Population 36,295 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Chippewa County
Household size in Chippewa County
| Period | Chippewa County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.34 | 2.58 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.50 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.56 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.40 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.06 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Chippewa County is a place of small households, averaging 2.40 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has crept up from 2.34, even as the national average fell. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the center.
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 Chippewa County
| Period | Chippewa County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.7 | 38.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.8 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.1 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 42.6 | 41.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.9 | +2.4 | +2.3 |
Chippewa County skews a little older than the country: its median age is 42.6, against 40.1 nationally. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 39.7, mirroring the country. The youngest areas are in the center, the oldest in the southeast.
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 Chippewa County
| Period | Chippewa County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.9% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.8% | 11.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.1% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.9% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.1 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in ten households in Chippewa County (10.9%), close to the national share of 11.6%. Chippewa County has a higher share of single-parent households than the great majority of 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 Chippewa County
Renters in Chippewa County
| Period | Chippewa County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 28.5% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 29.7% | 28.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 32.6% | 28.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 25.0% | 26.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −3.6 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Chippewa County own their homes; 25.0% rent, below the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 43.5% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the north and least common in the southeast. The renter share is down 3.6 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
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 Chippewa County
| Period | Chippewa County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.6% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 22.0% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 22.2% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 20.9% | 10.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.6 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Chippewa County: 20.9% 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. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 3.6 points, 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 Chippewa County
| Period | Chippewa County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1970 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1970 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1973 | 1971 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1973 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +3 | +6 |
Homes in Chippewa County run older than the national norm, with a median build year of 1973 against 1980. The picture is much the same across Michigan. Newer construction is concentrated in the northwest, while the northeast 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 Chippewa County
| Period | Chippewa County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $540 | $833 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $618 | $886 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $636 | $978 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $782 | $1,228 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$242 | +$395 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Chippewa County costs $782 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $242 a month from 2006–10, a 45% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 26.3% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the southeast; the highest are in the north.
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 Chippewa County
Bachelor's degrees in Chippewa County
| Period | Chippewa County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.4% | 26.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 19.7% | 27.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 21.7% | 29.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 23.4% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.0 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Chippewa County: 23.4% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 3.0 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the northwest and least in the south.
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 Chippewa County
| Period | Chippewa County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 88.4% | 88.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.7% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 89.9% | 90.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.9% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.5 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Chippewa County is above the national rate: 92.9% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. Michigan as a whole looks much the same. The share with a diploma has risen 4.5 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Chippewa County
| Period | Chippewa County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.2% | 11.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 13.7% | 11.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.3% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.1% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −6.1 pts | −5.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little harder to find in Chippewa County than nationally: unemployment was 6.1%, against 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 6.1 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current 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).
Chippewa 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chippewa County | 2.40 | 42.6 | 10.9% | 25.0% | 20.9% | 1973 | $782 | 23.4% | 92.9% | 6.1% |
| Luce County | 2.13 | 45.6 | 10.4% | 17.4% | 31.2% | 1972 | $655 | 17.8% | 93.0% | 8.6% |
| Alger County | 2.20 | 49.8 | 5.7% | 13.7% | 41.9% | 1973 | $625 | 20.9% | 93.8% | 5.9% |
| Marquette County | 2.26 | 40.5 | 6.9% | 30.4% | 13.2% | 1967 | $1,022 | 37.2% | 95.7% | 4.7% |
| Gogebic County | 2.04 | 49.4 | 8.1% | 19.0% | 29.4% | 1953 | $652 | 22.2% | 95.8% | 6.8% |
| Iron County | 1.97 | 54.1 | 7.9% | 11.5% | 38.7% | 1968 | $673 | 25.9% | 95.1% | 2.4% |
| Ashland County | 2.31 | 43.3 | 8.0% | 26.6% | 22.4% | 1969 | $742 | 25.4% | 95.7% | 3.8% |
| Crow Wing County | 2.28 | 46.3 | 8.3% | 23.0% | 23.3% | 1986 | $1,039 | 29.2% | 94.6% | 5.2% |
| Otter Tail County | 2.41 | 45.9 | 6.5% | 20.5% | 24.5% | 1978 | $900 | 27.7% | 94.0% | 4.5% |
| Wilkin County | 2.34 | 42.1 | 9.5% | 20.3% | 10.6% | 1968 | $1,167 | 22.1% | 93.2% | 4.3% |
| Richland County | 2.25 | 39.1 | 7.9% | 31.9% | 8.7% | 1971 | $697 | 25.4% | 94.4% | 1.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Bolivar County, MS · Windham County, VT · Williams County, ND · Beaufort County, NC · White County, TN · Becker County, MN · Accomack County, VA · Currituck County, NC · Copiah County, MS · Bladen County, NC
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 Chippewa 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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