Romulus's workers drive alone and 9.4% work from home. The average trip to work takes 25.0 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 6.7%.
| Measure | Romulus | Wayne County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 65.0% ±3.1 pts | 59.2% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 6.7% ±1.9 pts | 8.7% | −3.9 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 79.8% ±3.2 pts | 71.9% | – |
| Carpooled | 8.4% ±2.4 pts | 8.5% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±0.3 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Walked | 1.2% ±0.9 pts | 1.6% | – |
| Worked from home | 9.4% ±2.3 pts | 14.1% | +5.7 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 25.0 min ±1.6 | 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 Romulus?
9 census tracts lie mostly in Romulus (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $44,818 (Tract 5859) to $91,250 (Tract 5862.01).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 5862.01Wayne County | 6,719 | $91,250 |
| Tract 5858Wayne County | 5,342 | $67,301 |
| Tract 5856Wayne County | 4,128 | $79,493 |
| Tract 5859Wayne County | 2,965 | $44,818 |
| Tract 5857Wayne County | 2,259 | $73,409 |
| Tract 5863Wayne County | 1,761 | $82,092 |
| Tract 5855Wayne County | 1,657 | $53,981 |
| Tract 9854Wayne County | 0 | not published |
| Tract 9863Wayne County | 0 | not published |
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 Romulus) · Census block assignment files
How does Romulus compare with other places in Michigan?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Romulus is the 1,645th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 48th-most populous of 533 in Michigan.
Romulus ranks 751st 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 | 48th | 533 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 1,187th | 1,281 |
| Residents per square mile | 429th | 1,356 |
| Median household income | 751st | 1,354 |
| Per capita income | 1,009th | 1,355 |
| Median home value | 1,027th | 1,354 |
| Median gross rent | 478th | 1,212 |
| Poverty rate | 392nd | 1,213 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 1,013th | 1,350 |
| Median age | 1,089th | 1,356 |
| Owner-occupied share | 1,095th | 1,356 |
| Work from home | 634th | 1,062 |
| Travel time to work | 690th | 1,356 |
Romulus's figures with every place in Michigan (CSV)
Every place in Michigan, sortable · Compare Romulus 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 Romulus?
10 of the 57 figures for Romulus 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 Romulus 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 Romulus.