Population 41,385 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Gratiot County
Household size in Gratiot County
| Period | Gratiot County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.68 | 2.58 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.48 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.34 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.45 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.23 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
The average household in Gratiot County has 2.45 people, under the U.S. average of 2.65. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.68, a much bigger shift than nationally. Households are largest in the west and smallest 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 Gratiot County
| Period | Gratiot County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.2 | 38.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 38.6 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.6 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.2 | 41.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.0 | +2.4 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Gratiot County are younger than 40.2 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 37.2, in line with the national trend. Residents skew youngest in the northwest and oldest in the northeast.
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 Gratiot County
| Period | Gratiot County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.8% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 18.1% | 11.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.8% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.6% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are just as common in Gratiot County as they are nationally: 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged down 1.2 points, in line with the national trend. Only seven of Michigan's 83 counties have a higher share of single-parent households.
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 Gratiot County
Renters in Gratiot County
| Period | Gratiot County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.7% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 25.6% | 28.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 25.7% | 28.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 21.1% | 26.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 21.1% of households in Gratiot County rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 45.1% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged down 0.6 points, 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 Gratiot County
| Period | Gratiot County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.0% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.4% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.8% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.4% | 10.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.6 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Gratiot County is close to the national rate: 8.4% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. The rate is lower than in Michigan as a whole (10.2%). Vacancy is down 1.6 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Gratiot County
| Period | Gratiot County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1964 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1963 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1965 | 1971 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1966 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +2 | +3 | +6 |
The housing in Gratiot County is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1966, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. Newer construction is concentrated in the northwest, while the center has the oldest housing. Gratiot County has older homes than at least four in five Michigan counties.
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 Gratiot County
| Period | Gratiot County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $633 | $833 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $651 | $886 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $739 | $978 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $891 | $1,228 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$258 | +$395 | +$606 |
Rent in Gratiot County runs $891 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $258 a month since 2006–10, up 41%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 29.8% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the southeast and lowest in the northeast.
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 Gratiot County
Bachelor's degrees in Gratiot County
| Period | Gratiot County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.4% | 26.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.6% | 27.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 16.2% | 29.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 20.3% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.9 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Gratiot County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 20.3%, against 35.6% nationally. The share with a degree is up 5.9 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Gratiot County
| Period | Gratiot County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 86.4% | 88.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.0% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.5% | 90.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.6% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +6.2 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Gratiot County is above the national rate: 92.6% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. That is in line with the rest of Michigan. The share with a diploma is up 6.2 points from 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 Gratiot County
| Period | Gratiot County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.8% | 11.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.9% | 11.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.9% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.1% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −6.6 pts | −5.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little easier to find in Gratiot County than nationally: unemployment was 4.1%, against 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 6.6 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. 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).
Gratiot 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gratiot County | 2.45 | 40.2 | 11.6% | 21.1% | 8.4% | 1966 | $891 | 20.3% | 92.6% | 4.1% |
| Montcalm County | 2.77 | 40.6 | 9.2% | 16.9% | 11.5% | 1977 | $909 | 15.7% | 88.2% | 4.8% |
| Saginaw County | 2.40 | 42.2 | 12.9% | 25.9% | 10.1% | 1969 | $1,004 | 24.3% | 91.7% | 6.7% |
| Newaygo County | 2.58 | 42.8 | 10.1% | 13.5% | 18.4% | 1978 | $929 | 17.7% | 89.3% | 4.4% |
| Tuscola County | 2.46 | 45.7 | 8.3% | 13.6% | 10.6% | 1968 | $920 | 16.6% | 92.7% | 6.0% |
| Muskegon County | 2.56 | 40.8 | 15.4% | 21.9% | 10.5% | 1969 | $1,093 | 21.1% | 92.1% | 7.2% |
| Sanilac County | 2.32 | 44.9 | 9.7% | 17.4% | 14.1% | 1971 | $803 | 16.2% | 90.1% | 5.9% |
| Ozaukee County | 2.43 | 44.5 | 7.1% | 27.1% | 5.2% | 1978 | $1,567 | 51.4% | 97.8% | 2.7% |
| Washington County | 2.44 | 44.6 | 7.8% | 21.9% | 4.7% | 1984 | $1,278 | 35.4% | 95.8% | 2.6% |
| Dodge County | 2.39 | 43.6 | 8.4% | 28.7% | 7.5% | 1969 | $1,009 | 20.3% | 92.8% | 3.4% |
| Columbia County | 2.36 | 43.6 | 9.5% | 23.3% | 9.8% | 1975 | $1,019 | 25.9% | 94.0% | 3.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Richmond County, NC · Greene County, PA · Greenup County, KY · Guayama Municipio, PR · Guernsey County, OH · Habersham County, GA · Halifax County, NC · Halifax County, VA · Hancock County, MS · Harrison County, IN
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 Gratiot 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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