Brown City, Michigan Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Brown City, Michigan had a total population of 1,139, the 414th largest city in Michigan, with a median household income of $58,750, which is 19% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 18.6%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.2x.
- Unemployment rate of 9.9% is notably above the national average.
Brown City Quick Facts
How Brown City Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,211 | 1,139 | -5.9% |
| Median household income | $60,357 | $58,750 | -2.7% |
| Median home value | $121,400 | $127,700 | +5.2% |
How Brown City Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 45 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Brown City Rankings in Michigan
Explore Michigan Rankings
Other Cities in Lapeer County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lapeer | 9,082 | $52,716 | 24.5% | $178,400 |
| Imlay City | 3,721 | $59,911 | 23.5% | $150,000 |
| Almont | 2,838 | $83,537 | 8.4% | $246,500 |
| Dryden | 1,182 | $70,352 | 4.6% | $208,300 |
| North Branch | 1,166 | $56,731 | 15.3% | $152,000 |
| Barnes Lake | 952 | $79,400 | 3.5% | $225,900 |
| Columbiaville | 754 | $54,135 | 11.7% | $142,600 |
| Metamora | 693 | $85,750 | 6.0% | $270,900 |
| Attica | 627 | $39,318 | 13.4% | $186,300 |
| Millers Lake | 554 | $70,298 | 21.5% | $216,700 |
Cities Similar to Brown City
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weidman | 1,156 | N/A | N/A | 17.7% | 52.3% |
| Concord | 1,118 | $60,625 | $176,800 | 19.9% | 13.5% |
| Millington | 1,122 | $56,250 | $118,000 | 12.3% | 18.9% |
| North Branch | 1,166 | $56,731 | $152,000 | 11.0% | 15.3% |
| Grant | 1,096 | $58,083 | $157,100 | 11.8% | 13.6% |
Population Overview
Brown City is a small community located in Michigan, within Lapeer County. The total population is 1,139. It ranks as the 414th most populous out of 745 Census-designated places in Michigan.
Age Demographics
The median age in Brown City is 44.4 years. This is 10% higher than the state median of 40.2 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Brown City is $58,750. This is 19% lower than the state median of $72,875. It is also 27% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 18.6%. This is 41% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 9.9%. This is 74% higher than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $127,700. Housing costs are 45% lower than the state median of $231,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.2x, Brown City is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 68.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 6% lower than the state average of 73.2%.
Race & Ethnicity
Brown City has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 89.1% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 6.2%. The Asian population (1.3%) is well below the state average of 3.4%.
Education
11.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 65% lower than the state rate of 32.5%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 89.6%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Brown City, Michigan is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Michigan state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 745 Census-designated places in Michigan. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Brown City, Michigan?
Brown City, Michigan has a population of 1,139 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Brown City, MI?
The median household income in Brown City is $58,750, which is 27% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Brown City, MI?
The poverty rate in Brown City is 18.6%. This means approximately 209 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Brown City, Michigan?
Brown City's population is 89.1% White, 0.0% Black, 6.2% Hispanic/Latino, and 1.3% Asian.
What is the median home value in Brown City, MI?
The median home value in Brown City is $127,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 2.2x.
How educated is Brown City, Michigan?
11.4% of adults (25+) in Brown City hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 3.1% hold a graduate or professional degree.