1st Advantage Mortgage26% of Branch County households earn $100,000 or more; the median is $63,724 (ACS 2020-24). Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- A quick profile of Branch County
- How Branch County residents earn a living
- How Branch County ranks in Michigan
- Where Branch County households live
- The $63,724 median and what sits around it
- Branch County towns compared
- Branch County next to its neighbors
- People and households in Branch County
- A Branch County household budget, worked through
- Borrowing situations common in Branch County
- Steps before you apply in Branch County
- Who licenses lenders for Branch County residents
- Keep exploring
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Branch County
With an estimated 45,300 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Branch County ranks 38th of 83 in Michigan for population. It covers 506 square miles of land, or about 89 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Branch County is not part of any metropolitan area. Coldwater is the biggest of its 5 Census places, at roughly 13,671 people (30% of the county total).
How Branch County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Branch County residents, by industry, is manufacturing at 26% of workers, followed by education and health care (19%). Compared with Michigan, the county leans toward manufacturing (26% against 18%). 5.7% of Branch County's labor force reported being unemployed, averaged across 2020 to 2024. 12% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 6% work from home. Households without a car make up 6.7% of the total (7.0% statewide).
| Where residents work | Branch County | Difference from Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 26.5% | +8.2 pts |
| Education and health care | 18.6% | -4.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.8% | +2.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.2% | -0.3 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.6% | +1.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 5.8% | -4.5 pts |
Self-employed in Branch County? Two years of tax returns usually stand in for pay stubs.
How Branch County ranks in Michigan
Out of every Michigan county, Branch County is most unusual on these measures.
- Few Michigan counties match Branch County on the uninsured rate: 9.8% here, 4.9% for the state, ranking 5th highest of 83. Hospital payment plans are usually interest-free; compare before a loan.
- Branch County ranks 7th lowest of 83 Michigan counties for the share of workers who work from home: 6.2%, against 13.5% statewide. Few remote jobs means most pay stubs come from local employers.
- The share of mobile homes: 12.4% in Branch County. Only 11 of 83 Michigan counties are higher. Manufactured homes often do not qualify for home equity loans, so unsecured loans fill the gap.
Where Branch County households live
Branch County rent at the median: $959 a month, utilities in ($1,129 in Michigan). By the Census definition, 43% of Branch County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $162,500, about 2.6 times the median household income. In Branch County, 78% of occupied homes are owned by the people living in them. Nationally, Branch County's $959 rent is 9% above the middle county.
| Measure | Branch County | Michigan | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent-burdened renters | 43% | 50% | -7.2 pts |
| Owners | 78% | 73% | +4.5 pts |
| Median home value | $162,500 | $231,600 | 30% lower |
| Median gross rent | $959/mo | $1,129/mo | 15% lower |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 23% | -1.2 pts |
In an owner-heavy county like Branch County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
The $63,724 median and what sits around it
At $63,724, the typical Branch County household income is 3% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 42nd among Michigan's 83 county-level areas.
| Households earning | Branch County | +/- vs Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.3% | +2.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 48.3% | +6.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.0% | -3.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.5% | -5.1 pts |
On the low end, 25% of Branch County households report under $35,000; at the top, 26% report $100,000-plus. Census counts 16.4% of Branch County residents in poverty, against 13.2% across Michigan. A household earning below the $63,724 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Branch County towns compared
19,566 of Branch County's 45,300 residents live in its 5 Census places (43%); the 5 largest are listed. Union City has the highest median household income on the list ($62,788) and Bronson the lowest ($46,359), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Quincy ($874) and steepest in Coldwater ($943). From Coldwater to the smallest crossroads, Branch County residents share this guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coldwater | city | 13,671 | $50,781 | $943 | 4 mi |
| Bronson | city | 2,083 | $46,359 | $938 | 7 mi |
| Union City | village | 1,940 | $62,788 | $935 | 11 mi |
| Quincy | village | 1,484 | $59,844 | $874 | 10 mi |
| Sherwood | village | 388 | $58,750 | $838 | 10 mi |
Branch County next to its neighbors
Steuben County is closest, 19 miles from center to center; the sixth, Kalamazoo County, is 33 miles off. Richest neighbor: LaGrange County, $84,487. Poorest: Calhoun County, $63,177. Branch County: $63,724. Some neighbors are in Indiana. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Branch County resident follows Michigan rules.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Branch County | - | $63,724 | $959/mo | 78% |
| Steuben County, IN | 19 mi | $74,911 | $933/mo | 79% |
| Hillsdale County, MI | 22 mi | $64,242 | $832/mo | 82% |
| Calhoun County, MI | 23 mi | $63,177 | $968/mo | 73% |
| St. Joseph County, MI | 23 mi | $66,425 | $849/mo | 76% |
| LaGrange County, IN | 27 mi | $84,487 | $839/mo | 83% |
| Kalamazoo County, MI | 33 mi | $72,532 | $1,093/mo | 65% |
People and households in Branch County
College graduates make up 17% of the adult population. About 10% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Branch County | Compared with Michigan | Compared with median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 17.3% | -15.2 pts | -4.9 pts |
| Work from home | 6.2% | -7.3 pts | -2.5 pts |
| No health insurance | 9.8% | +4.8 pts | +1.9 pts |
| No high school diploma | 11.4% | +3.4 pts | n/a |
| Poverty rate | 16.4% | +3.2 pts | +3.3 pts |
| Median age | 40.6 | +0.4 yrs | -0.9 yrs |
| No vehicle | 6.7% | -0.3 pts | +1.3 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.7% | 0.0 pts | +1.2 pts |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 40.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 33.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 14.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.7% |
| 60+ min | 6.8% |
A Branch County household budget, worked through
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Branch County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Monthly gross at the median, Branch County: $5,310
- Housing at the median rent of $959 uses 18%
- At 36%, room after rent is $953 a month
Homeowners in Branch County should swap in their mortgage, taxes and insurance for rent.
Borrowing situations common in Branch County
Branch County-specific points to check:
- 12% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Branch County borrower sees (free reports).
Steps before you apply in Branch County
Steps that save money for Branch County residents:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Branch County.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Who licenses lenders for Branch County residents
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Branch County borrowers answers to the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. More on Michigan: Michigan personal loans.
Keep exploring
No city in Branch County has its own guide yet; the state page is next up.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Branch County earn?
The median is $63,724; 26% earn $100,000 or more and 25% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
What do renters pay in Branch County?
$959 a month at the median, about 18% of median household income.
Should Branch County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 78% of Branch County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Does this page cover Coldwater?
Yes, along with the other 4 Census places in Branch County, such as Bronson, Union City, Quincy.
Will a Branch County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Michigan as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.