Kalkaska County, Michigan Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Kalkaska County is located in Michigan with a total population of 18,116. It is the 66th most populous county out of 83 in Michigan.

Age Demographics

The median age in Kalkaska County is 44.0 years. This is 10% higher than the state median of 40.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Kalkaska County is $60,365. This is 15% lower than the state median of $71,149. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 23% lower. The poverty rate stands at 14.1%. This is 8% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.1%. The unemployment rate is 4.3%. This is 26% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $174,300. Housing costs are 20% lower than the state median of $217,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.9x, Kalkaska County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 87.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 20% higher than the state average of 72.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Kalkaska 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 (0.9%) is well below the state average of 13.2%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.2%) is well below the state average of 5.7%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 3.3%.

Education

18.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 43% lower than the state rate of 31.8%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 89.9%.