Whittemore, Michigan Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 492, Whittemore'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

Whittemore is a small community located in Michigan, within Iosco County. The total population is 492. It ranks as the 548th most populous out of 745 Census-designated places in Michigan.

Age Demographics

The median age in Whittemore is 35.0 years. This is 13% lower than the state median of 40.2 years. With 28.7% of the population under 18, Whittemore has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Whittemore is $33,214. This is 54% lower than the state median of $72,875. It is also 59% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 22.8%. This is 73% 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 unemployment rate is 8.1%. This is 43% higher than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $80,900. Housing costs are 65% lower than the state median of $231,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.4x, Whittemore is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 64.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 12% lower than the state average of 73.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Whittemore has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 91.7% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.6%) is well below the state average of 5.9%.

Education

5.2% 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 84% 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 73.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Whittemore, 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.