Kalkaska County, Michigan Demographics 2026
Kalkaska County, Michigan has a population of 18,239, the 66th most populous county in Michigan. The median household income is $68,578 and the median home value is $188,900. The poverty rate is 12.2%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Kalkaska County Quick Facts
How Kalkaska County 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 | 18,116 | 18,239 | +0.7% |
| Median household income | $60,365 | $68,578 | +13.6% |
| Median home value | $174,300 | $188,900 | +8.4% |
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+)
Cities & Places in Kalkaska County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kalkaska | 2,539 | $57,143 | 13.3% | $155,600 |
| Rapid City | 1,328 | $73,021 | 12.7% | $214,700 |
| South Boardman | 553 | $83,750 | 11.4% | $193,300 |
| Manistee Lake | 412 | $56,250 | 9.7% | $175,000 |
| Bear Lake | 343 | $67,188 | 8.2% | $201,500 |
Explore Michigan Rankings
Population Overview
Kalkaska County is located in Michigan with a total population of 18,239. It is the 66th most populous county out of 83 in Michigan. The county encompasses 5 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Kalkaska County is 44.4 years. This is 10% higher than the state median of 40.2 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Kalkaska County is $68,578. This is 6% lower than the state median of $72,875. It is also 15% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 12.2%. This is 7% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 3.9%. This is 32% lower than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $188,900. Housing costs are 18% lower than the state median of $231,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.8x, Kalkaska County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 88.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 20% higher than the state average of 73.2%.
Race & Ethnicity
Kalkaska County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 92.3% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.3%. The Black or African American population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 13.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.3%) is well below the state average of 5.9%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 3.4%.
Education
19.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 41% 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 90.5%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Kalkaska 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 Kalkaska County, Michigan?
Kalkaska County has a population of 18,239, making it the 66th most populous county in Michigan.
What is the median income in Kalkaska County?
The median household income in Kalkaska County is $68,578 with a poverty rate of 12.2%.
How many cities are in Kalkaska County, Michigan?
Kalkaska County contains 5 Census-designated places.