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Cass County, Michigan Demographics 2026

Cass County, Michigan has a population of 51,520, the 35th most populous county in Michigan. The median household income is $70,443 and the median home value is $218,000. The poverty rate is 11.9%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Cass County Quick Facts

Population 51,520
Median Household Income $70,443
Median Home Value $218,000
Poverty Rate 11.9%
Unemployment Rate 5.0%
Median Age 45.5 years
Homeownership Rate 81.6%
Affordability Ratio 3.1x
Bachelor's Degree+ 21.8%
High School Graduation 90.0%
Cities/Places 5
Population 51,520 35th of 83
Median Income $70,443 3% lower than state
Poverty Rate 11.9%
Unemployment 5.0%

How Cass County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population51,60651,520-0.2%
Median household income$68,011$70,443+3.6%
Median home value$205,200$218,000+6.2%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 15.2%
$25K-$50K 20.7%
$50K-$100K 31.6%
$100K+ 32.6%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
5.1%
$10K-$15K
2.8%
$15K-$20K
3.5%
$20K-$25K
3.8%
$25K-$30K
3.8%
$30K-$35K
4.3%
$35K-$40K
3.8%
$40K-$45K
4.9%
$45K-$50K
3.8%
$50K-$60K
7.5%
$60K-$75K
9.3%
$75K-$100K
14.8%
$100K-$125K
8.3%
$125K-$150K
6.2%
$150K-$200K
9.5%
$200K+
8.6%

Employment

5.0% Unemployment Rate State: 5.7%|National: 5.2%
58.8% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 81.6%
Renter 18.4%
Affordability Index Affordable
3.1x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $916/mo 15.6% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

29out of 100
Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 45 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Cass County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Dowagiac5,732$48,16621.4%$130,800
Cassopolis1,834$40,78120.5%$110,000
Edwardsburg1,472$52,50018.0%$122,200
Marcellus1,112$52,91716.4%$120,400
Vandalia366$70,2683.9%$77,500

Population Overview

Cass County is located in Michigan with a total population of 51,520. It is the 35th most populous county out of 83 in Michigan. The county encompasses 5 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Cass County is 45.5 years. This is 13% higher than the state median of 40.2 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Cass County is $70,443. This is 3% lower than the state median of $72,875. It is also 13% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 11.9%. This is 10% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 5.0%. This is 12% lower than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $218,000. Housing costs are 6% lower than the state median of $231,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.1x. 81.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 12% higher than the state average of 73.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Cass County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 84.0% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 4.5%. The Black or African American population (4.0%) is well below the state average of 13.1%. The Asian population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 3.4%.

Education

21.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 33% 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 90.0%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Cass County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Michigan and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Cass County, Michigan?

Cass County has a population of 51,520, making it the 35th most populous county in Michigan.

What is the median income in Cass County?

The median household income in Cass County is $70,443 with a poverty rate of 11.9%.

How many cities are in Cass County, Michigan?

Cass County contains 5 Census-designated places.