ZIP 48238
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Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in ZIP 48238 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in October 2022.
Rent in ZIP 48238 changed +5.0% over the year to September 2026. Across the 134 Michigan ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.4%.
Rent has risen 2 months in a row, and rose in 7 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($33,315) is $833 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a studio ($830); a 1-bedroom is $920.
6th cheapest of 18 ZIP codes in Detroit.
ZIP 48223, 5 miles away, rents for 18% less ($1,023/mo), about $2,700 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 48238. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
Who lives here
ZIP 48238 (Detroit, MI) is roughly split between renters and owners, has a large share of families with children, has a median income below the national average, 13.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How ZIP 48238 in Detroit, MI has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in ZIP 48238 in Detroit, MI paid around $1,036 a month. That figure now sits near $1,247, up 20.4% from the 2023 baseline. Household income in the area moved from $28,701 to $33,315 across the same window, up 16.1% versus 2021. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in ZIP 48238 in Detroit, MI look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
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Tips for renters in ZIP 48238
Last updated: October 17, 2026
ZIP code 48238 covers Detroit, MI. The median rent here is $1,247/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $920/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,160/mo.
At 45% of local median household income ($33,315/yr), ZIP 48238 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.0% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 48238?
Is rent going up or down in ZIP 48238?
How does ZIP 48238 compare to other ZIPs in Michigan?
How does ZIP 48238 compare to the rest of Detroit?
At $1,247/mo, rent takes ~45% of ZIP 48238's median household income ($33,315/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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