City · Michigan
Southgate, Michigan
Southgate, city, in Wayne County, Michigan. Southgate had 28,931 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 3.6% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 30,014 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 29,366 (±35). GEOID 2674960.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
28,931
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 30,014 · ACS 2020-2024: 29,366 ±35
Median household income
$66,118
±$3,369 (90% margin)
Michigan: $72,875
Median home value
$173,600
±$4,948 (90% margin)
Michigan: $231,600
Median gross rent
$1,120
±$47 (90% margin)
Michigan: $1,129
Where is Southgate and what county is it in?
Southgate is a city in Wayne County, Michigan. It covers 6.9 square miles of land, 4,366 residents per square mile in 2020.
Southgate 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 Southgate, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 28,931 people lived in Southgate on July 1, 2025, down 3.6% since 2020, while Michigan grew 0.5%. The 2020 Census counted 30,014 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 29,366 (±35).
| Measure | Southgate | Wayne County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 29,366 ±35 | 1,772,259 | +201 |
| Households | 12,553 ±373 | 700,591 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.33 ±0.07 | 2.50 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 13,225 ±412 | 801,083 | no clear change |
Southgate's population since 2000
From 30,136 in 2000 to 28,931 in 2025: down 4.0%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Southgate 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 Southgate?
The median resident of Southgate is 39.2 years old; 20.3% are under 18 and 19.5% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 76.1%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 9.4%. 6.2% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Southgate | Wayne County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.2 ±1.8 | 37.9 | −4.4 |
| Under 18 years | 20.3% ±1.8 pts | 23.6% | – |
| 65 years and over | 19.5% ±1.6 pts | 16.6% | – |
| Male | 48.4% ±2.0 pts | 48.4% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 9.4% ±2.0 pts | 6.9% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 76.1% ±3.3 pts | 47.9% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 8.0% ±3.0 pts | 36.6% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 2.4% ±1.1 pts | 3.7% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 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 | 3.8% ±1.1 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.2 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 6.2% ±1.7 pts | 10.3% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 10.0% ±2.3 pts | 16.4% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.8% ±1.4 pts | 4.8% | – |
| With a disability | 16.7% ±2.0 pts | 15.9% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 3.5% ±1.0 pts | 5.6% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 88.9% ±1.8 pts | 88.0% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 21.5% ±2.7 pts | 27.6% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 6.1% ±1.2 pts | 10.8% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 86.7% ±2.8 pts | 89.9% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.2% ±0.6 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 Southgate earn?
Half of Southgate's 12,553 households earn less than $66,118 a year (±$3,369), against $60,539 in Wayne County and $72,875 in Michigan. In 2015-2019 it was $70,313 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 9.4% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Southgate | Wayne County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $66,118 ±$3,369 | $60,539 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $82,985 ±$4,646 | $85,604 | – |
| Per capita income | $36,336 ±$2,054 | $34,906 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 9.4% ±1.9 pts | 20.8% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 11.0% ±4.6 pts | 30.9% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 10.7% ±1.8 pts | 23.0% | – |
| Households with a computer | 92.9% ±1.8 pts | 94.6% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 89.3% ±2.0 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 Southgate?
Owners occupy 67.2% of Southgate's occupied homes and renters 32.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $173,600 by its owner (±$4,948). The median renter pays $1,120 a month including utilities, and 32.3% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Southgate | Wayne County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $173,600 ±$4,948 | $178,500 | +$35,393 |
| Median gross rent | $1,120 ±$47 | $1,132 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 32.3% ±6.8 pts | 45.3% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,463 ±$67 | $1,556 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 67.2% ±3.1 pts | 64.8% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 32.8% ±3.1 pts | 35.2% | – |
| Housing units | 13,225 ±412 | 801,083 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.1% ±1.0 pts | 1.5% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 8.8% ±4.3 pts | 4.6% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 68.9% ±2.1 pts | 69.6% | – |
| Mobile homes | 1.3% ±0.7 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.4% ±0.4 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 1.8% ±1.1 pts | 2.4% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 2.8% ±1.0 pts | 21.2% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 7.2% ±1.7 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 Southgate building?
Builders took permits for 18 new housing units in Southgate in 2025 (18 in single-family houses), 0.6 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 Southgate work and get to work?
75.8% of Southgate's workers drive alone and 12.1% work from home. The average trip to work takes 23.5 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.2%.
| Measure | Southgate | Wayne County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 62.2% ±2.3 pts | 59.2% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.2% ±0.9 pts | 8.7% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 75.8% ±3.6 pts | 71.9% | – |
| Carpooled | 8.3% ±2.3 pts | 8.5% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Walked | 2.0% ±0.9 pts | 1.6% | – |
| Worked from home | 12.1% ±2.6 pts | 14.1% | +9.8 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 23.5 min ±1.1 | 24.7 min | −2.6 min |
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 Southgate?
9 census tracts lie mostly in Southgate (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $50,179 (Tract 5812) to $79,020 (Tract 5815).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 5816Wayne County | 5,897 | $75,313 |
| Tract 5819Wayne County | 4,552 | $77,329 |
| Tract 5821Wayne County | 4,038 | $72,548 |
| Tract 5811.01Wayne County | 3,648 | $63,630 |
| Tract 5812Wayne County | 3,391 | $50,179 |
| Tract 5818Wayne County | 2,966 | $55,857 |
| Tract 5820Wayne County | 2,637 | $51,541 |
| Tract 5815Wayne County | 2,237 | $79,020 |
| Tract 9827Wayne 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 Southgate) · Census block assignment files
How does Southgate compare with other places in Michigan?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Southgate is the 1,392nd-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 38th-most populous of 533 in Michigan.
Southgate ranks 823rd 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 | 38th | 533 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 1,247th | 1,281 |
| Residents per square mile | 29th | 1,356 |
| Median household income | 823rd | 1,354 |
| Per capita income | 695th | 1,355 |
| Median home value | 891st | 1,354 |
| Median gross rent | 358th | 1,212 |
| Poverty rate | 685th | 1,213 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 732nd | 1,350 |
| Median age | 1,011th | 1,356 |
| Owner-occupied share | 1,155th | 1,356 |
| Work from home | 409th | 1,062 |
| Travel time to work | 832nd | 1,356 |
Southgate's figures with every place in Michigan (CSV)
Every place in Michigan, sortable · Compare Southgate 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 Southgate?
6 of the 57 figures for Southgate 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 Southgate 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 Southgate.