48081 and 48045 receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
48081
48045
Opportunity
65 · Top 29%
vs64 · Top 30%
Growth
36 · Bottom 26%
vs36 · Bottom 26%
Climate
63 · Bottom 28%
vs62 · Bottom 20%
Physical resilience
80 · Top 24%
vs80 · Top 24%
Housing affordability
97 · Top 18%
vs97 · Top 16%
Schools
57 · Top 42%
vs54 · Top 46%
Access
86 · Bottom 30%
vs81 · Bottom 23%
Economic stability
71 · Top 28%
vs63 · Top 43%
Measured values
| Metric | 48081 | 48045 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 20,530 | 24,061 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $82,009 | $80,366 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $43,370 | $49,574 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 5,251/sq mi | 1,688/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $217,900 | $262,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,334 | $1,097 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 85.3% | 72.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.1% | 4.1% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 1.2% | 1.2% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.9% | 27.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 5.8% | 10.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 7 | 7 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.1 | 0.1 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 40.0% | 40.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 84°F | 82°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 20°F | 18°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 29.9" | 35.0" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 30 mi | 38 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 28.8 min | 30.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 44.8 | 45.8 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 6 | 7 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 20.07 | 16.94 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 37.2% | 30.7% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 57.1% | 53.3% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 43.9% | 41.9% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Full profiles: 48081 — St. Clair Shores, MI · 48045 — St. Clair Shores, MI · How this is calculated: methodology