- US Census Bureau data released this week shows a tiny decrease in state population
- Median household income increased, but trails the nation
- Among other takeaways: Electric vehicle ownership in Michigan is also below the national average, with about 148,000 households owning an EV
Michigan’s population held steady last year, while four of the state’s 17 largest cities saw modest increases, according to data released by the US Census Bureau this week.
The Census Bureau estimated that Michigan had about 10.1 million residents in 2025. It lost about 12,575 people, a drop of less than half a percent from 2024, when the state marked two years of estimated population growth.
Michigan’s two largest cities, Detroit and Grand Rapids, both inched up 0.5% in population — adding 3,413 and 1,049 people respectively. But Lansing saw the biggest gain among large cities. It added 1,317 new residents, boosting its population by about 1.2% from 2024.
Detroit’s estimated population last year was 649,115. Grand Rapids remained the second largest city in the state with its 201,180 estimated population, and Lansing’s increase took it to 114,783, the sixth largest in Michigan.
Dearborn, Southfield, Rochester Hills and Farmington Hills each lost around 800 residents, but their estimated populations all remain larger than 75,000.
The annual American Community Survey looks at a wide variety of characteristics – from educational attainment to income to transportation – to provide national and statewide estimates as well as estimates for areas with more than 65,000 residents.
Here are some key takeaways:
Income
While the median household income in Michigan increased from $72,389 in 2024 to $75,832 in 2025, the state still trails the national median household income of $84,780, according to Census data.
EVs and solar panels
The survey, for the first time, included data on households that have an electric vehicle or solar panels. In Michigan, an estimated 148,819 households, or about 4%, had an electric vehicle last year, a rate that came below the 5.5% national estimate.
Among nearby states, Michigan trailed Illinois and Minnesota in the percentage of households with an electric vehicle.
“Western states have led the way in switching to electric vehicles,” Tricia Holley, a survey statistician at the Census Bureau, said in a news release.
“California overall had the highest rate of EV adoption per household, followed by Washington, Hawaii and Nevada.”
The Census estimated that 65,918 Michigan households were equipped with solar panels in 2025, which trailed Illinois and Ohio, which had 177,113 and 72,125, respectively.
Education
Michiganders with a high school diploma or equivalent stood at 92.7% in 2025, higher than the 90.6% national estimate. However, when it comes to the portion of the population to earn a bachelor’s degree or higher, Michigan’s 33.9% estimate was below the 37.4% seen across the country.
Michigan’s struggles with postsecondary degrees have persisted for nearly a decade. According to data on SAT scores released earlier this year, only a fourth of 11th graders in the state are college ready, a slight dip from 26.6% the year prior. A decade ago, it was 35%.
Matt Mencarini is a Report for America corps member who covers data and accountability for Bridge Michigan.
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