Ontonagon County, Michigan Demographics 2026

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

Ontonagon County, Michigan has a population of 5,850, the 82nd most populous county in Michigan. The median household income is $54,398 and the median home value is $111,700. The poverty rate is 12.5%.

Ontonagon County Quick Facts

Population 5,850

Median Household Income $54,39890% MOE ±$5,453

Median Home Value $111,70090% MOE ±$4,970

Poverty Rate 12.5%90% MOE ±2.7 pts

Unemployment Rate 5.3%90% MOE ±1.8 pts

Median Age 59.8 years90% MOE ±0.6 years

Homeownership Rate 87.1%90% MOE ±5.0 pts

Affordability Ratio 2.1x

Bachelor's Degree+ 18.4%90% MOE ±2.2 pts

Adults 25+ with high school education or higher 94.5%

Cities/Places 9

Population 5,850 82nd of 83

Median Income $54,398 25% lower than state

Poverty Rate 12.5%

Unemployment 5.3%

How Ontonagon 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	5,877	5,850	-0.5%
Median household income	$51,131	$54,398	No clear change (+6.4%)
Median home value¹	$86,150	$111,700	+29.7%
Median gross rent	$644	$540	-16.1%

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

Median Household Income

Ontonagon

$54,398

$72,875

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Ontonagon

$111,700

$231,600

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 20.0%

$25K-$50K 26.2%

$50K-$100K 34.3%

$100K+ 19.5%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

6.5%

$10K-$15K

3.9%

$15K-$20K

4.0%

$20K-$25K

5.5%

$25K-$30K

6.5%

$30K-$35K

4.2%

$35K-$40K

5.9%

$40K-$45K

4.0%

$45K-$50K

5.8%

$50K-$60K

8.3%

$60K-$75K

12.9%

$75K-$100K

13.1%

$100K-$125K

10.8%

$125K-$150K

3.6%

$150K-$200K

3.0%

$200K+

2.1%

Employment

5.3% Unemployment Rate State: 5.7%|National: 5.2%

43.0% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 87.1%

Renter 12.9%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.1x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $540/mo 11.9% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

11.4%

18-34

11.1%

35-54

19.5%

55-74

42.2%

75+

15.8%

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 Ontonagon County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Ontonagon	1,355	$50,164	10.4%	$105,200
White Pine	369	$39,861	19.2%	$59,500
Mass City	299	$74,313	3.0%	$84,200
Ewen	281	$60,625	21.7%	$77,500
Bruce Crossing	257	$74,583	2.7%	$106,400
Rockland	246	$44,375	38.6%	$59,600
Bergland	138	$44,375	5.8%	$85,600
Greenland	76	$42,500	13.2%	$60,000
Lake Gogebic	72	$36,797	25.0%	N/A

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

Ontonagon County is located in Michigan with a total population of 5,850. It is the 82nd most populous county out of 83 in Michigan. The county encompasses 9 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Ontonagon County is 59.8 years. This is 49% higher than the state median of 40.2 years. Only 11.4% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 15.8% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Ontonagon County is $54,398. This is 25% lower than the state median of $72,875. It is also 33% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 12.5%. This is 5% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 5.3%. This is 6% lower than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $111,700. Housing costs are 52% lower than the state median of $231,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.1x, Ontonagon County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 87.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 19% higher than the state average of 73.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Ontonagon County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 92.3% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.8%. The Black or African American population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 13.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.8%) is well below the state average of 5.9%. The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 3.4%.

Education

18.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 43% 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 94.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Ontonagon 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 Ontonagon County, Michigan?

Ontonagon County has a population of 5,850, making it the 82nd most populous county in Michigan.

What is the median income in Ontonagon County?

The median household income in Ontonagon County is $54,398 with a poverty rate of 12.5%.

How many cities are in Ontonagon County, Michigan?

Ontonagon County contains 9 Census-designated places.