Mecosta County, Michigan Demographics 2026
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%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Mecosta County Quick Facts
How Mecosta 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 | 40,321 | 41,242 | +2.3% |
| Median household income | $57,774 | $60,951 | +5.5% |
| Median home value | $169,900 | $178,900 | +5.3% |
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 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
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.