Detroit City Wire

Detroit has experienced a notable turnaround, with population growth reported for two consecutive years. In 2024, the city's growth rate surpassed that of other Michigan cities and exceeded the national average, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The increase in residents is most apparent in downtown Detroit, where major employers such as Rocket Mortgage, General Motors, and Ford Motors’ tech innovation center are based. This concentration of large companies has contributed to the area's revitalization.

Nika Jusufi, owner of Nika & Co., a real estate brokerage that achieved nearly $28 million in Detroit sales last year, described the rapid changes in the market. “We are on track to double our business in 2025, which is astonishing,” Jusufi said. She added: “We’re seeing creatives, we’re seeing families, we’re seeing young professionals, we’re seeing empty nesters. We’re seeing transplants and we’re even seeing reverse migration,” referring to people who had moved to the suburbs but are now returning to Detroit. “It’s crazy,” she said.

A decade ago, Detroit was facing significant challenges. The city lost 33 percent of its population between 2000 and 2020 and filed for bankruptcy protection in 2013—the largest U.S. city ever to do so at that time. Housing options downtown were limited and amenities were scarce.

Dan Gilbert, chairman and founder of Bedrock—a Detroit-based real estate management and development firm—led efforts aimed at revitalizing downtown by addressing these shortages.

For more background on Detroit's recovery efforts and urban renewal initiatives over recent years, see coverage by The New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/).