Gogebic County, Michigan Demographics 2026

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

Gogebic County, Michigan has a population of 14,319, the 69th most populous county in Michigan. The median household income is $52,732 and the median home value is $107,200. The poverty rate is 14.4%.

Gogebic County Quick Facts

Population 14,319

Median Household Income $52,73290% MOE ±$3,913

Median Home Value $107,20090% MOE ±$6,245

Poverty Rate 14.4%90% MOE ±2.5 pts

Unemployment Rate 6.5%90% MOE ±1.8 pts

Median Age 51.2 years90% MOE ±1.0 years

Homeownership Rate 81.0%90% MOE ±1.0 pts

Affordability Ratio 2.0x

Bachelor's Degree+ 22.8%90% MOE ±2.5 pts

Adults 25+ with high school education or higher 96.0%

Cities/Places 6

Population 14,319 69th of 83

Median Income $52,732 28% lower than state

Poverty Rate 14.4%

Unemployment 6.5%

How Gogebic 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	15,061	14,319	-4.9%
Median household income	$47,799	$52,732	No clear change (+10.3%)
Median home value¹	$82,580	$107,200	+29.8%
Median gross rent	$626	$623	No clear change (-0.5%)

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

Median Household Income

Gogebic

$52,732

$72,875

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Gogebic

$107,200

$231,600

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 22.1%

$25K-$50K 25.9%

$50K-$100K 31.2%

$100K+ 20.9%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

6.3%

$10K-$15K

5.1%

$15K-$20K

4.8%

$20K-$25K

5.8%

$25K-$30K

7.3%

$30K-$35K

4.5%

$35K-$40K

3.9%

$40K-$45K

5.9%

$45K-$50K

4.2%

$50K-$60K

8.6%

$60K-$75K

11.5%

$75K-$100K

11.1%

$100K-$125K

6.2%

$125K-$150K

5.2%

$150K-$200K

5.0%

$200K+

4.5%

Employment

6.5% Unemployment Rate State: 5.7%|National: 5.2%

53.2% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 81.0%

Renter 19.0%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.0x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $623/mo 14.2% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

16.4%

18-34

15.9%

35-54

21.7%

55-74

33.9%

75+

12.1%

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 Gogebic County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Ironwood	4,997	$41,250	17.0%	$83,100
Bessemer	1,733	$53,523	12.9%	$69,900
Wakefield	1,683	$55,759	15.0%	$79,100
Ramsay	312	$54,643	19.9%	$67,700
Watersmeet	250	$63,452	0.0%	$67,200
Marenisco	223	$39,375	17.0%	$47,500

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

Gogebic County is located in Michigan with a total population of 14,319. It is the 69th most populous county out of 83 in Michigan. The county encompasses 6 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Gogebic County is 51.2 years. This is 27% higher than the state median of 40.2 years. 12.1% 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 Gogebic County is $52,732. This is 28% lower than the state median of $72,875. It is also 35% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 14.4%. This is 9% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 6.5%. This is 14% higher than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $107,200. Housing costs are 54% lower than the state median of $231,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.0x, Gogebic County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 81.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 11% higher than the state average of 73.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Gogebic County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 90.5% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.0%. The Black or African American population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 13.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.0%) is well below the state average of 5.9%. The Asian population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 3.4%.

Education

22.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 30% 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 96.0%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Gogebic 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 Gogebic County, Michigan?

Gogebic County has a population of 14,319, making it the 69th most populous county in Michigan.

What is the median income in Gogebic County?

The median household income in Gogebic County is $52,732 with a poverty rate of 14.4%.

How many cities are in Gogebic County, Michigan?

Gogebic County contains 6 Census-designated places.