Mecosta County, Michigan Population and Demographics

In this article, we'll explore the population statistics for Mecosta County, Michigan, including popular demographics data like median age, number of households, household income, gender, employment and unemployment rates, occupations, religion, and more.

We are using the latest American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year survey data from the US Census Bureau, which is accurate up to 2021.

Table of Contents

Population

There is a lot of data that lets us see how many people live in Mecosta County, Michigan. The most basic data is the total population, which is the total number of people living in Mecosta County, Michigan. The estimated population of Mecosta County, Michigan is 40,051 people, with a median age of 37.8.

We can look at the total population in Mecosta County over the last 5 years to see how much it has changed.

Year Population Change 5-Year Change
2021
40,051
 -7.89% -7.25%
2020
43,481
+0.53%
-
2019
43,251
 -0.03% -
2018
43,264
+0.19%
-
2017
43,181
 - -

Population of Mecosta County, Michigan by Race and Ethnicity

We can also look at how the population has changed over the last 5 years by each of the race/ethnicity types as defined by the US Census Bureau.

Race 2021 2017 Change
White
90.5%
91.5%
 -1.09%
Black/African American
2.8%
2.5%
 +12.00%
Native
0.6%
0.4%
 +50.00%
Hispanic
2.6%
2.1%
 +23.81%
Asian
1%
0.7%
 +42.86%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0%
0%
 0.00%
Two Or More Races
2.5%
2.5%
 0.00%
Other
0.1%
0.2%
 -50.00%

This data can be very important for a number of reasons, including social and economic research, planning and development, and marketing to a multi-cultural population.

Note that the Native group includes both Native American and Alaskan Native people.

Population of Mecosta County, Michigan by Age and Gender

The age and gender of a population is another interesting demographic statistic because it lets us track trends in the population over time. For example, we can see how the population has changed over the last 5 years by median age as a total, and also by male and female.

Year Total Male Female
2021 37.8 -0.53% 36.2 +0.84% 39.4 -2.48%
2020 38 +2.98% 35.9 +4.06% 40.4 +3.06%
2019 36.9 +1.1% 34.5 +1.47% 39.2 +1.29%
2018 36.5 +0.27% 34 +0.89% 38.7 +0.26%
2017 36.4 - 33.7 - 38.6 -

The median age of Mecosta County, Michigan gives you an idea of the age distribution, with half of the population being older than the median age and half being younger.

This can then be used to infer and compare against birth rates, parent ages, and more metrics to understand the population. For example, an increasing median age indicates an aging population, which can be a sign of a declining population in terms of birth rates and workforce participation.

Age 2021 2017
(Years) Male Female Male Female
0 to 9 2,385 -14.43% 1,938 +2.72% 2,053 1,985
10 to 19 3,309 -9.48% 3,331 -9.8% 3,000 2,999
20 to 29 4,450 -12.94% 3,722 -16.63% 3,882 3,134
30 to 39 2,004 -3.37% 1,923 +0.37% 1,911 1,925
40 to 49 2,128 -7.56% 2,157 -5.5% 1,967 2,022
50 to 59 2,648 -4.55% 2,897 -15.94% 2,504 2,452
60 to 69 2,466 +8.14% 2,699 +1.75% 2,671 2,739
70+ 2,412 -6.92% 2,712 -4.81% 2,237 2,570

Median Household Income

The latest median household income of Mecosta County, Michigan is $48,440.00.

In simple terms, the median income is the middle income of a group of people. Half of the people in the group make more than the median income, and half make less. The median income is a good indicator of the overall income of a group of people, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more.

Median Income by Age

We can also look at the median income by age to see how the median income varies by age, and how it compares to the overall median income for Mecosta County.

  • Under 25
    $26,000.00
  • 25 to 44
    $54,772.00
  • 45 to 64
    $63,071.00
  • 65 and over
    $41,211.00

Average Household Income

Whenever we ask what is the average household income in Mecosta County, we are actually talking about the mean household income.

This is calculated by adding up all the incomes of all the households in Mecosta County, and then dividing that number by the total number of households. This is a good way to get a general idea of the average income of a group of people, but it can be skewed by a very high or very low incomes.

The average household income of Mecosta County, Michigan is currently $62,445.00.

In terms of accurately summarizing income at a geographic level, the median income is a better metric than the average income because it isn't affected by a small number of very high or very low incomes.

If you had an area where the average income was greater than the median, it can mean that there is significant income inequality, with income being concentrated in a small number of wealthy households.

2.08% of households in Mecosta County are classed as high income households (making $200,000+ per year).

Household Income Tiers

The US Census Bureau divides households into income tiers based on the median income for the area. This is a good way to compare the income of Mecosta County against other areas.

  • Less than $24,999
    24.66%
  • $25,000 to $49,999
    26.70%
  • $50,000 to $74,999
    17.70%
  • $75,000 to $99,999
    13.73%
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    12.21%
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    2.92%
  • $200,000 or more
    2.08%

Per Capita Income

The per capita income in Mecosta County is $25,050.00.

Per capita income is the average income of a person in a given area. It is calculated by dividing the total income of Mecosta County by the total population of Mecosta County.

This is different from the average or mean income because it includes and accounts for all people in Mecosta County, Michigan, including people like children, the elderly, unemployed people, retired people, and more.

Education Levels

We can also look at the education levels in Mecosta County to see how many people have a high school degree, a bachelor's degree, or a graduate degree.

Educational attainment is a good indicator of the overall education level of a population, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more to see how education levels affect income, unemployment rates, and more.

  • Master's degree or higher
    10.40%
  • Bachelor's degree
    23.23%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    15.20%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    49.26%
  • Less than high school diploma
    1.90%

Employment

Employment rates are all based around the total population in Mecosta County that are over the age of 16.

The total population of Mecosta County over the age of 16 is 33,521.

Of those people, a total of 53.70% are working or actively looking for work. This is called the labor force participation rate.

The participation rate is a useful market measure because it shows the relative amount of labor resources available to the economy.

The employment to total population rate in Mecosta County is 50.80%.

Employment by Age

We can look at the employment rates by age to see how it compares to the overall employment rate.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
16 to 19 years 3,507 43.10% 14.00%
20 to 24 years 4,676 68.20% 8.10%
25 to 29 years 2,340 82.60% 3.50%
30 to 34 years 1,920 82.60% 6.50%
35 to 44 years 3,869 72.10% 4.20%
45 to 54 years 4,336 75.20% 4.70%
55 to 59 years 2,656 65.00% 2.20%
60 to 64 years 2,842 45.50% 2.10%
65 to 74 years 4,533 13.40% 0.20%
75 years and over 2,842 4.20% 11.90%

Employment by Race

Another very interesting employment statistic we can look at is the employment and unemployment rates by race in Mecosta County. The table below shows the rates for each of the ethnicity groups types defined by the US Census Bureau.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
White 30,945 53.40% 5.20%
Black or African American 977 62.00% 14.70%
American Indian and Alaska Native 178 50.60% 2.20%
Asian 359 68.80% 0.00%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0 0.00% 0.00%
Other 152 53.90% 19.50%
Two or more races 910 52.90% 5.50%
Hispanic or Latino 738 56.10% 19.30%
Not Hispanic or Latino 30,555 53.40% 5.00%

Occupations

In this section we can look at the most common occupations in Mecosta County as well as the gender breakdown and earnings of them.

The total population of civilian employees that are 16 years old or older in Mecosta County is 17,019, with median earnings of $30,258.00.

Women in Mecosta County, Michigan earning approximately 66.80% of the men's earnings.

Population Earnings
Total 17,019 $30,258.00
Male 8,658 $35,809.00
Female 8,361 $23,938.00

Occupations by Category

In the table below, we can break down the population and earnings even further by occupation. The list of occupation categories below will show you how many people are employed in each category and the median earnings of each profession.

Occupation Employed Earnings
Management 1,397 $48,105.00
Business and Financial 430 $42,500.00
Computer and Mathematical 221 $53,073.00
Architecture and Engineering 201 $51,750.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 99 $34,375.00
Community and Social Service 361 $43,677.00
Legal 28 $73,333.00
Educational and Library 1,293 $37,610.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 187 $40,125.00
Healthcare Practitioners 1,084 $46,859.00
Healthcare Support 702 $16,053.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 140 $18,333.00
Law Enforcement 120 $66,159.00
Food Preparation and Serving 1,243 $10,605.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 663 $12,467.00
Personal Care and Service 454 $13,915.00
Sales 1,552 $21,016.00
Office and Administrative Support 1,694 $29,500.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 138 $30,854.00
Construction and Extraction 1,054 $41,210.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 594 $45,000.00
Production 1,609 $34,632.00
Transportation and Material Moving 724 $30,904.00

Occupations by Gender

The table below shows the same occupations from the list above, but we have split them by male and female to see how many male and females work in each occupation, the median earnings, and the male to female ratio of earnings.

That last metric is important because it can be used to look at the gender pay gap between men and women.

Occupation Male Female
Population Earnings Population Earnings
Management 730 $55,060.00 667 $31,166.00
Business and Financial 230 $23,333.00 200 $50,917.00
Computer and Mathematical 180 $52,917.00 41 $61,875.00
Architecture and Engineering 197 $52,589.00 4 $0.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 22 $51,538.00 77 $32,188.00
Community and Social Service 124 $25,625.00 237 $44,308.00
Legal 14 $73,542.00 14 $0.00
Educational and Library 373 $70,804.00 920 $27,069.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 84 $41,250.00 103 $24,625.00
Healthcare Practitioners 266 $60,625.00 818 $46,628.00
Healthcare Support 70 $10,217.00 632 $17,281.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 125 $12,375.00 15 $58,125.00
Law Enforcement 115 $66,146.00 5 $0.00
Food Preparation and Serving 363 $10,841.00 880 $10,511.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 355 $18,173.00 308 $11,630.00
Personal Care and Service 80 $13,274.00 374 $14,224.00
Sales 648 $37,813.00 904 $15,598.00
Office and Administrative Support 370 $17,389.00 1,324 $31,414.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 86 $31,429.00 52 $30,250.00
Construction and Extraction 1,005 $43,350.00 49 $6,875.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 590 $45,500.00 4 $0.00
Production 1,197 $38,417.00 412 $27,200.00
Transportation and Material Moving 665 $31,356.00 59 $16,125.00

Households and Family Size

A household defined bu the US Census Bureau is a group of people who occupy a housing unit. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, group of rooms, or single room occupied as separate living quarters.

There are currently 15,800 households in Mecosta County, with an average household size of 2.36 people.

A family is defined as a group of two or more people related by birth, marriage, or adoption who live together in the same household.

There are 9,483 families in Mecosta County with an average family size of 2.9 people.

Households by Marital Status

The four categories of household by marital status are:

  • Married-couple family
  • Male householder with no spouse present
  • Female household with no spouse present
  • Nonfamily household

The table below shows the total number of households and families, with the average sizes of each.

Married Male Female Nonfamily
Total Households 7,177 689 1,617 6,317
Average Household Size 3.01 2.88 3 1.39
Total Families 7,177 689 1,617 0
Average Household Size 2.99 2.51 2.68 0

Poverty

Of the 9,483 families in Mecosta County, 11.50% are considered to be below the poverty threshold.

The table below shows the latest poverty thresholds in Mecosta County:

Household Size Poverty Threshold
1 Person $14,580.00
2 People $19,720.00
3 People $24,860.00
4 People $30,000.00
5 People $35,140.00
6 People $40,280.00
7 People $45,420.00
8 People $50,560.00

Housing

There are 20,888 housing units in Mecosta County, Michigan.

The table below shows the split between occupied and vacant units:

Total Percentage
Occupied 15,800 75.64%
Vacant 5,088 24.36%

16.70% of the total 20,888 housing units in Mecosta County are rental units. This is approximately 3,488 properties.

For owner-occupied housing units, a total of 11,885 are occupied by the owner - or 56.90% of the total.

Rental Rates

The median rent for a property in Mecosta County is $753.00.

In the chart below, we can look at the number of rental properties in Mecosta County that fall into a particular rent range. These can then be used to compare with other areas, or to see how they have changed over time.

  • No rent paid
    427
  • Less than $500
    831
  • $500 to $999
    1,806
  • $1,000 to $1,499
    599
  • $1,500 to $1,999
    197
  • $2,000 to $2,499
    43
  • $2,500 to $2,999
    0
  • $3,000 or more
    12

Property Value

The median value of a property in Mecosta County is $131,400.00.

Just like with rental rates, we can look at the number of properties in Mecosta County that fall into a particular value range.

  • Less than $50,000
    1,389
  • $50,000 to $99,999
    2,844
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    2,550
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    2,208
  • $200,000 to $299,999
    1,916
  • $300,000 to $499,999
    734
  • $500,000 to $999,999
    198
  • $1,000,000 or more
    46

Property Age

We can also look at the age of properties in Mecosta County. The chart below shows the number of properties in Mecosta County that fall into a particular age range.

  • 1939 or earlier
    2,173
  • 1940 to 1949
    751
  • 1950 to 1959
    1,548
  • 1960 to 1969
    1,844
  • 1970 to 1979
    3,621
  • 1980 to 1989
    3,574
  • 1990 to 1999
    3,901
  • 2000 to 2009
    2,408
  • 2010 to 2013
    1,056
  • 2014 or later
    12

Vehicles per Household

The number of vehicles available per household can be a good indicator of the level of affluence in an area. The chart below shows the number of households in Mecosta County that have a particular number of vehicles available.

  • No vehicles available
    1,031
  • 1 vehicle available
    5,194
  • 2 vehicles available
    6,103
  • 3 or more vehicles available
    3,472

Commuting to Work

In this section, we can also look at how people in Mecosta County get to work. The chart below shows the number of people in Mecosta County that commute to work in a particular way.

23.1 minutes is the average travel time to work for people in Mecosta County.

These commute times can be compared to other date like income and educational levels to see how they relate to each other and if there are any trends in the data that might suggest a correlation.

  • Less than 5 minutes
    1,023
  • 5 to 9 minutes
    2,723
  • 10 to 14 minutes
    2,612
  • 15 to 19 minutes
    2,092
  • 20 to 24 minutes
    1,720
  • 25 to 29 minutes
    845
  • 30 to 34 minutes
    1,451
  • 35 to 39 minutes
    205
  • 40 to 44 minutes
    455
  • 45 to 59 minutes
    998
  • 60 to 89 minutes
    1,060
  • 90 or more minutes
    374

Summary

We've covered a LOT of demographic and population data for Mecosta County, Michigan in this article! Hopefully you have found it very useful in your research of the area.

If you use any of the data found on this page, please consider linking back to USPopulation.org as the source and if you have any feedback or data requests, click here to contact us.

Places in Mecosta County, Michigan

We have data for 20 places in Mecosta County, Michigan. Click on a place below to see more information about the demographics of that place.