Population 175,961 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Muskegon County
Household size in Muskegon County
| Period | Muskegon County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.57 | 2.58 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.59 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.56 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.56 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.00 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Households in Muskegon County run a little small, averaging 2.56 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Michigan as a whole looks much the same. Compared with other Michigan counties, though, Muskegon County has larger households than most.
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 Muskegon County
| Period | Muskegon County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.2 | 38.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.6 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.3 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.8 | 41.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.6 | +2.4 | +2.3 |
At 40.8, the median age in Muskegon County is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. The median age has climbed from 38.2 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. Residents skew youngest in the center and oldest in the northwest.
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 Muskegon County
| Period | Muskegon County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.5% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 14.4% | 11.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 14.5% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 15.4% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.9 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in seven households in Muskegon County (15.4%), well above the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is up 1.9 points from 2006–10, even as the national share fell. Muskegon County has the highest share of single-parent households of any Michigan county.
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 Muskegon County
Renters in Muskegon County
| Period | Muskegon County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.3% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 25.3% | 28.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 25.3% | 28.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 21.9% | 26.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −2.4 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Muskegon County is largely a place of homeowners: only 21.9% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. More than four in ten owners (44.7%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 2.4 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 Muskegon County
| Period | Muskegon County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.6% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.6% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 11.3% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 10.5% | 10.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.1 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in Muskegon County as nationally: 10.5%, against 9.6%. Compared with other Michigan counties, Muskegon County has a lower vacancy rate than most.
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 Muskegon County
| Period | Muskegon County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1968 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1968 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1968 | 1971 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1969 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +2 | +3 | +6 |
Muskegon County is a place of older homes: half were built before 1969, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The newest homes are mostly in the northeast, the oldest in the center.
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 Muskegon County
| Period | Muskegon County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $686 | $833 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $721 | $886 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $817 | $978 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,093 | $1,228 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$407 | +$395 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Muskegon County costs $1,093 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $407 a month from 2006–10, a 59% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 31.6% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the southwest 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 Muskegon County
Bachelor's degrees in Muskegon County
| Period | Muskegon County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.5% | 26.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.3% | 27.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.6% | 29.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 21.1% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.6 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Muskegon County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 21.1%, against 35.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 4.6 points, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the southwest and least in the east.
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 Muskegon County
| Period | Muskegon County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 87.5% | 88.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 88.1% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.2% | 90.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.1% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.6 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
About nine in ten adults in Muskegon County have finished high school (92.1%), a bit above the national rate of 89.3%. That is in line with the rest of Michigan. The share with a diploma has risen 4.6 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Muskegon County
| Period | Muskegon County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.9% | 11.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 15.2% | 11.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.9% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.2% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −8.7 pts | −5.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment runs high in Muskegon County: 7.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Few Michigan counties have higher unemployment: only seven of 83. Unemployment is down 8.7 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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).
Muskegon 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muskegon County | 2.56 | 40.8 | 15.4% | 21.9% | 10.5% | 1969 | $1,093 | 21.1% | 92.1% | 7.2% |
| Montcalm County | 2.77 | 40.6 | 9.2% | 16.9% | 11.5% | 1977 | $909 | 15.7% | 88.2% | 4.8% |
| Gratiot County | 2.45 | 40.2 | 11.6% | 21.1% | 8.4% | 1966 | $891 | 20.3% | 92.6% | 4.1% |
| 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% |
| Saginaw County | 2.40 | 42.2 | 12.9% | 25.9% | 10.1% | 1969 | $1,004 | 24.3% | 91.7% | 6.7% |
| Sanilac County | 2.32 | 44.9 | 9.7% | 17.4% | 14.1% | 1971 | $803 | 16.2% | 90.1% | 5.9% |
| Richland County | 2.34 | 46.5 | 7.4% | 26.1% | 14.9% | 1969 | $911 | 21.1% | 92.7% | 3.4% |
| Crawford County | 2.29 | 47.5 | 8.3% | 22.8% | 19.4% | 1977 | $809 | 18.7% | 92.7% | 3.0% |
| Allamakee County | 2.39 | 42.7 | 6.7% | 20.4% | 15.2% | 1968 | $744 | 22.0% | 92.0% | 2.6% |
| Winneshiek County | 2.25 | 44.8 | 4.2% | 25.8% | 11.2% | 1962 | $890 | 31.7% | 96.1% | 2.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Bayamon Municipio, PR · Medina County, OH · Peoria County, IL · Kent County, DE · Shasta County, CA · Kanawha County, WV · Johnson County, TX · Imperial County, CA · Ulster County, NY · Vanderburgh 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 Muskegon 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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