Survey: Downtown Detroit Rated ‘10/10’ Recommended Place

While Detroit didn’t win the big game, the 2024 NFL Draft stoked the excitement of southeast Michigan residents — 75 percent of respondents from a recent survey rated downtown Detroit a “10/10” to recommend to family and friends.
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Visitation to downtown Detroit’s public spaces is up among all respondents in the latest Downtown Detroit Partnership survey, across all spaces, and is enjoyed equally across racial demographics. // Photo courtesy of Downtown Detroit Partnership

While Detroit didn’t win the big game, the 2024 NFL Draft stoked the excitement of southeast Michigan residents — 75 percent of respondents from a recent survey rated downtown Detroit a “10/10” to recommend to family and friends.

According to the newly released 2024 Downtown Detroit Perceptions Survey by the Downtown Detroit Partnership and Downtown Detroit Business Improvement Zone (BIZ), perceptions of downtown Detroit as a safe and fun place to live, work, and visit rose 8 percent last year.

More than 1,000 individuals participated in the 2024 survey, which the Michigan State University Center for Survey Research independently analyzed. This is the seventh survey to date.

Among the highlights:

  • Ninety percent of Detroiters said downtown was either very or somewhat family-friendly, an 8 percent increase from 2018. Of all respondents, those between the ages of 35 and 59, were most likely to have this perception.
  • Seventy-seven percent of Detroiters and 80 percent of the tally* agree that downtown sidewalks are clean and free from litter and debris.
  • More than 80 percent of Detroiters, and nearly 90 percent of the tally think that downtown is a safe place to visit.
  • Detroiters have a very strong positive overall impression of downtown Detroit — 93 percent, up 8 percent from 2018.
  • Visitation to downtown’s public spaces is up among all respondents, across all our spaces, and is enjoyed equally across racial demographics.

The survey is conducted every two years. The purpose of the survey is to understand how Detroiters and southeast Michigan residents use, perceive, and engage with downtown Detroit. The results provide actionable measures that help guide the DDP and BIZ’s program of work and future investments.

The survey delves into areas including impressions of the Downtown, DDP, and BIZ; use of parks and public spaces; safety; transportation; and more.

“We were gratified to see the numbers continue to move in the right direction, but there is always more work to be done,” says Eric B. Larson, CEO of the Downtown Detroit Partnership. “There is great value in hearing from Detroit residents as well as those beyond the city limits. We use the data to inform our work as we continue to drive urban innovation through social and economic impact in Downtown.”

Larson also shared that the data helps influence future projects, including I-375 and I-75 Cap, and continuous park enhancements.

A complete overview is available on Downtown Detroit Partnership’s website, including all survey questions, results, and demographics.

* “Tally: indicates anyone who responded to an open invitation to take the survey, primarily including metro Detroiters.”