Whittemore, Michigan Demographics & Population 2026

Demographic data: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. Sources and methodology

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Whittemore, Michigan had a total population of 492, the 548th largest city in Michigan, with a median household income of $33,214, which is 54% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 22.8%.

Key Takeaways

Household income is 54% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
Only 5.2% of adults have a bachelor's degree, well below the national average of 35.7%.
Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.4x.
Unemployment rate of 8.1% is notably above the national average.

Whittemore Quick Facts

Population 49290% MOE ±107

Median Household Income $33,21490% MOE ±$4,175

Median Home Value $80,90090% MOE ±$26,238

Poverty Rate 22.8%90% MOE ±9.3 pts

Unemployment Rate 8.1%90% MOE ±5.8 pts

Median Age 35.0 years90% MOE ±8.5 years

Homeownership Rate 64.1%90% MOE ±11.2 pts

Affordability Ratio 2.4x

Bachelor's Degree or Higher 5.2%90% MOE ±4.9 pts

Adults 25+ with high school education or higher 73.2%

Diversity Index 16/100

Population 492 548th of 745

Median Income $33,214 bottom 10%

Poverty Rate 22.8% 83% higher than national

Median Home Value $80,900 bottom 10%

How Whittemore Changed

Change from the non-overlapping 2015–2019 ACS period to 2020–2024. Earlier dollar figures are adjusted to 2024 dollars; changes marked “no clear change” are within the combined 90% margins of error.

Metric	2015–2019	2020–2024	Change
Population	432	492	No clear change (+13.9%)
Median household income	$38,204	$33,214	No clear change (-13.1%)
Median home value¹	$61,905	$80,900	No clear change (+30.7%)
Median gross rent	$523	$481	No clear change (-8.0%)

¹ The Census Bureau changed its home-value inflation adjustment beginning with the 2022 ACS; interpret that comparison with additional caution.

How Whittemore Compares

Median Household Income

Whittemore

$33,214

$72,875

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Whittemore

$80,900

$231,600

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 33.8%

$25K-$50K 36.9%

$50K-$100K 25.3%

$100K+ 4.0%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

7.1%

$10K-$15K

16.7%

$15K-$20K

4.0%

$20K-$25K

6.1%

$25K-$30K

5.6%

$30K-$35K

13.1%

$35K-$40K

4.5%

$40K-$45K

8.6%

$45K-$50K

5.1%

$50K-$60K

10.6%

$60K-$75K

10.6%

$75K-$100K

4.0%

$100K-$125K

2.0%

$125K-$150K

1.5%

$150K-$200K

0.5%

$200K+

0.0%

Employment

8.1% Unemployment Rate State: 5.7%|National: 5.2%

42.8% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 64.1%

Renter 35.9%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.4x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $481/mo 17.4% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

28.7%

18-34

21.3%

35-54

17.7%

55-74

27.0%

75+

5.3%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very Low Diversity

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+)

Whittemore Rankings in Michigan

#548 Population of 745

#719 Median Income of 732

#710 Education of 745

#691 Home Value of 730

Explore Michigan Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Other Cities in Iosco County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
East Tawas	2,675	$42,450	15.7%	$130,200
Au Sable	1,643	$42,431	13.5%	$113,600
Tawas City	1,614	$46,014	12.7%	$138,000
Sand Lake (Iosco County)	1,348	$58,162	16.4%	$157,500
Oscoda	654	$46,801	18.5%	$86,500

Cities Similar to Whittemore

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

City	Population	Median Income	Home Value	Bachelor's+	Poverty
Sand Lake (Kent County)	484	$34,286	$165,600	13.1%	14.1%
Cannonsburg	510	N/A	N/A	58.4%	0.0%
Harrisville	489	$36,050	$118,800	26.0%	24.5%
Republic	519	$37,083	$74,400	10.8%	18.3%
Muir	490	$46,771	$143,100	3.7%	14.1%

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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Whittemore, Michigan?

Whittemore, Michigan has a population of 492 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Whittemore, MI?

The median household income in Whittemore is $33,214, which is 59% lower than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in Whittemore, MI?

The poverty rate in Whittemore is 22.8%. This means approximately 112 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Whittemore, Michigan?

Whittemore's population is 91.7% White, 0.0% Black, 1.6% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.

What is the median home value in Whittemore, MI?

The median home value in Whittemore is $80,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 2.4x.

How educated is Whittemore, Michigan?

5.2% of adults (25+) in Whittemore hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 2.1% hold a graduate or professional degree.