Mecosta County, Michigan Demographics 2026

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

Mecosta County, Michigan has a population of 41,242, the 40th most populous county in Michigan. The median household income is $60,951 and the median home value is $178,900. The poverty rate is 19.9%.

Mecosta County Quick Facts

Population 41,242

Median Household Income $60,95190% MOE ±$2,088

Median Home Value $178,90090% MOE ±$7,731

Poverty Rate 19.9%90% MOE ±1.9 pts

Unemployment Rate 4.0%90% MOE ±0.7 pts

Median Age 40.0 years90% MOE ±0.5 years

Homeownership Rate 76.9%90% MOE ±1.5 pts

Affordability Ratio 2.9x

Bachelor's Degree+ 22.4%90% MOE ±1.4 pts

Adults 25+ with high school education or higher 91.4%

Cities/Places 7

Population 41,242 40th of 83

Median Income $60,951 16% lower than state

Poverty Rate 19.9%

Unemployment 4.0%

How Mecosta 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	43,251	41,242	-4.6%
Median household income	$55,404	$60,951	+10.0%
Median home value¹	$149,408	$178,900	+19.7%
Median gross rent	$876	$934	No clear change (+6.6%)

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

Median Household Income

Mecosta

$60,951

$72,875

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Mecosta

$178,900

$231,600

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 18.6%

$25K-$50K 22.5%

$50K-$100K 34.7%

$100K+ 24.1%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

5.5%

$10K-$15K

4.8%

$15K-$20K

3.7%

$20K-$25K

4.7%

$25K-$30K

4.3%

$30K-$35K

5.4%

$35K-$40K

3.5%

$40K-$45K

5.1%

$45K-$50K

4.1%

$50K-$60K

8.0%

$60K-$75K

10.9%

$75K-$100K

15.8%

$100K-$125K

9.4%

$125K-$150K

6.1%

$150K-$200K

5.1%

$200K+

3.6%

Employment

4.0% Unemployment Rate State: 5.7%|National: 5.2%

54.4% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 76.9%

Renter 23.1%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.9x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $934/mo 18.4% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

19.1%

18-34

25.6%

35-54

20.9%

55-74

26.6%

75+

7.8%

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 Mecosta County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Big Rapids	8,477	$43,858	34.1%	$156,400
Canadian Lakes	2,991	$78,833	12.3%	$270,000
Morley	624	$41,750	34.0%	$122,500
Mecosta	464	$73,516	18.5%	$96,200
Barryton	394	$52,875	16.4%	$95,900
Paris	202	$68,281	18.8%	$155,600
Stanwood	162	$54,632	1.2%	$156,600

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

Mecosta County is located in Michigan with a total population of 41,242. It is the 40th most populous county out of 83 in Michigan. The county encompasses 7 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Mecosta County is 40.0 years. This is about the same as the state median of 40.2 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Mecosta County is $60,951. This is 16% lower than the state median of $72,875. It is also 25% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 19.9%. This is 50% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 4.0%. This is 30% lower than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $178,900. Housing costs are 23% lower than the state median of $231,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.9x, Mecosta County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 76.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 5% higher than the state average of 73.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Mecosta County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 89.6% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.9%. The Black or African American population (2.1%) is well below the state average of 13.1%. The Asian population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 3.4%.

Education

22.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 31% 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 91.4%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Mecosta 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 Mecosta County, Michigan?

Mecosta County has a population of 41,242, making it the 40th most populous county in Michigan.

What is the median income in Mecosta County?

The median household income in Mecosta County is $60,951 with a poverty rate of 19.9%.

How many cities are in Mecosta County, Michigan?

Mecosta County contains 7 Census-designated places.