Muskegon County, Michigan Demographics 2026

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

Muskegon County, Michigan has a population of 175,961, the 12th most populous county in Michigan. The median household income is $65,024 and the median home value is $198,300. The poverty rate is 14.1%.

Muskegon County Quick Facts

Population 175,961

Median Household Income $65,02490% MOE ±$1,543

Median Home Value $198,30090% MOE ±$4,508

Poverty Rate 14.1%90% MOE ±1.0 pts

Unemployment Rate 6.4%90% MOE ±0.8 pts

Median Age 40.0 years90% MOE ±0.2 years

Homeownership Rate 78.1%90% MOE ±1.2 pts

Affordability Ratio 3.0x

Bachelor's Degree+ 21.3%90% MOE ±1.0 pts

Adults 25+ with high school education or higher 92.1%

Cities/Places 12

Population 175,961 12th of 83

Median Income $65,024 11% lower than state

Poverty Rate 14.1%

Unemployment 6.4%

How Muskegon 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	173,297	175,961	+1.5%
Median household income	$62,586	$65,024	+3.9%
Median home value¹	$145,100	$198,300	+36.7%
Median gross rent	$935	$1,028	+9.9%

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

Median Household Income

Muskegon

$65,024

$72,875

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Muskegon

$198,300

$231,600

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 17.1%

$25K-$50K 20.6%

$50K-$100K 33.9%

$100K+ 28.4%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

5.2%

$10K-$15K

4.1%

$15K-$20K

3.3%

$20K-$25K

4.5%

$25K-$30K

4.7%

$30K-$35K

3.7%

$35K-$40K

4.3%

$40K-$45K

4.2%

$45K-$50K

3.8%

$50K-$60K

8.0%

$60K-$75K

10.9%

$75K-$100K

15.0%

$100K-$125K

10.3%

$125K-$150K

7.2%

$150K-$200K

6.6%

$200K+

4.4%

Employment

6.4% Unemployment Rate State: 5.7%|National: 5.2%

59.5% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 78.1%

Renter 21.9%

Affordability Index Affordable

3.0x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $1,028/mo 19.0% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

22.5%

18-34

21.2%

35-54

24.3%

55-74

24.9%

75+

7.1%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Moderate Diversity

Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.

State average: 45 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Muskegon County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Muskegon	37,226	$44,735	24.9%	$142,300
Norton Shores	25,041	$76,579	6.5%	$234,800
Muskegon Heights	9,841	$35,239	34.1%	$68,000
Wolf Lake	4,654	$51,637	14.1%	$131,400
Roosevelt Park	4,144	$62,857	12.1%	$193,300
North Muskegon	4,098	$104,659	5.0%	$264,200
Whitehall	3,024	$61,169	16.3%	$212,600
Montague	2,531	$66,750	4.8%	$202,200
Twin Lake	2,036	$84,950	5.0%	$250,600
Ravenna	1,540	$77,857	6.3%	$204,300
Lakewood Club	1,255	$71,518	11.4%	$157,300
Fruitport	1,212	$84,306	5.0%	$218,300

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

Muskegon County is located in Michigan with a total population of 175,961. It is the 12th most populous county out of 83 in Michigan. The county encompasses 12 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Muskegon 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 Muskegon County is $65,024. This is 11% lower than the state median of $72,875. It is also 19% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 14.1%. This is 6% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 6.4%. This is 13% higher than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $198,300. Housing costs are 14% lower than the state median of $231,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.0x. 78.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 7% higher than the state average of 73.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Muskegon County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 75.0% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 12.0%. The Asian population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 3.4%.

Education

21.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 34% 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 92.1%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Muskegon 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 Muskegon County, Michigan?

Muskegon County has a population of 175,961, making it the 12th most populous county in Michigan.

What is the median income in Muskegon County?

The median household income in Muskegon County is $65,024 with a poverty rate of 14.1%.

How many cities are in Muskegon County, Michigan?

Muskegon County contains 12 Census-designated places.