Chippewa County, Michigan Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Chippewa County is located in Michigan with a total population of 36,448. It is the 44th most populous county out of 83 in Michigan. The county encompasses 1 Census-designated place.

Age Demographics

The median age in Chippewa County is 41.3 years. This is 3% higher than the state median of 40.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Chippewa County is $60,631. This is 15% lower than the state median of $71,149. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 23% lower. The poverty rate stands at 15.6%. This is 20% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.1%. The unemployment rate is 6.1%. This is 6% higher than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $153,100. Housing costs are 30% lower than the state median of $217,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.5x, Chippewa County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 73.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 1% higher than the state average of 72.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Chippewa County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 67.5% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 5.6%. The Black or African American population (5.6%) is well below the state average of 13.2%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.2%) is well below the state average of 5.7%. The Asian population (0.9%) is well below the state average of 3.3%.

Education

21.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 31% lower than the state rate of 31.8%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 92.8%.