Van Buren County, Michigan Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Van Buren County is located in Michigan with a total population of 75,681. It is the 26th most populous county out of 83 in Michigan. The county encompasses 4 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Van Buren County is 41.2 years. This is 3% higher than the state median of 40.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Van Buren County is $66,902. This is 6% lower than the state median of $71,149. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 15% lower. The poverty rate stands at 13.8%. This is 6% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.1%. The unemployment rate is 4.4%. This is 24% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $189,900. Housing costs are 13% lower than the state median of $217,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.8x, Van Buren County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 80.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 10% higher than the state average of 72.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Van Buren County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 79.1% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 12.2%. The Black or African American population (3.5%) is well below the state average of 13.2%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (12.2% vs 5.7%). The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 3.3%.

Education

22.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 28% lower than the state rate of 31.8%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 88.8%.