Delta County, Michigan Demographics 2026

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

Delta County, Michigan has a population of 36,813, the 43rd most populous county in Michigan. The median household income is $57,809 and the median home value is $157,100. The poverty rate is 12.7%.

Delta County Quick Facts

Population 36,813

Median Household Income $57,80990% MOE ±$3,201

Median Home Value $157,10090% MOE ±$4,589

Poverty Rate 12.7%90% MOE ±1.6 pts

Unemployment Rate 4.2%90% MOE ±1.2 pts

Median Age 48.0 years90% MOE ±0.3 years

Homeownership Rate 82.0%90% MOE ±1.6 pts

Affordability Ratio 2.7x

Bachelor's Degree+ 20.6%90% MOE ±1.8 pts

Adults 25+ with high school education or higher 92.9%

Cities/Places 5

Population 36,813 43rd of 83

Median Income $57,809 21% lower than state

Poverty Rate 12.7%

Unemployment 4.2%

How Delta 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	36,026	36,813	+2.2%
Median household income	$58,377	$57,809	No clear change (-1.0%)
Median home value¹	$140,670	$157,100	+11.7%
Median gross rent	$719	$692	No clear change (-3.7%)

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

Median Household Income

Delta

$57,809

$72,875

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Delta

$157,100

$231,600

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 19.5%

$25K-$50K 22.0%

$50K-$100K 33.0%

$100K+ 25.5%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

5.2%

$10K-$15K

4.8%

$15K-$20K

4.7%

$20K-$25K

4.7%

$25K-$30K

5.9%

$30K-$35K

4.1%

$35K-$40K

4.0%

$40K-$45K

4.0%

$45K-$50K

4.0%

$50K-$60K

9.9%

$60K-$75K

10.8%

$75K-$100K

12.3%

$100K-$125K

10.2%

$125K-$150K

4.8%

$150K-$200K

5.3%

$200K+

5.2%

Employment

4.2% Unemployment Rate State: 5.7%|National: 5.2%

51.2% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 82.0%

Renter 18.0%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.7x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $692/mo 14.4% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

19.1%

18-34

16.6%

35-54

22.7%

55-74

31.1%

75+

10.5%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very Low Diversity

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+)

Cities & Places in Delta County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Escanaba	12,354	$45,369	17.7%	$125,200
Gladstone	5,253	$54,970	14.1%	$118,600
Rapid River	223	$51,500	9.9%	$122,500
Rock	160	$71,250	19.4%	$122,100
Garden	154	$42,917	11.0%	$86,000

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

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Delta County, Michigan?

Delta County has a population of 36,813, making it the 43rd most populous county in Michigan.

What is the median income in Delta County?

The median household income in Delta County is $57,809 with a poverty rate of 12.7%.

How many cities are in Delta County, Michigan?

Delta County contains 5 Census-designated places.