ZIP Code · MI

ZIP 48174

Part of Romulus, MI

Pop. 32,211·Wayne County·77th most expensive ZIP in Michigan

Median rent (all units)

$1,518/mo

Year-over-Year

+8.8%

Month-over-Month

+0.9%

vs US Median

-$414

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 48174 · $1,518

More affordable than 72% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$960

1 BR

$1,070

2 BR

$1,340

3 BR

$1,640

4 BR+

$1,770

Research median

$1,340/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Past year vs. the rest of Michigan

Rent in ZIP 48174 changed +8.8% over the year to September 2026. Across the 134 Michigan ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.4%.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 7 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($67,056) is $1,676 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($1,640); a 4-bedroom is $1,770.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 48184, 3 miles away, rents for 23% less ($1,166/mo), about $4,200 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 48174. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$18,216/yr

At $1,518/mo median

Location

CityRomulus

StateMI

CountyWayne County

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 8.8% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+8.8% YoY, +0.9% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 48174 (Romulus, MI) is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, 16.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

32,211

Median income

$67,056

Median age

37.4

Renters

25.8%

Age distribution

25.5%

23%

23.2%

12.6%

15.7%

Under 1825.5%

18–3423%

35–5423.2%

55–6412.6%

65+15.7%

Gender

50.2%

49.8%

Male50.2%

Female49.8%

Race & ethnicity

51.4%

36.7%

White51.4%

Black36.7%

Hispanic2.8%

Asian1%

Other8.1%

Education (25+)

37.1%

36.4%

16.7%

No HS diploma9.7%

HS diploma37.1%

Some college36.4%

Bachelor's+16.7%

Housing tenure

74.2%

25.8%

Owner74.2%

Renter25.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 48174 in Romulus, MI has changed in 5 years

Income

$58,558 → $67,056

up 14.5%

Population

32,255 → 32,211

down 0.1%

Renter share

27.5% → 25.8%

-1.7 pts

Bachelor's+

17% → 16.7%

-0.3 pts

Median age

38.6 → 37.4

-1.2 yrs

Median household income climbed from $58,558 to $67,056 between 2021 and 2024, a 14.5% shift. The renter share has eased from 27.5% to 25.8%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder.

Community

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Local insights

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About renting in ZIP 48174

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 48174 covers Romulus, MI. The median rent here is $1,518/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,070/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,340/mo.

At 27% of local median household income ($67,056/yr), ZIP 48174 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 8.8% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 48174?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $61,000/year (about $29/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,518/mo in ZIP 48174. The local median household income is $67,056/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 48174?

Rent in ZIP 48174 has risen 8.8% over the past year.

How does ZIP 48174 compare to other ZIPs in Michigan?

ZIP 48174 is in the middle among Michigan ZIP codes for rent, ranking #77 of 168 at $1,518/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 48174 changed +8.8%, against a typical +4.4% across the 134 Michigan ZIP codes Zillow tracks.