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City · 62,104 residents · Oakland County, Michigan

Pontiac , Michigan

In Pontiac, a typical home is worth $121,700 and typical rent is $1,063 a month. Compared with all of Oakland County, the typical home value is 65% lower, typical household income is 55% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 26 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $121,700

    65% below the county

    47% below Michigan

    • Pontiac
    • Oakland
    • Michigan

  • Typical rent

    $1,063a month

    23% below the county

    6% below Michigan

    • Pontiac
    • Oakland
    • Michigan

  • Typical household income

    $44,329a year

    55% below the county

    39% below Michigan

    • Pontiac
    • Oakland
    • Michigan

  • Households that own their home

    47%

    26 points below the county

    27 points below Michigan

    • Pontiac
    • Oakland
    • Michigan

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$135,258
0.7% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,351 a month
about the same as 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Pontiac is in Oakland County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Oakland County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Pontiac apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. 47% of households in Pontiac own their home, against 73% in Oakland County.

  2. The typical home in Pontiac is worth $121,700, 65% less than in Oakland County as a whole ($343,600).

  3. The typical household income in Pontiac is $44,329, 55% less than in Oakland County as a whole ($97,760).

  4. The typical rent in Pontiac is $1,063 a month, 23% less than in Oakland County as a whole ($1,376).

  5. According to Zillow, in the 12 months to September 2026 the typical home value in Pontiac rose 0.7%; in Michigan, it rose 3.8%.

  6. 11% of households in Pontiac have no internet at home (4% in Oakland County).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); Zillow (September 2026 data). Zillow data

The homes here

Housing in Pontiac

What homes there are in Pontiac, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

Detached houses are the majority in Pontiac (61%), but less so than in Oakland County (68%).

Year built

The typical home in Pontiac was built in 1961, 14 years before the typical one in Oakland County.

In Pontiac, 19% of homes have 1 bedroom or none (studios); 50% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 66% in Oakland County.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

At least 98% of owner-occupied homes in Pontiac are worth less than $500,000, below the FHA loan limit for Oakland County ($541,287).

Monthly rent with utilities

HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent (FMR) for Oakland County is $1,459; about 83% of rents in Pontiac are below it.

With a mortgage

$1,223 a month

Oakland County: $1,998 a month

Without a mortgage

$465 a month

Oakland County: $778 a month

Owners with a mortgage

57%

Oakland County: 65%

In Pontiac, 57% of owners have a mortgage, and their typical cost is $1,223 a month, against $1,998 in Oakland County. Without one it drops to $465.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

Since 2015–2019, homes in Pontiac gained value faster than in Oakland County: 81% against 42%.

Much as in Oakland County, the typical rent in Pontiac rose 30% since 2015–2019.

The typical household income in Pontiac rose 32% over that time; home values changed +81% and rent +30%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasurePontiacOakland CountyMichiganUnited States
Rental vacancy 6.0%7.4%5.1%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate0.4%0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room 3.2%1.2%1.6%3.4%
People per household 2.362.392.422.53
Drive alone 72%71%74%69%
Carpool 18%6%8%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate0%1%3%
Walk or bike 2%1%2%3%
Work from home 5%20%14%15%
Other means 2%1%1%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

In Pontiac, the rental vacancy rate is 6.0%; in Oakland County, 7.4%.

More households are short on space in Pontiac: 3.2% have more than one person per room; in Oakland County, 1.2%.

By size, households in Pontiac look like those in Oakland County: 2.36 people on average.

Carpooling is common in Pontiac: 18% of workers get to work that way, against 6% in Oakland County.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Pontiac?

A typical home is within reach of the typical income

We start with a typical home in Pontiac, worth $121,700, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 28% of the typical household income in Pontiac, which is $44,329 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Oakland County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Pontiac. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $4,260 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$1,019

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$119,495
Total interest
$171,926
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $2,055 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,034 a month

    Your payment · 28%

  • Tight

    $1,034 to $1,330 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,330 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Pontiac ($44,329 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,019
Principal & interest$810
Property tax$105
Home insurance$51
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$54

You need at least $4,260 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Pontiac and Oakland County

Pontiac is in Oakland County, Michigan. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Pontiac's own numbers

Typical home value
$121,700
Typical monthly rent
$1,063
Typical yearly household income
$44,329
Households that own their home
47%
Effective property tax rate
1.03%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Oakland County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,459
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+45%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
0.4%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Oakland County.

Everything about Oakland County

Buying

Buying a home in Pontiac

A typical home in Pontiac is worth $121,700: 65% below the county and 47% below Michigan. With the typical household income in Pontiac ($44,329 a year), a typical home costs 2.7 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Pontiac 2.7 years
  • Oakland 3.5 years
  • Michigan 3.2 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Oakland County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Oakland County rose 85% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Oakland County.

Period County Michigan U.S.
Last year (2025) +4.2% +4.7% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +45% +52% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +85% +97% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Pontiac next to Oakland County, Michigan and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Pontiac $121,700
  • Oakland $343,600
  • Michigan $231,600
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Pontiac $1,063
  • Oakland $1,376
  • Michigan $1,129
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Pontiac $44,329
  • Oakland $97,760
  • Michigan $72,875
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Pontiac next to Oakland County and Michigan
Measure Pontiac Oakland County Michigan U.S.
Typical home value $121,700 $343,600 $231,600 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,063 $1,376 $1,129 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $44,329 $97,760 $72,875 $80,734
Households that own their home 47% 73% 73% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $1,257 $4,371 $2,904 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 1.03% 1.27% 1.25% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 55% 45% 50% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Oakland County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Pontiac

For a typical $121,700 home in Pontiac, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Pontiac's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,018a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $4,260
    Cash to close
    $7,911
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $54

  • Conventional, 5% down $996a month

    Down payment
    $6,085
    Cash to close
    $9,736
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $58

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $815a month

    Down payment
    $24,340
    Cash to close
    $27,991
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $927a month

    Down payment
    $18,255
    Cash to close
    $21,906
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Pontiac and for Oakland County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Pontiac

1.03%of the home’s value each year

$1,257 a year for the typical owner in Pontiac.

  • Pontiac 1.03%
  • Oakland 1.27%
  • Michigan 1.25%

What Michigan publishes Principal Residence Exemption (PRE) from school operating tax (Michigan Legislature (Michigan Compiled Laws))

Exemptions and deadlines in Michigan

Flood risk in Oakland County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Oakland County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
0.4%
1,809
Of those, with NFIP insurance
21%
County Michigan U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 0.4% 1.6% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 21% 18% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Pontiac

Typical rent in Pontiac is $1,063 a month: 23% below the county. In Pontiac, 55% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Oakland County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,459 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $28.06 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Oakland County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,047 $20.13 $41,880
1 bedroom $1,167 $22.44 $46,680
2 bedrooms $1,459 $28.06 $58,360
3 bedrooms $1,777 $34.17 $71,080
4 bedrooms $1,929 $37.10 $77,160

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Pontiac

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Pontiac has 3 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,160 in 48341 to $1,390 in 48340.

None is above the fair market rent for Oakland County ($1,459).

  • 48340 $1,390$1,690
  • 48341 $1,160$1,410
  • 48342 $1,320$1,610

A ZIP code counts for Pontiac when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Pontiac

HUD lists 35 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Pontiac. These are the largest.

  • North Hills Farms 2 66 Fireside Ln, Pontiac 48340 325 low-income homes · For families (248) 334-7500
  • Spring Lake Village 252 Carriage Circle Dr, Pontiac 48342 250 low-income homes · 1 bd: 64 · 2 bd: 161 · 3 bd: 25 · In service since 2011 · For families (248) 334-0902
  • Lancaster Village Coop 1135 Herrington Ln, Pontiac 48342 287 homes, 237 low-income · For families (248) 373-8280
  • Phoenix Place Apts 47251 Woodward Ave, Pontiac 48342 280 homes, 200 low-income · 1 bd: 201 · In service since 2011 · For older adults (248) 335-7520
  • North Hills Farms 1 69 Candlelite Ln, Pontiac 48340 200 low-income homes · For families (248) 334-7500

See all 107 buildings in Oakland County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Pontiac

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There are 7 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Oakland County; 5 say they serve in Spanish.

A young woman and a young man point to a line in their notes beside a laptop in a library.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Pontiac

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Pontiac or Oakland County. The ones below are statewide in Michigan: they work in Pontiac the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Michigan

  • MI 10K DPA Loan

    Statewide in Michigan

    Michigan state agency loan of up to $10,000, with no interest and no monthly payments, for the down payment, closing costs and prepaid expenses; it goes with MSHDA's MI Home Loan mortgage and is repaid in certain cases, such as when you pay off the first mortgage, sell or refinance the home, or no longer live in it. Offered by Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

  • Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC)

    Statewide in Michigan

    Michigan state authority certificate that lets you take 20% of the interest you pay each year on your mortgage off your federal taxes, for the life of the loan; you apply with an approved lender before you buy. Offered by Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA).

    Tax credit

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Pontiac

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Pontiac, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency

    196 Cesar E Chavez Ave, Pontiac · 1 miles away · Spanish

    Also serves in other languages.

    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • Budget and credit workshops
    • and 8 more
    (248) 209-2600

  • Habitat for Humanity of Oakland County, Inc.

    150 Osmun St, Pontiac · 1 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and credit workshops
    • and 5 more
    (248) 338-1843

  • Oakland County Housing Counseling

    1200 N Telegraph Rd, Pontiac · 2 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Home improvement and repairs
    • and 4 more
    (248) 858-5402

Every agency in Oakland County All counseling agencies in Michigan

Help in Spanish near Pontiac

2 of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Pontiac

HUD’s record names them for Pontiac or Oakland County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Pontiac Housing Commission Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (248) 338-4551

4 other authorities have an office in Oakland County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Oakland County

These cities are also in Oakland County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Oakland County Housing in Michigan
See 11 more cities in Oakland County, with prices and rents

Every city has its own page with prices, rents and help.

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Pontiac, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Oakland County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Pontiac.

All guides
Three women of one family lean in together to stir the pan.

Questions

Housing questions about Pontiac

Short answers with the numbers for Pontiac and all of Oakland County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Pontiac?

The typical home value in Pontiac is $121,700, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Oakland County it is $343,600.

How much does it cost to rent in Pontiac?

Typical rent in Pontiac is $1,063 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Oakland County is $1,459.

What is the FHA loan limit in Pontiac?

Pontiac uses the FHA limit for all of Oakland County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Pontiac?

The typical homeowner in Pontiac pays $1,257 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.03% of the home’s value; in Oakland County, the rate is 1.27%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Pontiac?

There are 7 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Oakland County. 5 say they serve in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).