Detroit, Michigan – For years, Detroit was a symbol of population loss—a city plagued by tales of decline, vacant homes, and diminishing neighborhoods. But nowadays, that story has been flipped around. Latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau show Detroit has officially taken the lead in Michigan for population growth, a remarkable turnaround city officials say was years in the making.
New figures published this week project Detroit’s population at 645,705, an increase of 12,487 from last year’s Census report. This number not only reflects the most single-year increase among Michigan cities but also pushes Detroit beyond Portland, Oregon, therefore ranking it 26th largest city in the United States. Detroit now sits just behind Boston in the national rankings.
In fact, the development narrative of the city consists of two separate streams. In 2024 alone, Detroit saw a record rise of 6,791 people. The Census Bureau also officially acknowledged an undercount from 2021 to 2023, which increased the number of Detroiters by 5,696. Ending a long cycle of decline that started in the late 1950s, this twofold bump signals Detroit’s largest population increase in decades.
Mayor Mike Duggan, addressing a meeting with municipal workers and community leaders, attributed the driving of this change to the “hard work of longtime Detroiters, our business community, and city employees over the past 12 years”. He underlined the importance of the city’s unrelenting efforts to ensure every Detroiter was counted.
“Together, we have created a city that is full of opportunity and vibrancy for new and existing Detroiters alike,” Duggan said.
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Detroit’s 1.1% growth rate for 2024 not only surpassed the national average of 0.98% but also drove Michigan—doubling the state-wide growth rate of 0.6%. Surprisingly Detroit’s 6,791 new residents more than tripled the population increase recorded in Grand Rapids, Michigan’s next fastest-growing city.
This turn of events was not accidental. City authorities cite restored areas, notable housing and park investment, and important public safety improvements as the basis for Detroit’s revived attraction. Reliable city services, growing commercial corridors, new job hubs, and the ongoing development of Detroit’s waterfront and entertainment areas have all helped to make Detroit an even more desirable place to live.
The Census Bureau revealed last year that Detroit’s first population rise since 1957—a modest but notable turning point. Now, with the most recent figures on the books, it is obvious that Detroit’s comeback is not only a blip but rather an indication of ongoing momentum.
City officials are optimistic that this trend will continue as Detroiters look to the future. Detroit’s amazing rebound narrative seems to be just getting started with new people moving in, new businesses opening their doors, and old areas rediscovering new life.