1st Advantage MortgageAllegan County households have a median income of $83,283 and median rent of $1,100 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Michigan before sharing details.
On this page
- Who lives in Allegan County
- Work, industries and travel time in Allegan County
- Paychecks and income spread in Allegan County
- Renting and owning in Allegan County
- Allegan County towns compared
- Allegan County and the counties next door
- What a median Allegan County budget can carry
- More Allegan County figures
- Borrowing situations common in Allegan County
- Before you sign
- Michigan rules that apply in Allegan County
- More guides for Allegan County
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Allegan County
Allegan County is home to about 121,456 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 18th most populous of 83 county-level areas in Michigan. Land area is 825 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 147 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Allegan County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 11 places in the county (10 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Allegan, with about 5,172 residents, or 4% of the county.
Work, industries and travel time in Allegan County
Manufacturing employs 25% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 18%. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 25% locally and 18% for Michigan. The survey's unemployment rate for Allegan County averages 3.0% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.7%). 10% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 9% work from home. 2.5% of households have no vehicle.
| Sector | Allegan County | Compared with Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 25.0% | +6.7 pts |
| Education and health care | 17.6% | -5.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.0% | +1.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.2% | -2.1 pts |
| Construction | 8.0% | +2.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.0% | -1.4 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Paychecks and income spread in Allegan County
Half of Allegan County households take in less than $83,283 a year and half take in more, 14% above the Michigan median of $72,875.
| Yearly household income | Allegan County | Gap to Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 17.2% | -5.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.3% | +1.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 30.7% | +4.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.9% | -0.7 pts |
Some 17% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 40% have six-figure incomes. 8.4% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.2%). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Renting and owning in Allegan County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,100 in Allegan County versus $1,129 statewide. 46% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 21% spend half or more. Home values center on $267,100, or 3.2 years of median income. 87% of Allegan County households own their home and 13% rent. The median year built is 1982.
| Allegan County | Michigan | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,100/mo | $1,129/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $267,100 | $231,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 87% | 73% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 46% | 50% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 23% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
Allegan County towns compared
Here are the 11 most populous of the county's 11 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 25% of Allegan County residents live in one of the 11. Incomes vary by place: $121,178 at the median in Saugatuck, $52,925 in Allegan. Median rent ranges from $369 in Martin to $1,160 in Wayland. No Allegan County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 11.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allegan | city | 5,172 | $52,925 | $1,115 | 23 mi |
| Wayland | city | 4,457 | $74,464 | $1,160 | 36 mi |
| Otsego | city | 4,074 | $74,156 | $1,119 | 29 mi |
| South Haven | city | 3,998 | $68,239 | $834 | 1 mi |
| Plainwell | city | 3,763 | $66,525 | $900 | 32 mi |
| Dorr | CDP | 3,702 | $97,519 | n/a | 35 mi |
| Fennville | city | 1,623 | $59,167 | $650 | 14 mi |
| Douglas | city | 1,427 | $81,627 | $781 | 15 mi |
| Hopkins | village | 773 | $75,417 | n/a | 29 mi |
| Saugatuck | city | 766 | $121,178 | $616 | 17 mi |
| Martin | village | 579 | $60,357 | $369 | 33 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Allegan County and the counties next door
Van Buren County is closest, 10 miles from center to center; the sixth, Berrien County, is 50 miles off. 1 of the six report a higher median household income than Allegan County; Ottawa County is highest at $90,502 and Berrien County lowest at $65,425.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allegan County | - | $83,283 | $1,100/mo | 87% |
| Van Buren County, MI | 10 mi | $68,114 | $870/mo | 81% |
| Cass County, MI | 37 mi | $70,443 | $916/mo | 82% |
| Kalamazoo County, MI | 39 mi | $72,532 | $1,093/mo | 65% |
| Ottawa County, MI | 44 mi | $90,502 | $1,211/mo | 79% |
| Barry County, MI | 50 mi | $77,500 | $972/mo | 87% |
| Berrien County, MI | 50 mi | $65,425 | $942/mo | 73% |
What a median Allegan County budget can carry
Here is the Allegan County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Monthly gross at the median, Allegan County: $6,940
- Rent at the median, $1,100, takes 16% of that
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,398 left for all other debt payments
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,884 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Two-income households and single earners in Allegan County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
More Allegan County figures
College graduates make up 27% of the adult population. About 5% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Allegan County | Michigan | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.0 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 27.1% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.6% | 7.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.8% | 4.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.5% | 7.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.5% | 13.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.4% | 13.2% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.0% | 5.7% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 27.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 39.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 23.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.5% |
| 60+ min | 4.6% |
Borrowing situations common in Allegan County
Based on the Allegan County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Renters under pressure. When 46% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
Before you sign
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Allegan County.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Michigan rules that apply in Allegan County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Allegan County borrowers answers to the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. More on Michigan: Michigan personal loans.
More guides for Allegan County
The Michigan guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Allegan County?
$83,283 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $72,875 for Michigan. It ranks 7th of 83 in the state.
Is Allegan County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,100 against $1,129 statewide, and 46% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I own my home in Allegan County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 87% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Which towns does the Allegan County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 11 Census places: Allegan, Wayland, Otsego, South Haven, Plainwell.
Will a Allegan County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Michigan as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.