Gaastra, Michigan Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Gaastra, Michigan had a total population of 296, the 625th largest city in Michigan, with a median household income of $47,708, which is 35% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 29.1%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 35% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
- More than 1 in 4 residents live below the poverty line (29.1%), well above the national average of 12.4%.
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.0x.
- Unemployment rate of 11.0% is notably above the national average.
Gaastra Quick Facts
How Gaastra Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 324 | 296 | -8.6% |
| Median household income | $57,500 | $47,708 | -17.0% |
| Median home value | $61,000 | $49,200 | -19.3% |
How Gaastra Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
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+)
Gaastra Rankings in Michigan
Explore Michigan Rankings
Other Cities in Iron County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iron River | 3,002 | $54,183 | 20.6% | $85,000 |
| Crystal Falls | 1,719 | $60,865 | 20.9% | $83,300 |
| Caspian | 600 | $32,794 | 35.3% | $79,100 |
| Amasa | 253 | $40,764 | 17.4% | $85,400 |
| Alpha | 215 | $39,115 | 21.4% | $34,100 |
Cities Similar to Gaastra
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery | 301 | $51,250 | $95,000 | 9.0% | 38.5% |
| Big Bay | 306 | $51,953 | $273,100 | 33.5% | 21.3% |
| Omer | 283 | $51,000 | $97,700 | 5.2% | 7.8% |
| Luther | 303 | $54,167 | $102,300 | 21.3% | 32.3% |
| Eastlake | 318 | $50,139 | $122,400 | 10.5% | 7.5% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 296, Gaastra's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.
Population Overview
Gaastra is a small community located in Michigan, within Iron County. The total population is 296. It ranks as the 625th most populous out of 745 Census-designated places in Michigan.
Age Demographics
The median age in Gaastra is 40.1 years. This is about the same as the state median of 40.2 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Gaastra is $47,708. This is 35% lower than the state median of $72,875. It is also 41% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 29.1%. This is 121% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 11.0%. This is 93% higher than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $49,200. Housing costs are 79% lower than the state median of $231,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.0x, Gaastra is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 90.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 24% higher than the state average of 73.2%.
Race & Ethnicity
Gaastra has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 86.5% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 5.7%. The Black or African American population (5.7%) is well below the state average of 13.1%.
Education
18.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 43% 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 95.8%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Gaastra, Michigan is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Michigan state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 745 Census-designated places in Michigan. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Gaastra, Michigan?
Gaastra, Michigan has a population of 296 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Gaastra, MI?
The median household income in Gaastra is $47,708, which is 41% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Gaastra, MI?
The poverty rate in Gaastra is 29.1%. This means approximately 81 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Gaastra, Michigan?
Gaastra's population is 86.5% White, 5.7% Black, 3.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 2.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Gaastra, MI?
The median home value in Gaastra is $49,200. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.0x.
How educated is Gaastra, Michigan?
18.4% of adults (25+) in Gaastra hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 5.3% hold a graduate or professional degree.