Mecosta County, MI

County

Add Comparison

2021 Population

40,051

7.89% 1-year decline

US Senator

Debbie Stabenow

Democratic Party

US Senator

Gary Peters

Democratic Party

2021 Median Age

37.8

0.526% 1-year decrease

2021 Poverty Rate

19.1%

2.01% 1-year decrease

2021 Median Household Income

$48,440

5.77% 1-year growth

2021 Median Property Value

$131,400

7.27% 1-year growth

2021 Employed Population

17,019

8.44% 1-year decline

About

In 2021, Mecosta County, MI had a population of 40.1k people with a median age of 37.8 and a median household income of $48,440. Between 2020 and 2021 the population of Mecosta County, MI declined from 43,481 to 40,051, a −7.89% decrease and its median household income grew from $45,797 to $48,440, a 5.77% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Mecosta County, MI are White (Non-Hispanic) (90.5%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (2.82%), Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (2.47%), White (Hispanic) (1.23%), and Asian (Non-Hispanic) (0.984%).

None of the households in Mecosta County, MI reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

99.2% of the residents in Mecosta County, MI are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Mecosta County, MI are Ferris State University (3,575 degrees awarded in 2021).

In 2021, the median property value in Mecosta County, MI was $131,400, and the homeownership rate was 75.2%.

Most people in Mecosta County, MI drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 23.1 minutes. The average car ownership in Mecosta County, MI was 2 cars per household.

Mecosta County, MI borders Clare County, MI, Isabella County, MI, Lake County, MI, Montcalm County, MI, Newaygo County, MI, and Osceola County, MI.

United States Michigan Big Rapids, MI

Population & Diversity

Mecosta County, MI is home to a population of 40.1k people, from which 99.2% are citizens. As of 2021, 1.63% of Mecosta County, MI residents were born outside of the country (652 people).

In 2021, there were 32 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (36.2k people) in Mecosta County, MI than any other race or ethnicity. There were 1.13k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 991 Two+ (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

99.2%

2021 Citizenship

99.3%

2020 Citizenship

As of 2021, 99.2% of Mecosta County, MI residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.4%. In 2020, the percentage of US citizens in Mecosta County, MI was 99.3%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Mecosta County, MI compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Mecosta County, MI

White (Non-Hispanic)
36.2k ± 105
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
1.13k ± 163
Two+ (Non-Hispanic)
991 ± 220

2.55%

Hispanic Population

1.02k people

2.55% of the people in Mecosta County, MI are hispanic (1.02k people).

The following chart shows the 7 races represented in Mecosta County, MI as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for Michigan.

Most Common Origin

Mexico
79,412 ± 6,891 people
India
76,245 ± 6,753 people
Iraq
59,562 ± 5,974 people

In 2021, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Michigan was Mexico, the natal country of 79,412 Michigan residents, followed by India with 76,245 and Iraq with 59,562.

Foreign-Born Population

1.63%

2021 Foreign-Born Population

652 people

1.47%

2020 Foreign-Born Population

640 people

As of 2021, 1.63% of Mecosta County, MI residents (652 people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.6%. In 2020, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Mecosta County, MI was 1.47%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Mecosta County, MI compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
897 ± 136
Gulf War (2001-)
516 ± 184
Gulf War (1990s)
297 ± 83

Mecosta County, MI has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.74 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

The economy of Mecosta County, MI employs 17k people. The largest industries in Mecosta County, MI are Health Care & Social Assistance (2,752 people), Educational Services (2,265 people), and Manufacturing (2,213 people), and the highest paying industries are Utilities ($60,662), Wholesale Trade ($54,167), and Public Administration ($49,570).

Males in Michigan have an average income that is 1.36 times higher than the average income of females, which is $53,616. The income inequality in Michigan (measured using the Gini index) is 0.468, which is lower than than the national average.

Employment

Occupations

17k

2021 Value

± 766

−8.44%

1 Year decline

± 6.84%

From 2020 to 2021, employment in Mecosta County, MI declined at a rate of −8.44%, from 18.6k employees to 17k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Mecosta County, MI, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (1,694 people), Production Occupations (1,609 people), and Sales & Related Occupations (1,552 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Mecosta County, MI.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for false.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Michigan (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

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Industries

Employment by Industries

17k

2021 Value

± 766

−8.44%

1 Year decline

± 6.84%

From 2020 to 2021, employment in Mecosta County, MI declined at a rate of −8.44%, from 18.6k employees to 17k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Mecosta County, MI, are Health Care & Social Assistance (2,752 people), Educational Services (2,265 people), and Manufacturing (2,213 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Mecosta County, MI, though some of these residents may live in Mecosta County, MI and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$35,809

Median earning men ± $1,857

$23,938

Median earning women ± $1,943

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2021 are Public Administration ($65,408), Wholesale Trade ($55,625), and Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($53,488).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2021 are Public Administration ($37,458), Construction ($35,109), and Educational Services, & Health Care & Social Assistance ($31,503).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for false.

Y-Axis

2.75%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 155M people employed in Michigan. This represents a 2.75% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in Michigan.

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Establishments by Size

The industries with the most establishments

247
Educational Services, Health Care & Social Assistance
197
Finance & Insurance, and Real Estate, Rental & Leasing
175
Retail Trade

The visualization shows the distribution of establishments by industry and by size according to the number of employees.

Payroll by Industry Sector

The industries with the highest total annual payroll

$387k
Manufacturing
$97.6k
Educational Services, Health Care & Social Assistance
$62.2k
Retail Trade

The chart shows the total annual payroll and the average annual payroll by industry.

Domestic Trade

Domestic Production & Consumption

Domestic production and consumption consists of products and services shipped from Michigan to other states, or from other states to Michigan.

Top Domestic Production in Dollars

In 2020, the top outbound Michigan product (by dollars) was Motorized vehicles with $217B, followed by Machinery ($58.2B) and Mixed freight ($51.2B).

The following chart shows the share of these products in relation to all outbound Michigan products.

Domestic Trade Growth

Showing data for Michigan.

$667B

2020 Value in Michigan

$1.16T

Projected 2050 Value in Michigan

74% growth

In 2020, total outbound Michigan trade was $667B. This is expected to increase 74% to $1.16T by 2050.

The following chart shows how the domestic outbound Michigan trade is projected to change in comparison to its neighboring states.

Interstate Trade

Interstate trade consists of products and services shipped from Michigan to other states, or from other states to Michigan.

Most Common Trade Partners

Ohio
$37.2B
Indiana
$33.2B
Texas
$31.6B

In 2020, the top outbound Michigan domestic partner for goods and services (by dollars) was Ohio with $37.2B, followed by Indiana with $33.2B and Texas and $31.6B.

The following map shows the amount of trade that Michigan shares with each state (excluding itself).

Civics

In the 2020 presidential election, the popular vote in Mecosta County, MI went to Donald J. Trump with 63% of the vote. The runner-up was Joseph R Biden Jr. (35%), followed by Jo Jorgensen (1.44%).

Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters are the senators currently representing the state of Michigan. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

Michigan is currently represented by 13 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Elections

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

2020 Election Results

Donald J. Trump (63%)
Republican Party
Joseph R Biden Jr. (35%)
Democratic Party
Jo Jorgensen (1.44%)
Libertarian Party

In the 2020 presidential election, the popular vote in Mecosta County, MI went to Donald J. Trump with 63% of the vote. The runner-up was Joseph R Biden Jr. (35%), followed by Jo Jorgensen (1.44%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Mecosta County, MI for each registered party from 1976 to 2020.

Senator Elections

US Senators from Michigan

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for Michigan.

Debbie Stabenow

Senator from Michigan

Assumed office on January 3, 2001

Gary Peters

Senator from Michigan

Assumed office on January 3, 2015

Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters are the senators currently representing Michigan.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in Michigan over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

US Representative Elections

US Representatives from Michigan

Michigan is currently represented by 13 members in the U.S. house.

Members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms, and the following chart shows the how the members for Michigan have changed over time starting in 2008.

Education

In 2021, universities in Mecosta County, MI awarded 3,575 degrees. The student population of Mecosta County, MI in 2021 is skewed towards women, with 4,743 male students and 5,618 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Mecosta County, MI are White (2,868 and 81.6%), followed by Black or African American (208 and 5.92%), Hispanic or Latino (176 and 5.01%), and Two or More Races (111 and 3.16%).

The largest universities in Mecosta County, MI by number of degrees awarded are Ferris State University (3,575 and 100%).

The most popular majors in Mecosta County, MI are Criminal Justice - Police Science (320 and 8.95%), General Business Administration & Management (294 and 8.22%), and Registered Nursing (139 and 3.89%).

The median tuition cost in Mecosta County, MI for a public four year colleges is $13,188 for in-state students and $13,188 for out-of-state students.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University

Measure

In 2021 in Mecosta County, MI, the percentage of applicants admitted was 84.8%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 15.8%. The number of students enrolled in 2021 was 10,361 (45.8% men and 54.2% women).

The line chart shows the evolution of the percentage of applicants admitted, admitted who enrolled or the number of students enrolled according to the option selected in the upper button.

Enrollments by Gender and Races

Universities

In 2021 there were 10,361 students enrolled in Mecosta County, MI, 45.8% men and 54.2% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 7,713 records, of which 53.1% were women and 46.9% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

General Business Administration & Management
211 degrees awarded
Registered Nursing
139 degrees awarded
Criminal Justice - Police Science
253 degrees awarded

In 2021, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Mecosta County, MI was General Business Administration & Management with 211 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in Mecosta County, MI according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Ferris State University

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

3,575 degrees awarded

In 2021, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Ferris State University with 3,575 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

University

In 2021, 1,685 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Mecosta County, MI, which is 0.892 times less than the 1,890 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2021 the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 2,868 degrees mean that there were 13.8 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Black or African American, with 208 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Universities

Public, 4-year or above ($13,188) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2021.

Public, 4-year or above ($816) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Working Population

Educational Pyramid

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Michigan.

Measure

In 2021, 0.763% of men over 25 years of age had not completed any academic degree (no schooling), while 0.76% of women were in the same situation.

This visualization shows the gender distribution of the population according to the academic level reached.

Educational Attainment

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Michigan.

Race

The most common educational levels obtained by the working population in 2021 were High School or Equivalent (2.3M), Some college (1.94M), and Bachelors Degree (1.38M).

This visualization illustrates the percentage distribution of the population according to the highest educational level reached. You can filter the data by race by using the selector above.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Mecosta County, MI was $131,400 in 2021, which is 0.537 times smaller than the national average of $244,900. Between 2020 and 2021 the median property value increased from $122,500 to $131,400, a 7.27% increase. The homeownership rate in Mecosta County, MI is 75.2%, which is approximately the same as the national average of 64.6%.

People in Mecosta County, MI have an average commute time of 23.1 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Mecosta County, MI is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Median household income in Mecosta County, MI is $48,440. In 2021, the tract with the highest Median Household Income in Mecosta County, MI was Census Tract 9603 with a value of $75,096, followed by Census Tract 9604 and Census Tract 9609, with respective values of $54,319 and $52,750.

In 2022, 15.3% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Mecosta County, MI. From 2014 to 2022, the indicator declined 5.31%.

Housing

Property

$131,400

Median Property Value 2021

±$5,588

$11,885

Median Property Taxes

±$557

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Mecosta County, MI the largest share of households pay taxes in the $800 - $1,499 range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Mecosta County, MI compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

75.2%

Homeownership

2021

62.3%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2021

In 2021, 75.2% of the housing units in Mecosta County, MI were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 74.5%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Mecosta County, MI compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Race/Ethnicity

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

Census Tract 9603
Census Tract 9604
Census Tract 9609

In 2021, the tract with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Mecosta County, MI was Census Tract 9603 with a value of $75,096, followed by Census Tract 9604 and Census Tract 9609, with respective values of $54,319 and $52,750.

The following map shows all of the tracts in Mecosta County, MI colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$48,440

Median Household Income

± $2,258

15.8k

Number of Households

± 670

In 2021, the median household income of the 15.8k households in Mecosta County, MI grew to $48,440 from the previous year's value of $45,797.

The following chart displays the households in Mecosta County, MI distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Mecosta County, MI is from Michigan.

0.468

2021 Wage GINI in Michigan

0.471

2020 Wage GINI in Michigan

In 2021, the income inequality in Michigan was 0.468 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.592% decline from 2020 to 2021, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Michigan was lower than than the national average of 0.478. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Michigan in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Michigan across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2021

Drove Alone (78.1%)
Carpooled (9.13%)
Worked At Home (5.51%)

In 2021, 78.1% of workers in Mecosta County, MI drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (9.13%) and those who worked at home (5.51%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

23.1 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Mecosta County, MI have a shorter commute time (23.1 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.8 minutes). Additionally, 2.4% of the workforce in Mecosta County, MI have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Mecosta County, MI compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Mecosta County, MI distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Mecosta County, MI have 2 cars.

Poverty

Severe Housing Problems

In 2022, 15.3% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Mecosta County, MI. From 2014 to 2022, the indicator declined 5.31%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the population living with severe housing problems.

Poverty & Diversity

19.1% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Mecosta County, MI (7.12k out of 37.3k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.6%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Males 18 - 24, followed by Females 18 - 24 and then Females 25 - 34.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Mecosta County, MI is White, followed by Black and Two Or More.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Children in Poverty

In 2022, 19% of the children was living in poverty in Mecosta County, MI. From 2014 to 2022, the indicator declined 9.2%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the children living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Security

Crimes & Accidents

Indicator

In 2022, the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population was 587 in Mecosta County, MI. From 2014 to 2022, the indicator grew 62.5 per 100,000 population.

The graph shows the trend in the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population.

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Health

93.1% of the population of Mecosta County, MI has health coverage, with 42% on employee plans, 20.3% on Medicaid, 14.2% on Medicare, 15.4% on non-group plans, and 1.18% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Mecosta County, MI see 1889 patients per year on average, which represents a 8.44% increase from the previous year (1742 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 2195 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 697 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 49.4% were men and 50.6% were women.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

1,889 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Mecosta County, MI

Primary care physicians in Mecosta County, MI see an average of 1,889 patients per year. This represents a 8.44% increase from the previous year (1,742 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Mecosta County, MI in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Health Care Diversity

In 2021, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 21.6% under 18 years, 25.9% between 18 and 34 years, 34.2% between 35 and 64 years, and 18.3% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 49.4% were men and 50.6% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

6.87%

Uninsured

42%

Employer Coverage

20.3%

Medicaid

14.2%

Medicare

15.4%

Non-Group

1.18%

Military or VA

Between 2020 and 2021, the percent of uninsured citizens in Mecosta County, MI declined by 3.51% from 7.12% to 6.87%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Mecosta County, MI changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

Health Indicators

Health Outcomes

Indicator

In 2022, the number of deaths among residents under age 18 per 100,000 population was 49.7 in Mecosta County, MI.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Mecosta County, MI.

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Health Behaviors

Indicator

In 2022, the percentage of the adult population (age 18 and older) that reports a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 (age-adjusted) was 37.6% in Mecosta County, MI.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Mecosta County, MI.

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