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River Rouge, MI
City in Wayne County, Michigan. ZIP codes: 48218.
Population
7,008
Land area
2.7sq mi
People per sq mi
2,627
ZIP codes
1
River Rouge and its ZIP codes
River Rouge at a glance
- River Rouge is about 15 times as dense as Michigan as a whole.
- It is the 144th most populous of 745 cities and towns in Michigan.
- Households here earn a median of $41,053 a year, 44% less than the Michigan figure of $72,875.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $65,100 (72% below Michigan) and median rent is $839 a month.
Local data for River Rouge, MI
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
River Rouge, MI, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$41,053
Poverty rate
39.8%
Median home value
$65,100
Median rent
$839/mo
Homeownership
57.3%
Bachelor's or higher
6.6%
Median age
34.4
Average commute
25.6 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Mexican Americans (712), Irish Americans (476), German Americans (304).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Wayne County. PPP loans are for River Rouge.
Unemployment rate
6.7%
Sep 2026, +0.8 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$79,422
721,389 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$55,715
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$20.6B
FY 2026, $11,462 per person
PPP loans
$7.8M
314 loans, 720 jobs reported
How people get to work
River Rouge, MI, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone72.7%
- Carpooled12.7%
- Public transit1.2%
- Walked2.4%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other3.4%
- Worked from home7.6%
Average one-way commute: 25.6 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
River Rouge, MI, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively High
Top: cold wave
Storm events since 1996
937
Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
3,357
0.5% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
84° / 19°F
34.9 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone1 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in River Rouge, MI, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
46.8%
U.S. 33.3% +13.5 pts
Diabetes
20.1%
U.S. 12.1% +8.0 pts
Smoking
27.6%
U.S. 12.8% +14.8 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
14.9%
U.S. 11.1% +3.8 pts
ZIP codes in River Rouge
1 in or overlapping River Rouge. Population shown
Cities near River Rouge
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| EcorseCity | 1.7 mi | 2.8 |
| MelvindaleCity | 2.7 mi | 2.7 |
| Lincoln ParkCity | 3.3 mi | 5.8 |
| Allen ParkCity | 4.4 mi | 7 |
| WyandotteCity | 4.6 mi | 5.3 |
| DearbornCity | 5.3 mi | 24.2 |
| DetroitCity | 5.5 mi | 138.7 |
| SouthgateCity | 6.1 mi | 6.9 |
| TaylorCity | 8 mi | 23.6 |
| RiverviewCity | 8.1 mi | 4.6 |
| HamtramckCity | 9.1 mi | 2.1 |
| Highland ParkCity | 9.2 mi | 3 |
| Dearborn HeightsCity | 9.3 mi | 11.7 |
| TrentonCity | 9.5 mi | 7.2 |
| InksterCity | 9.7 mi | 6.3 |
| WoodhavenCity | 11 mi | 6.4 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is River Rouge, MI in?
- River Rouge is in Wayne County, Michigan.
- What ZIP codes are in River Rouge, MI?
- ZIP codes in or overlapping River Rouge include 48218.
- What is the population of River Rouge, MI?
- About 7,008 people live in River Rouge, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near River Rouge?
- Nearby places include Ecorse (1.7 mi), Melvindale (2.7 mi), Lincoln Park (3.3 mi), Allen Park (4.4 mi), Wyandotte (4.6 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023