1st Advantage MortgageThe median Cheboygan County household earns $62,875, and 12% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Cheboygan County at a glance
- What Cheboygan County households earn
- Renting and owning in Cheboygan County
- How Cheboygan County residents earn a living
- The communities that make up Cheboygan County
- Cheboygan County next to its neighbors
- Cheboygan County households compared
- What the numbers mean for Cheboygan County borrowers
- Budget math at the Cheboygan County median
- Michigan rules that apply in Cheboygan County
- Checklist for Cheboygan County applicants
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Cheboygan County at a glance
With an estimated 25,865 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Cheboygan County ranks 54th of 83 in Michigan for population. Land area is 715 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 36 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Cheboygan County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 4 Census places inside Cheboygan County, Cheboygan leads by population with about 4,820; 2 of the 4 are incorporated.
What Cheboygan County households earn
At $62,875, the typical Cheboygan County household income is 4% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 47th among Michigan's 83 county-level areas.
| Income band | Share in Cheboygan County | Difference from Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.4% | +3.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 48.0% | +6.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.4% | -6.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.2% | -3.3 pts |
About 26% of households earn under $35,000, while 26% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 12.4%, 1 point lower than the state's 13.2%. None of these numbers decides a Cheboygan County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Renting and owning in Cheboygan County
A typical Cheboygan County rental runs $773 a month including utilities, which is 32% below Michigan. By the Census definition, 41% of Cheboygan County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $192,500, a typical Cheboygan County house costs 3.1 times what the median household earns in a year. 86% of Cheboygan County households own their home and 14% rent. Median construction year: 1980.
| Measure | Cheboygan County | Michigan | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $773/mo | $1,129/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $192,500 | $231,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 86% | 73% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 41% | 50% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 8.0% | 5.0% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 37% | 12% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Cheboygan 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.
How Cheboygan County residents earn a living
Education and health care employs 19% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 16%. Compared with Michigan, the county leans toward construction (13% against 6%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 6.1% in Cheboygan County. Long commutes are common here: 16% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Cheboygan County | Gap to Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 19.5% | -3.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 15.6% | +4.8 pts |
| Construction | 12.6% | +6.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 11.2% | +2.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.7% | -9.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.6% | -3.7 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
The communities that make up Cheboygan County
Here are the 4 most populous of the county's 4 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 29% of Cheboygan County residents live in one of the 4. None of the 4 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheboygan | city | 4,820 | $42,290 | $683 | 12 mi |
| Indian River | CDP | 2,039 | $62,140 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Tower | CDP | 275 | $56,250 | $850 | 13 mi |
| Wolverine | village | 265 | $67,500 | n/a | 15 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Cheboygan County next to its neighbors
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (25 to 54 miles). Income ranges from $49,756 in Montmorency County to $78,112 in Emmet County; 4 of these neighbors top Cheboygan County's median.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheboygan County | - | $62,875 | $773/mo | 86% |
| Emmet County, MI | 25 mi | $78,112 | $1,112/mo | 77% |
| Otsego County, MI | 32 mi | $68,183 | $1,008/mo | 77% |
| Montmorency County, MI | 36 mi | $49,756 | $686/mo | 88% |
| Antrim County, MI | 46 mi | $72,054 | $902/mo | 86% |
| Charlevoix County, MI | 52 mi | $76,531 | $949/mo | 83% |
| Presque Isle County, MI | 54 mi | $59,321 | $683/mo | 89% |
Cheboygan County households compared
Degree holders: 24% of adults over 25. 5.9% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Cheboygan County | Michigan statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.2 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 24.4% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.9% | 7.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.9% | 4.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.8% | 7.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.1% | 13.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.4% | 13.2% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.1% | 5.7% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 34.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.0% |
| 60+ min | 7.4% |
What the numbers mean for Cheboygan County borrowers
Based on the Cheboygan County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Fixed incomes. Cheboygan County's median age is 52.2. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
- Consolidating cards in Cheboygan County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
Budget math at the Cheboygan County median
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Cheboygan County's medians:
- Start: $5,240 gross per month ($62,875 / 12)
- Median rent: $773, or 15 cents of every gross dollar
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,113 a month
- $1,480: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
If your rent is above $773, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Michigan rules that apply in Cheboygan County
Cheboygan County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. More on Michigan: Michigan personal loans.
Checklist for Cheboygan County applicants
Quick steps for Cheboygan County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Cheboygan County.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Verify the Michigan license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Related local guides
The Michigan guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cheboygan County a high-income county?
Its $62,875 median ranks 47th of 83 Michigan counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Cheboygan County rent compare with Michigan?
$773 locally versus $1,129 for the state, 32% below.
What are the biggest places in Cheboygan County?
By population: Cheboygan, Indian River, Tower, Wolverine. The county has 4 Census places in all.
Does living in Cheboygan County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Cheboygan County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Who regulates personal lenders for Cheboygan County residents?
The Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services licenses consumer lenders in Michigan; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.