Detroit Metro Area Communities Study (DMACS) Series

collection: series

Studies

12

Variables

4,723

Publications

51

About this Collection

Since 2016, the Detroit Metro Area Communities Study (DMACS) works to amplify the voices of Detroiters across the institutions shaping the future of the city. We do this by regularly collecting, analyzing, and disseminating high-quality public opinion data from a large, representative panel of Detroiters. This sample also includes one of the largest panel surveys of Black American respondents in the country. Our data, which contains detailed information from more than 4,500 individual Detroiters collected over 16 surveys, represents the most detailed and comprehensive source of information available about Detroiters’ experiences, perceptions, priorities, and aspirations.

DMACS has high-quality, representative data on topics including but not limited to:

  • Neighborhood perceptions
  • The significant housing cost burden faced by many Detroiters
  • Detroiters’ views of reparations for Black Americans
  • Health and healthcare
  • Changes in local employment rates and patterns
  • Household finances
  • The issues that Detroiters wanted elected officials to prioritize leading up to the 2022 midterm elections

Data from all DMACS survey waves will be made available over time. In 2022 we expanded our data collection efforts to include additional Michigan communities. Thus far, the Michigan Metro Area Communities Study (MIMACS) has conducted surveys in Flint and Ypsilanti, Michigan. This data will also be archived here once curated.

Studies

12 results
Partially restricted

Detroit Metro Area Communities Study (DMACS) Wave 21, Michigan, 2025

The Detroit Metro Area Communities Study (DMACS) is a panel survey of Detroit residents aged 18 and older. The original panel of respondents was drawn from an address-based probability sample of all occupied Detroit households in 2016 and has since been refreshed through additional address-based sampling annually. Between January 13, 2025 and March 3, 2025, 3,112 previously enrolled panelists were invited to participate in a self-administered online or interviewer-administered telephone survey.

Topics included: household composition; housing status; perceptions of neighborhood; political trust; challenges; homeownership; homeowner's insurance; stormwater management; flooding; mental health; employment.

Partially restricted

Detroit Metro Area Communities Study (DMACS) Wave 17, Michigan, 2023

The Detroit Metro Area Communities Study (DMACS) is a panel survey of Detroit residents aged 18 and older. The original panel of respondents was drawn from an address-based probability sample of all occupied Detroit households in 2016 and has since been refreshed through additional address-based sampling annually. The 17th survey wave, collected between June 2023 and August 2023, sent 5,000 invitations to a randomly selected address-based refreshment sample of Detroit households and invited 2,873 previously-enrolled panelists to participate in a self-administered online or interviewer-administered telephone survey.

Topics included: housing status; perceptions of neighborhood; social cohesion; community involvement; activism; school quality and performance; parks; safety; policing; mental health; immigration; sources of information; household finances; social connection; employment; and party identification.

Partially restricted

Detroit Metro Area Communities Study (DMACS) Wave 22, Michigan, 2025

The Detroit Metro Area Communities Study (DMACS) is a panel survey of Detroit residents aged 18 and older. The original panel of respondents was drawn from an address-based probability sample of all occupied Detroit households in 2016 and has since been refreshed through additional address-based sampling annually. Between August 6, 2025 and October 1, 2025, 3,170 previously enrolled panelists were invited to participate in a self-administered online or interviewer-administered telephone survey.

Topics included: household composition; housing status; perceptions of neighborhood; social connection and loneliness; election; mayoral priorities; crime and safety; violence reduction; artificial intelligence; flood management; mental health; employment.