Shepherd, Michigan Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Shepherd, Michigan had a total population of 1,457, the 375th largest village in Michigan, with a median household income of $70,156, which is 4% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 17.0%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.2x.
- Near full employment with an unemployment rate of just 0.9%.
Shepherd Quick Facts
How Shepherd 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 | 1,438 | 1,457 | +1.3% |
| Median household income | $76,591 | $70,156 | -8.4% |
| Median home value | $147,800 | $157,000 | +6.2% |
How Shepherd Compares
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+)
Shepherd Rankings in Michigan
Explore Michigan Rankings
Other Cities in Isabella County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Pleasant | 21,236 | $44,706 | 31.4% | $173,100 |
| Lake Isabella | 2,085 | $77,500 | 5.8% | $184,000 |
| Weidman | 1,156 | N/A | 52.3% | N/A |
| Rosebush | 331 | $44,750 | 17.5% | $104,500 |
| Beal City | 293 | $74,875 | 5.5% | $197,700 |
| Winn | 226 | $136,136 | 2.6% | $209,500 |
| Loomis | 200 | $71,500 | 2.0% | $87,600 |
Cities Similar to Shepherd
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birch Run | 1,439 | $70,521 | $191,000 | 14.9% | 13.5% |
| Pinconning | 1,448 | $64,565 | $79,600 | 26.4% | 12.1% |
| Three Oaks | 1,503 | $66,985 | $215,700 | 27.6% | 9.1% |
| Fowler | 1,387 | $74,282 | $197,400 | 22.9% | 3.1% |
| Shorewood-Tower Hills-Harbert | 1,459 | $83,204 | $343,000 | 49.2% | 5.7% |
Population Overview
Shepherd is a small community located in Michigan, within Isabella County. The total population is 1,457. It ranks as the 375th most populous out of 745 Census-designated places in Michigan.
Age Demographics
The median age in Shepherd is 32.9 years. This is 18% lower than the state median of 40.2 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Shepherd is $70,156. This is 4% lower than the state median of $72,875. It is also 13% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 17.0%. This is 28% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 0.9%. This is 85% lower than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $157,000. Housing costs are 32% lower than the state median of $231,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.2x, Shepherd is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 66.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 9% lower than the state average of 73.2%.
Race & Ethnicity
Shepherd has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 85.9% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.8%. The Black or African American population (1.8%) is well below the state average of 13.1%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 3.4%.
Education
26.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 18% 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 97.8%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Shepherd, 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.
Free data download: Get all Michigan city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Shepherd, Michigan?
Shepherd, Michigan has a population of 1,457 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Shepherd, MI?
The median household income in Shepherd is $70,156, which is 13% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Shepherd, MI?
The poverty rate in Shepherd is 17.0%. This means approximately 245 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Shepherd, Michigan?
Shepherd's population is 85.9% White, 1.8% Black, 3.8% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.5% Asian.
What is the median home value in Shepherd, MI?
The median home value in Shepherd is $157,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 2.2x.
How educated is Shepherd, Michigan?
26.6% of adults (25+) in Shepherd hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 8.6% hold a graduate or professional degree.