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Isabella County, Michigan Demographics 2026

Isabella County, Michigan has a population of 64,565, the 31st most populous county in Michigan. The median household income is $55,237 and the median home value is $170,400. The poverty rate is 21.9%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Isabella County Quick Facts

Population 64,565
Median Household Income $55,237
Median Home Value $170,400
Poverty Rate 21.9%
Unemployment Rate 6.4%
Median Age 30.1 years
Homeownership Rate 61.8%
Affordability Ratio 3.1x
Bachelor's Degree+ 31.3%
High School Graduation 91.9%
Cities/Places 8
Population 64,565 31st of 83
Median Income $55,237 24% lower than state
Poverty Rate 21.9%
Unemployment 6.4%

How Isabella County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population64,47564,565+0.1%
Median household income$53,759$55,237+2.7%
Median home value$165,100$170,400+3.2%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 22.4%
$25K-$50K 23.1%
$50K-$100K 30.5%
$100K+ 24.0%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
7.4%
$10K-$15K
5.5%
$15K-$20K
3.5%
$20K-$25K
6.1%
$25K-$30K
5.1%
$30K-$35K
4.7%
$35K-$40K
4.5%
$40K-$45K
4.4%
$45K-$50K
4.4%
$50K-$60K
8.2%
$60K-$75K
9.2%
$75K-$100K
13.2%
$100K-$125K
8.6%
$125K-$150K
5.3%
$150K-$200K
5.5%
$200K+
4.5%

Employment

6.4% Unemployment Rate State: 5.7%|National: 5.2%
62.4% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 61.8%
Renter 38.2%
Affordability Index Affordable
3.1x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $913/mo 19.8% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

30out of 100
Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 45 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Isabella County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Mount Pleasant21,236$44,70631.4%$173,100
Lake Isabella2,085$77,5005.8%$184,000
Shepherd1,457$70,15617.0%$157,000
Weidman1,156N/A52.3%N/A
Rosebush331$44,75017.5%$104,500
Beal City293$74,8755.5%$197,700
Winn226$136,1362.6%$209,500
Loomis200$71,5002.0%$87,600

Population Overview

Isabella County is located in Michigan with a total population of 64,565. It is the 31st most populous county out of 83 in Michigan. The county encompasses 8 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Isabella County is 30.1 years. This is 25% lower than the state median of 40.2 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Isabella County is $55,237. This is 24% lower than the state median of $72,875. It is also 32% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 21.9%. This is 66% 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 6.4%. This is 12% higher than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $170,400. Housing costs are 26% lower than the state median of $231,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.1x. 61.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 16% lower than the state average of 73.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Isabella County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 83.0% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 5.1%. The Black or African American population (2.4%) is well below the state average of 13.1%. The Asian population (1.6%) is well below the state average of 3.4%.

Education

31.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 3% 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 91.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Isabella 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 Isabella County, Michigan?

Isabella County has a population of 64,565, making it the 31st most populous county in Michigan.

What is the median income in Isabella County?

The median household income in Isabella County is $55,237 with a poverty rate of 21.9%.

How many cities are in Isabella County, Michigan?

Isabella County contains 8 Census-designated places.