Delta County, Michigan Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Delta County is located in Michigan with a total population of 36,813. It is the 43rd most populous county out of 83 in Michigan. The county encompasses 5 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Delta County is 48.0 years. This is 19% higher than the state median of 40.2 years. 10.5% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Delta County is $57,809. This is 21% lower than the state median of $72,875. It is also 28% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 12.7%. This is 4% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 4.2%. This is 26% lower than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $157,100. Housing costs are 32% lower than the state median of $231,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.7x, Delta County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 82.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 12% higher than the state average of 73.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Delta County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 89.9% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.5%. The Black or African American population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 13.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.5%) is well below the state average of 5.9%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 3.4%.

Education

20.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 36% 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 92.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Delta 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.