Detroit's population grows again

The big picture: Before 2023, Detroit's population had declined every year since 1957, the Detroit News reported.

• The city added roughly 3,400 residents between 2024 and 2025, according to the Census Bureau.
• Detroit is now the nation's 26th-most-populated city, one spot higher than in 2024.
• Mayor Mary Sheffield called the numbers evidence that "Detroit is a place more people want to live," per the News.

Zoom out: Census estimates suggest growth continues to concentrate in Detroit and farther-flung suburbs and townships, while many inner-ring suburbs in Wayne County lost residents.

• Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, Westland and Taylor all saw population declines from 2020-2025, the News reported.

What they're saying: Kurt Metzger, director emeritus of Data Driven Detroit, told the News that the numbers reflect younger residents gravitating toward major cities while families continue moving farther into suburban townships for lower taxes and larger lots.