Van Buren County, Michigan Demographics 2026
Van Buren County, Michigan has a population of 75,795, the 26th most populous county in Michigan. The median household income is $68,114 and the median home value is $206,500. The poverty rate is 14.3%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Van Buren County Quick Facts
How Van Buren County 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 | 75,681 | 75,795 | +0.2% |
| Median household income | $66,902 | $68,114 | +1.8% |
| Median home value | $189,900 | $206,500 | +8.7% |
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+)
Cities & Places in Van Buren County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paw Paw | 3,289 | $41,587 | 21.9% | $148,200 |
| Mattawan | 2,692 | $61,587 | 12.1% | $181,600 |
| Hartford | 2,458 | $42,171 | 16.3% | $108,700 |
| Bangor | 2,129 | $49,764 | 19.9% | $111,200 |
| Lawton | 2,104 | $52,652 | 19.3% | $171,100 |
| Decatur | 1,835 | $61,806 | 19.7% | $137,500 |
| Lawrence | 942 | $36,058 | 28.9% | $133,900 |
| Gobles | 595 | $44,250 | 22.8% | $104,200 |
| Bloomingdale | 522 | $66,250 | 23.8% | $117,500 |
| Breedsville | 288 | $98,750 | 4.9% | $217,200 |
Explore Michigan Rankings
Population Overview
Van Buren County is located in Michigan with a total population of 75,795. It is the 26th most populous county out of 83 in Michigan. The county encompasses 10 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Van Buren County is 41.2 years. This is 2% higher than the state median of 40.2 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Van Buren County is $68,114. This is 7% lower than the state median of $72,875. It is also 16% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 14.3%. This is 8% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 4.2%. This is 27% lower than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $206,500. Housing costs are 11% lower than the state median of $231,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.0x. 80.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 10% higher than the state average of 73.2%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Van Buren County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 78.2% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 12.5%. The Black or African American population (3.5%) is well below the state average of 13.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (12.5% vs 5.9%). The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 3.4%.
Education
23.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 29% 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 89.5%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Van Buren 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 Van Buren County, Michigan?
Van Buren County has a population of 75,795, making it the 26th most populous county in Michigan.
What is the median income in Van Buren County?
The median household income in Van Buren County is $68,114 with a poverty rate of 14.3%.
How many cities are in Van Buren County, Michigan?
Van Buren County contains 10 Census-designated places.