Population 45,300 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Branch County
Household size in Branch County
| Period | Branch County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.68 | 2.58 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.63 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.53 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.66 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.02 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Households in Branch County average 2.66 people, about the same as the country as a whole (2.65). The typical household here is bigger than in Michigan as a whole, where it has 2.51 people. Only four of Michigan's 83 counties have larger households.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Branch County
| Period | Branch County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.3 | 38.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.2 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.9 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.3 | 41.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.0 | +2.4 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Branch County are younger than 41.3 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 39.3, as it has nationally. Residents skew youngest in the southwest and oldest in the north.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Branch County
| Period | Branch County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.2% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.3% | 11.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.6% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.0% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.2 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in ten households in Branch County (11.0%), close to the national share of 11.6%. Branch County has a higher share of single-parent households than at least four in five Michigan counties.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Branch County
Renters in Branch County
| Period | Branch County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.4% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 22.3% | 28.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 25.8% | 28.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 22.3% | 26.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.9 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 22.3% of households in Branch County rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 44.6% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the center; owners are most common in the south. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 2.9 points, as it has nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Branch County
| Period | Branch County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.2% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 20.6% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 16.6% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.2% | 10.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.1 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Branch County: 16.2% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy has fallen 3.1 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Branch County
| Period | Branch County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1963 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1968 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1967 | 1971 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1965 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +1 | +3 | +6 |
Branch County is a place of older homes: half were built before 1965, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. Newer construction is concentrated in the southeast, while the center has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Branch County
| Period | Branch County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $637 | $833 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $699 | $886 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $797 | $978 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $971 | $1,228 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$334 | +$395 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Branch County costs $971 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $334 a month since 2006–10, up 52%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 26.3% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the northeast; the most affordable are in the southeast.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Branch County
Bachelor's degrees in Branch County
| Period | Branch County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.2% | 26.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.1% | 27.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 14.4% | 29.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.8% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +2.7 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Branch County: 16.8% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 2.7 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Branch County has a lower share of college graduates than at least four in five Michigan counties.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Branch County
| Period | Branch County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 86.5% | 88.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 86.5% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 88.7% | 90.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 88.0% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.4 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Branch County is close to the national rate: 88.0% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in Michigan as a whole (91.8%). Of Michigan's 83 counties, only four have a lower share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Branch County
| Period | Branch County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.0% | 11.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.2% | 11.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.7% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.7% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −5.4 pts | −5.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Branch County is close to the national rate: 5.7% of the labor force, against 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 5.4 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Branch County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Branch County | 2.66 | 41.3 | 11.0% | 22.3% | 16.2% | 1965 | $971 | 16.8% | 88.0% | 5.7% |
| Hillsdale County | 2.48 | 43.9 | 10.1% | 18.0% | 16.0% | 1967 | $884 | 21.3% | 90.9% | 4.5% |
| St. Joseph County | 2.59 | 40.0 | 9.5% | 23.9% | 12.0% | 1969 | $867 | 16.6% | 86.5% | 5.8% |
| Lenawee County | 2.45 | 42.9 | 11.1% | 20.4% | 10.3% | 1966 | $1,014 | 22.8% | 91.3% | 4.6% |
| Cass County | 2.41 | 45.2 | 9.8% | 18.4% | 14.6% | 1971 | $959 | 21.1% | 89.4% | 5.2% |
| Berrien County | 2.41 | 43.3 | 12.2% | 27.2% | 13.1% | 1967 | $1,052 | 30.8% | 92.3% | 6.2% |
| Monroe County | 2.51 | 43.6 | 10.3% | 18.3% | 6.7% | 1975 | $1,076 | 23.5% | 91.8% | 5.1% |
| Cook County | 2.58 | 39.4 | 12.3% | 42.3% | 8.4% | 1961 | $1,567 | 41.7% | 88.1% | 7.4% |
| DuPage County | 2.69 | 41.3 | 8.0% | 26.9% | 5.6% | 1978 | $1,826 | 52.0% | 92.9% | 4.9% |
| Kane County | 2.88 | 39.6 | 11.3% | 24.0% | 4.4% | 1981 | $1,711 | 37.9% | 87.3% | 4.7% |
| DeKalb County | 2.52 | 35.4 | 12.9% | 38.6% | 6.0% | 1978 | $1,183 | 33.1% | 91.6% | 7.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Delta County, MI · Henry County, VA · Dare County, NC · Perry County, OH · Pasquotank County, NC · Henry County, IN · Oneida County, WI · DeKalb County, IN · Knox County, IN · Delaware County, OK
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Branch County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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