Rockland, Michigan Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 246, Rockland's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Rockland is a small community located in Michigan, within Ontonagon County. The total population is 246. It ranks as the 657th most populous out of 745 Census-designated places in Michigan.

Age Demographics

The median age in Rockland is 46.4 years. This is 15% higher than the state median of 40.2 years. With 28.9% of the population under 18, Rockland has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Rockland is $44,375. This is 39% lower than the state median of $72,875. It is also 45% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 38.6%. This is 192% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The survey records no unemployed residents in Rockland, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $59,600. Housing costs are 74% lower than the state median of $231,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.3x, Rockland is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 97.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 34% higher than the state average of 73.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Rockland has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 91.5% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 5.3%.

Education

7.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 78% 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 78.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Rockland, Michigan is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Michigan state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 745 Census-designated places in Michigan. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.