Vandalia, Michigan Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 366, Vandalia'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

Vandalia is a small community located in Michigan, within Cass County. The total population is 366. It ranks as the 593rd most populous out of 745 Census-designated places in Michigan.

Age Demographics

The median age in Vandalia is 26.2 years. This is 35% lower than the state median of 40.2 years. With 41.5% of the population under 18, Vandalia has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Vandalia is $70,268. 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 3.9%. This is 71% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The unemployment rate is 13.0%. This is 128% higher than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $77,500. Housing costs are 67% lower than the state median of $231,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.1x, Vandalia is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 69.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 6% lower than the state average of 73.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Vandalia is White (non-Hispanic), making up 64.8% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 19.1%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (6.0% vs 3.4%).

Education

7.5% 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 77% 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 69.0%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Vandalia, 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.