Detroiters are experiencing increased difficulty in meeting their basic needs, according to the latest Detroit Metro Area Communities Study from the University of Michigan. The study, which surveyed nearly 1,900 Detroit residents between late June and August this year, reveals a rise in the percentage of households reporting various issues as a "major challenge" compared to last year.
In every category surveyed, including neighborhoods, food access, and schools, respondents reported a higher percentage of issues compared to the previous year. The most frequently cited major challenges were related to safety and overall neighborhood conditions, such as blight, vacant lot maintenance, and alley cleanup. Housing was also identified as a significant challenge by many.
Among those who reported housing as a challenge, property taxes emerged as a growing concern, with responses citing them as a major challenge climbing 10 percentage points from last year. Utility bills also present a rising difficulty for households. A larger share of respondents indicated trouble paying their electric, gas, or water bills this year compared to 2025.
The survey responses were weighted to align with the U.S. Census Bureau’s estimated distributions for gender, age, race, education, and income within the city. The University of Michigan study includes questions commissioned by a local newsroom since 2024, designed to help understand community priorities.
Beyond basic needs, the study also explored residents' perceptions of safety and attitudes toward youth. While specific feelings about safety were not detailed, the survey did note varying opinions regarding large groups of teenagers gathering in public spaces, with respondents being "pretty evenly split" on the matter. However, there was clearer agreement among residents regarding parental responsibility: more than three-quarters of respondents either somewhat or strongly agreed that parents should face consequences when children repeatedly cause "disturbances in public spaces."
Residents also weighed in on their trust in government and institutions. The study found that trust tended to increase the closer the government was to home. Nearly half of Detroiters, 48%, reported no trust in the federal government to "do the right thing." State government fared only slightly better, with 76% of respondents indicating they had only "Some" or "A little" trust in Lansing.
Local government garnered the strongest trust, with 51% of respondents reporting "Some" (40%) or "A lot" (11%) of trust. Notably, this year's survey indicated a higher level of trust in city government compared to 2025, which the study suggests could reflect early confidence in Mary Sheffield's new leadership in the mayor's office.
