Gladwin County, Michigan Demographics 2026

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

Gladwin County, Michigan has a population of 25,693, the 55th most populous county in Michigan. The median household income is $55,349 and the median home value is $162,300. The poverty rate is 14.9%.

Gladwin County Quick Facts

Population 25,693

Median Household Income $55,34990% MOE ±$2,210

Median Home Value $162,30090% MOE ±$4,683

Poverty Rate 14.9%90% MOE ±1.6 pts

Unemployment Rate 6.8%90% MOE ±1.2 pts

Median Age 50.7 years90% MOE ±0.4 years

Homeownership Rate 86.1%90% MOE ±1.4 pts

Affordability Ratio 2.9x

Bachelor's Degree+ 16.9%90% MOE ±1.4 pts

Adults 25+ with high school education or higher 89.1%

Cities/Places 2

Population 25,693 55th of 83

Median Income $55,349 24% lower than state

Poverty Rate 14.9%

Unemployment 6.8%

How Gladwin 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	25,279	25,693	+1.6%
Median household income	$54,913	$55,349	No clear change (+0.8%)
Median home value¹	$135,378	$162,300	+19.9%
Median gross rent	$759	$690	-9.1%

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

Median Household Income

Gladwin

$55,349

$72,875

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Gladwin

$162,300

$231,600

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 19.1%

$25K-$50K 24.9%

$50K-$100K 32.7%

$100K+ 23.2%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

4.9%

$10K-$15K

5.0%

$15K-$20K

4.7%

$20K-$25K

4.4%

$25K-$30K

4.3%

$30K-$35K

6.2%

$35K-$40K

4.2%

$40K-$45K

6.9%

$45K-$50K

3.2%

$50K-$60K

9.7%

$60K-$75K

8.2%

$75K-$100K

14.8%

$100K-$125K

8.9%

$125K-$150K

5.2%

$150K-$200K

5.6%

$200K+

3.5%

Employment

6.8% Unemployment Rate State: 5.7%|National: 5.2%

47.4% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 86.1%

Renter 13.9%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.9x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $690/mo 15.0% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

18.9%

18-34

15.4%

35-54

21.1%

55-74

34.0%

75+

10.6%

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 Gladwin County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Gladwin	3,098	$43,005	17.4%	$126,900
Beaverton	1,061	$30,050	18.2%	$109,000

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

Gladwin County is located in Michigan with a total population of 25,693. It is the 55th most populous county out of 83 in Michigan. The county encompasses 2 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Gladwin County is 50.7 years. This is 26% higher than the state median of 40.2 years. 10.6% 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 Gladwin County is $55,349. This is 24% lower than the state median of $72,875. It is also 31% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 14.9%. This is 13% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 6.8%. This is 19% higher than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $162,300. Housing costs are 30% lower than the state median of $231,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.9x, Gladwin County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 86.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 18% higher than the state average of 73.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Gladwin County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 92.7% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.2%. The Black or African American population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 13.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.2%) is well below the state average of 5.9%. The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 3.4%.

Education

16.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 48% 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 89.1%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Gladwin 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 Gladwin County, Michigan?

Gladwin County has a population of 25,693, making it the 55th most populous county in Michigan.

What is the median income in Gladwin County?

The median household income in Gladwin County is $55,349 with a poverty rate of 14.9%.

How many cities are in Gladwin County, Michigan?

Gladwin County contains 2 Census-designated places.