The Town FilesGarden City, Michigan
City in Wayne County · population 27,380 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $168,800
- Household income
- $67,294
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 31 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 40.9
Garden City is a city of 27,380 people in Wayne County, Michigan. The median home is worth $168,800, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks more walkable than 96% of Michigan towns, more vibrant than 94% of Michigan towns, more of a college town than 91% of Michigan towns.
How Garden City ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Garden City is worth $168,800, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $67,294, which is more affordable than 74% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,150 a month. 79.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Garden City | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $168,800 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,150 | $955 |
| Median household income | $67,294 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 79.1% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1956 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Garden City
| People | Garden City | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.9 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.0% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.1% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.7% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 6.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.9% | — |
| Work from home | 10.2% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 26.9 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.7% | 88.8% |
Weather in Garden City
July highs average 83.6°F and January lows 17.7°F. About 35.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 30.8 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 136 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Garden City since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 12, 1956 about 8.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 119 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 15, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 43 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 2, 1983.
Severe weather in Wayne County since 1996
Wayne County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 8, 2024 | Flood | DR-4757: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 15, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4607: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| September 25, 2014 | Flood | DR-4195: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Wayne County
Wayne County had 725,504 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $76,411 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Garden City itself the ACS puts it at 8%.
Public schools in Garden City
9 public schools with 3,573 students, about 15.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garden City High School | 9-12 | 857 | 17.9 |
| Douglas Elementary 34 Campus | 3-4 | 435 | 15.5 |
| Garden City Middle School | 7-8 | 419 | 16.1 |
| Farmington 56 Campus | 5-6 | 415 | 17.3 |
| Memorial Elementary 12 Campus | 1-2 | 407 | 13.6 |
| Cambridge Alternative High School | 9-12 | 314 | 26.2 |
| Tipton Academy PK3 (charter) | PK-3 | 282 | 14.1 |
| Tipton Academy 48 (charter) | 4-12 | 230 | 17.7 |
| Lathers Early Childhood and Kindergarten Center | PK-K | 214 | 7.6 |
Towns near Garden City
- Westland, MI2.1 mi · 85,420 people · home $184,600
- Inkster, MI2.4 mi · 26,088 people · home $80,400
- Dearborn Heights, MI2.8 mi · 63,292 people · home $185,100
- Wayne, MI4.1 mi · 17,713 people · home $157,800
- Livonia, MI5.3 mi · 95,535 people · home $281,100
- Redford, MI5.4 mi · 49,504 people · home $155,600
- Dearborn, MI6.7 mi · 109,976 people · home $218,800
- Romulus, MI7.1 mi · 25,178 people · home $159,500
Garden City questions
Is Garden City, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Garden City scores better for retirees than 3% of Michigan towns and quieter than 6%. 17.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.9).
How much does a house cost in Garden City?
The median owner-occupied home in Garden City is valued at $168,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $67,294, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $1,150 a month.
What is the weather like in Garden City?
July highs average 83.6°F and January lows 17.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.0 inches of precipitation a year and 30.8 inches of snow.
Does Garden City get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Garden City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 12, 1956. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)