City profile · Michigan · Census ACS 2023

Royal Oak, MI

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Royal Oak - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

57,880
Residents
$95,182
Median income
$305,900
Median home
$1,411
Median rent (state)

Royal Oak - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Royal Oak places in the 75th percentile for household income and the 67th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

75th
percentile, household income
66th
percentile, home value
55th
percentile, median rent
67th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Royal Oak, MI

Michigan's Royal Oak is a small city, with 57,880 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Royal Oak households earn a median of $95,182 annually, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 2.3%. Home values in Royal Oak run a median of $305,900, and the median resident age is 36.9 years. 62.6% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 72.5% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 138 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Stable), up 1% from five years earlier. Royal Oak reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 925.6 incidents per 100,000 residents, below the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Living costs in Michigan run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Michigan scores 96.2 (Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,411 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $238 across Michigan, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Natural-hazard exposure scores 99.0 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very High).

Population

57,880 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Michigan

Median Household Income

$95,182 /yr

Poverty 2.3%

Cost of Living Index (state)

96.2 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Michigan average

How does Royal Oak compare to other US cities?

Royal Oak measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 75% higher than other cities
Home value 66% pricier than other cities
Median rent 55% pricier than other cities
Safety 67% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

A national percentile can hide a lot of local variation: narrowed to Michigan alone, Royal Oak ranks #93 of 254 Michigan cities by lowest crime rate - a different, more locally useful comparison than stacking it against the entire country.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Royal Oak's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Michigan, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

75thIncome percentile
67thSafety percentile

75th percentile nationally for median household income · 67th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Royal Oak's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Royal Oak's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 61 Avg. percentile National median
Royal Oak's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Royal Oak's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$305,900 34th percentile more affordable than 34% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). This entry sits in this band. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Royal Oak $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Royal Oak, MI Royal Oak, MI's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Royal Oak, MI-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Royal Oak, MI median $95,182/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Royal Oak, MI's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Royal Oak, MI. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 62.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 2.3%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 72.5%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
57,880
Median Income
$95,182
Median Home Value
$305,900
Median Age
36.9
Poverty Rate
2.3%
Labor force participation
72.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
62.6%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
925.6
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
124.0
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
801.6
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
9
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
57,400 residents57,600 residents57,800 residents58,000 residents58,200 residents 202020212022202320242025 58,049 residents 57,583 residents ▼ -0.8%
Royal Oak's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Stable
Total Permits (2024)
138
housing units authorized
Single-Family
138
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
2.4
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 137
2020 153
2021 169
2022 136
2023 124
2024 138

Permit volume increased 1% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
69.8%
Carpool
3.4%
Public Transit
0.2%
Walk
1.5%
Work from Home
24.2%
Other
0.9%

Based on 35,726 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Michigan - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$105
avg/month
Natural Gas
$85
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$48
avg/month
Total Utilities
$238
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Michigan state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Michigan state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Royal Oak sits in

Cost of Living Index
96.2
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,411/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
99.0 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Michigan

St. Clair Shores
58,287 people
Kentwood
54,114 people
Pontiac
61,914 people
Dearborn Heights
62,099 people
Taylor
62,405 people
Battle Creek
52,392 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Royal Oak's 57,880 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Orland Park, IL
57,961 people
Weymouth, MA
57,786 people
Lenexa, KS
57,986 people
Bowie, MD
57,771 people
Decatur, AL
57,760 people
Lake Havasu City, AZ
58,037 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Royal Oak's $95,182 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Ave Maria, FL
$95,179 median income
Santaquin, UT
$95,175 median income
Bolinas, CA
$95,192 median income
Skyland, NV
$95,192 median income
White Oak, TX
$95,193 median income
Bethany, PA
$95,167 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Royal Oak, MI Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Royal Oak, MI - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 82.4% 6.3% 6.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 4.7% White 82.4% Black or African American 6.3% Asian 4.0% American Indian 0.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.2% Two or more races 6.0% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Royal Oak compares to nearby Michigan cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Royal Oak (this city) 57,880 $95,182
St. Clair Shores 58,287 $72,693
Kentwood 54,114 $73,647
Pontiac 61,914 $42,791
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MI FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Royal Oak, MI?

What is the population of Royal Oak, MI? +

Royal Oak, MI counts 57,880 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Royal Oak, MI? +

The median household income in Royal Oak is $95,182 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Royal Oak? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Royal Oak; the closest available measure is the Michigan state average, a cost of living index of 96.2 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Michigan vary by metro area.

Is Royal Oak, MI safe? +

Royal Oak has a total crime rate of 925.6 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Royal Oak, MI? +

Homes in Royal Oak carry a median value of $305,900, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.