Chippewa County, Michigan Demographics 2026

Demographic data: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. Sources and methodology

Chippewa County, Michigan has a population of 36,295, the 44th most populous county in Michigan. The median household income is $62,217 and the median home value is $161,900. The poverty rate is 14.0%.

Chippewa County Quick Facts

Population 36,295

Median Household Income $62,21790% MOE ±$2,143

Median Home Value $161,90090% MOE ±$4,697

Poverty Rate 14.0%90% MOE ±1.5 pts

Unemployment Rate 5.2%90% MOE ±1.0 pts

Median Age 41.6 years90% MOE ±0.7 years

Homeownership Rate 75.0%90% MOE ±1.5 pts

Affordability Ratio 2.6x

Bachelor's Degree+ 23.3%90% MOE ±1.7 pts

Adults 25+ with high school education or higher 92.6%

Cities/Places 4

Population 36,295 44th of 83

Median Income $62,217 15% lower than state

Poverty Rate 14.0%

Unemployment 5.2%

How Chippewa County Changed

Change from the non-overlapping 2015–2019 ACS period to 2020–2024. Earlier dollar figures are adjusted to 2024 dollars; changes marked “no clear change” are within the combined 90% margins of error.

Metric	2015–2019	2020–2024	Change
Population	37,629	36,295	-3.5%
Median household income	$57,211	$62,217	+8.8%
Median home value¹	$146,577	$161,900	+10.5%
Median gross rent	$829	$797	No clear change (-3.9%)

¹ The Census Bureau changed its home-value inflation adjustment beginning with the 2022 ACS; interpret that comparison with additional caution.

Median Household Income

Chippewa

$62,217

$72,875

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Chippewa

$161,900

$231,600

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 17.4%

$25K-$50K 21.8%

$50K-$100K 35.5%

$100K+ 25.3%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

4.7%

$10K-$15K

4.5%

$15K-$20K

4.2%

$20K-$25K

4.0%

$25K-$30K

5.9%

$30K-$35K

4.5%

$35K-$40K

4.5%

$40K-$45K

3.6%

$45K-$50K

3.2%

$50K-$60K

8.4%

$60K-$75K

12.6%

$75K-$100K

14.6%

$100K-$125K

9.6%

$125K-$150K

6.5%

$150K-$200K

5.7%

$200K+

3.6%

Employment

5.2% Unemployment Rate State: 5.7%|National: 5.2%

53.1% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 75.0%

Renter 25.0%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.6x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $797/mo 15.4% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

17.6%

18-34

24.7%

35-54

24.6%

55-74

25.3%

75+

7.8%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Moderate Diversity

Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.

State average: 45 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Chippewa County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Sault Ste. Marie	13,335	$55,328	17.8%	$139,400
Kincheloe	2,524	$57,644	25.1%	$110,700
Brimley	345	$65,313	10.1%	$146,400
De Tour Village	212	$48,750	9.9%	$237,500

Explore Michigan Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Chippewa County is located in Michigan with a total population of 36,295. It is the 44th most populous county out of 83 in Michigan. The county encompasses 4 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Chippewa County is 41.6 years. This is 3% higher than the state median of 40.2 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Chippewa County is $62,217. This is 15% lower than the state median of $72,875. It is also 23% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 14.0%. This is 6% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 5.2%. This is 8% lower than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $161,900. Housing costs are 30% lower than the state median of $231,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.6x, Chippewa County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 75.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 2% higher than the state average of 73.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Chippewa County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 67.3% 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 13.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.3%) is well below the state average of 5.9%. The Asian population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 3.4%.

Education

23.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 28% 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 92.6%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Chippewa 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 Chippewa County, Michigan?

Chippewa County has a population of 36,295, making it the 44th most populous county in Michigan.

What is the median income in Chippewa County?

The median household income in Chippewa County is $62,217 with a poverty rate of 14.0%.

How many cities are in Chippewa County, Michigan?

Chippewa County contains 4 Census-designated places.