Worst Neighborhoods in Greater Downtown Detroit

The list

Top 7 Detroit neighborhoods with the toughest numbers for 2026

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1. 1

   

   Midtown

   • Greater Downtown
   • Avg. value $517,117
   • 118.2 violent reports / sq mi
   • ZIP 48201

   105 violent incidents reported in the last 12 months (118.2 per square mile, 116% higher than the Detroit median). 147 building permits in the last 12 months, down 41% from the year before ($37,223,435 in contractor work). 2 of those on vacant or Land Bank houses being brought back.

   Homes in Midtown Neighborhood guide
2. 2

   

   Lafayette Park

   • Greater Downtown
   • Avg. value $397,714
   • 76.1 violent reports / sq mi
   • ZIP 48207

   28 violent incidents reported in the last 12 months (76.1 per square mile, 39% higher than the Detroit median). 34 building permits in the last 12 months, down 17% from the year before ($16,444,551 in contractor work). Average home value $397,714, 323% higher than the Detroit median.

   Homes in Lafayette Park Neighborhood guide
3. 3

   

   Elmwood Park

   • Greater Downtown
   • Avg. value $200,616
   • 75.6 violent reports / sq mi
   • ZIP 48207

   70 violent incidents reported in the last 12 months (75.6 per square mile, 38% higher than the Detroit median). 32 building permits in the last 12 months, down 42% from the year before ($1,898,237 in contractor work). Average home value $200,616, 113% higher than the Detroit median.

   Homes in Elmwood Park Neighborhood guide
4. 4

   

   Eastern Market

   • Greater Downtown
   • Avg. value $164,000
   • 26.4 violent reports / sq mi
   • ZIP 48207

   12 violent incidents reported in the last 12 months (26.4 per square mile, 52% lower than the Detroit median). 30 building permits in the last 12 months, up 15% from the year before ($1,061,423 in contractor work). Average home value $164,000, 74% higher than the Detroit median.

   Homes in Eastern Market Neighborhood guide
5. 5

   

   Hubbard Richard

   • Greater Downtown
   • Avg. value $203,750
   • 8.0 violent reports / sq mi
   • ZIP 48216

   2 violent incidents reported in the last 12 months (8.0 per square mile, 85% lower than the Detroit median). 14 building permits in the last 12 months, up 0% from the year before ($3,437,786 in contractor work). Average home value $203,750, 117% higher than the Detroit median.

   Homes in Hubbard Richard Neighborhood guide
6. 6

   

   Brush Park

   • Greater Downtown
   • Avg. value $621,042
   • 33.1 violent reports / sq mi
   • ZIP 48201

   6 violent incidents reported in the last 12 months (33.1 per square mile, 39% lower than the Detroit median). 27 building permits in the last 12 months, down 23% from the year before ($39,283,496 in contractor work). Average home value $621,042, 560% higher than the Detroit median.

   Homes in Brush Park Neighborhood guide
7. 7

   

   Corktown

   • Greater Downtown
   • Avg. value $362,722
   • 30.6 violent reports / sq mi
   • ZIP 48216

   20 violent incidents reported in the last 12 months (30.6 per square mile, 44% lower than the Detroit median). 65 building permits in the last 12 months, up 3% from the year before ($89,449,657 in contractor work). Average home value $362,722, 286% higher than the Detroit median.

   Homes in Corktown Neighborhood guide

Every part of the city

Worst neighborhoods in every part of Detroit

How we ranked

How we ranked these neighborhoods

1. 35%: Violent crime reports per square mile (homicide, aggravated assault, robbery, sexual assault, kidnapping) (higher ranks better).
2. 25%: Average home value (lower ranks better).
3. 20%: Permits on vacant or Land Bank houses (higher ranks better).
4. 10%: Homes for sale on Rebuild Detroit (lower ranks better).
5. 10%: Schools listed in the neighborhood (lower ranks better).
6. Each number is compared with every Detroit neighborhood, so a neighborhood is measured the same way on every list.
7. Crime numbers are incidents reported to the Detroit Police Department in the last 12 months (City of Detroit open data), divided by the neighborhood's land area. Reports are not the same as crimes per resident: busy commercial areas see more reports. Neighborhoods under a tenth of a square mile or with fewer than 20 reports a year are left out of crime rankings so a tiny or mostly empty area cannot top a list on noise.
8. Permits are City of Detroit building permits (BSEED) matched to each neighborhood.
9. Greater Downtown means neighborhoods whose center is within 1.5 miles of Campus Martius.

Parks and industrial areas are left out. We refresh these numbers every week. Last update: October 26, 2026.