MICHIGAN 276 / #18UPDATED August 26, 2026
Pontiac, Michigan
Population is above the 2020 estimate base by 0.8%. Median household income ranks 199th among Michigan’s 276 cities. 2025 housing authorizations equal 1.1 units per 1,000 residents, ranking 40th among cities with a verified embedded permit row. Homeownership is 46.6%. The ACS poverty estimate is 24.4%.
Oakland CountySoutheast Michigan#18 by 2025 population
CITY SNAPSHOT
The numbers that define Pontiac now.
Population uses Census Vintage 2025. Household and housing measures use the 2020–2024 ACS. Residential authorizations use the 2025 Building Permits Survey.
MICHIGAN 276 POSITION
See all rankings →Where Pontiac sits among its peers.
52nd/ 276
Population growth0.8%
199th/ 276
Household income$44,329
189th/ 276
Home value$121,700
209th/ 276
Homeownership46.6%
198th/ 276
Lowest poverty24.4%
40th/ 276
Housing activity1.1 / 1K
276-city medians: household income $63,285 · home value $179,000 · homeownership 67.4% · poverty 13.0% · housing activity 0.9 units/1K.
HOUSING + BUILDING
Value, ownership and new supply.
Housing authorizations are permit activity—not completions. The value-to-income ratio is a simple context measure, not a home-affordability guarantee.
Median home value$121,700
Value ÷ household income2.75×
Homeownership46.6%
housing units authorized
Census BPS 2025 annual place file. Housing units are authorized by residential building permits; they are not completions.
66residential buildings
201520202025
Population direction
+0.8% since 2020 estimate base. Latest completed Census estimate vintage.
LIVE CITY WIRE
What is changing in Pontiac right now?
Headlines link to the original publisher. The feed is refreshed automatically and is separate from Michigan Progress’s audited data layer.
Live feed unavailable.
Use the topic shortcuts above to search the current news index for this city.
Live wire source: Google News RSS search across publishers. Michigan Progress does not reproduce article text and does not treat a headline as verified statistical data.
DEVELOPMENT TRACKER
Search current development coverage ↗Projects on the local file.
Under Construction
Downtown Pontiac Transformation
A $174.5 million downtown transformation reconnecting streets, adding two parking decks and renovating 31 E. Judson for roughly 700 Oakland County employees.
$174.5M2025–2027
In Progress
100 Homes for Pontiac
A homeownership initiative designed to add 100 new homes in Pontiac over four years.
100 homes4-year program
Under Construction
Downtown Pontiac Parking Decks
Two replacement parking decks planned for a combined 1,299 spaces as part of the county-led downtown redevelopment.
1,299 spaces2026–2027
Current development coverage
Live feed unavailable.
No current development headlines were returned for this city in the live feed.
LOCAL WATCH
Schools, safety and employers.
These topics are not forced into the 276-city statistical comparison when their reporting geography differs from Census city boundaries.
2024–25 FTE enrollment
+4.3% vs. 2023–24; below 2019–20
Current school coverage ↗violent crime / 100K
-9.9% vs. 2023; -30.4% vs. 2020
Current safety coverage ↗Anchor institutions; not represented as a current ranked headcount unless sourced.
Current business coverage ↗
19u20132020u20132121u20132222u20132323u20132424u201325
School enrollment
20202021202220232024
Violent crime rate
20202021202220232024
Property crime rate
PROPERTY TAX WATCH
Own property in Pontiac?
Market value and taxable value are different in Michigan. Your actual bill depends on taxable value, local millages, exemptions and assessment history.
$121,700median owner-occupied value46.6%homeownership
Check Michigan property-tax options →
COMPARE LIKE WITH LIKE
Compare all 276 →Cities closest in population.
FAQ / AEO
Pontiac frequently asked questions
Direct answers based on the evidence and methodology used on this page.
Is Pontiac, Michigan growing?
The Census Bureau July 1, 2025 estimate is 62,077, a +0.8% change from the 2020 estimate base.
What is the median household income in Pontiac?
Median household income is $44,329 in the 2020–2024 ACS comparison vintage used by Michigan Progress.
What is the median home value in Pontiac?
Median owner-occupied home value is $121,700 in the 2020–2024 ACS comparison vintage.
How does Michigan Progress decide whether Pontiac is progressing?
The site compares standardized population, household and housing indicators, then keeps local development, schools, safety and news in separately labeled evidence layers so unlike geographies are not silently mixed.
SOURCES + METHOD
Read full methodology →Audit the page.
01
U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts u2014 Pontiac
2025 population estimate plus 2020u20132024 ACS household income, housing value, homeownership and poverty measures.
02
Census Population Estimates u2014 Cities & Towns, Vintage 2025
Latest completed Census vintage used for the 2020 estimate base, 2025 estimate and five-year population direction.
03
U.S. Census Bureau Building Permits Survey
2025 annual place-level residential buildings and housing units authorized. Authorizations are not housing completions.
04
Michigan Labor Market Information u2014 Pontiac profile
2015 Census population estimate used as Pontiacu2019s 10-year trend anchor.
05
Data USA u2014 Pontiac
Resident employment and recent ACS-derived change measures.
06
Oakland County u2014 Downtown Pontiac Redevelopment
Current construction status, budget and downtown county campus timeline.
07
Pontiac Housing Commission
100 Homes for Pontiac program and housing context.
08
MI School Data
Official Michigan school enrollment reporting methodology.
09
Pontiac Schools 2025 financing document
Historical fall FTE enrollment through 2024u201325.
10
Data Commons / FBI UCR u2014 Pontiac
FBI-derived reported violent and property crime series.
11
Oakland County Tax Reports
Property-tax reports and apportionment context.