1st Advantage MortgageAbout 75% of Chippewa County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $62,217. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- A quick profile of Chippewa County
- Housing costs in Chippewa County
- What Chippewa County households earn
- Jobs and commutes in Chippewa County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Chippewa County
- The counties around Chippewa County
- More Chippewa County figures
- What the numbers mean for Chippewa County borrowers
- A Chippewa County household budget, worked through
- Four steps for Chippewa County borrowers
- Lender oversight for Chippewa County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Chippewa County
Chippewa County is home to about 36,295 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 44th most populous of 83 county-level areas in Michigan. It covers 1,559 square miles of land, or about 23 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Chippewa County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Sault Ste. Marie is the biggest of its 4 Census places, at roughly 13,335 people (37% of the county total).
Housing costs in Chippewa County
Renters in Chippewa County pay a median of $797 a month, 29% below the Michigan figure of $1,129. By the Census definition, 47% of Chippewa County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $161,900, about 2.6 times the median household income. Owners occupy 75% of homes.
| Measure | Chippewa County | Michigan | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $797/mo | $1,129/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $161,900 | $231,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 75% | 73% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 47% | 50% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 17% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 8.2% | 5.0% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 31% | 12% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Chippewa 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.
What Chippewa County households earn
At $62,217, the typical Chippewa County household income is 5% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 49 Michigan counties post a higher median.
| Household income | Chippewa County | vs Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 27.9% | +4.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.8% | +5.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.7% | -4.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.6% | -5.9 pts |
About 28% of households earn under $35,000, while 25% clear $100,000. 14.0% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.2%). A household earning below the $62,217 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Jobs and commutes in Chippewa County
The biggest employer of Chippewa County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 20% of workers, followed by arts, lodging and food service (15%). Compared with Michigan, the county leans toward public administration (12% against 4%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 5.2% in Chippewa County. Long commutes are the exception here: 6% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 6.9% of the total (7.0% statewide).
| Sector | Chippewa County | Compared with Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.1% | -3.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 14.9% | +6.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.8% | +1.0 pts |
| Public administration | 11.6% | +8.0 pts |
| Construction | 8.4% | +2.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 7.5% | -10.7 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Chippewa County
4 Census places fall mainly inside Chippewa County; the 4 biggest are below. They account for 16,416 residents, leaving about 55% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. This guide covers each of the 4 places and the rural areas around them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sault Ste. Marie | city | 13,335 | $55,328 | $804 | 13 mi |
| Kincheloe | CDP | 2,524 | $57,644 | $854 | 5 mi |
| Brimley | CDP | 345 | $65,313 | n/a | 7 mi |
| De Tour Village | village | 212 | $48,750 | n/a | 37 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
The counties around Chippewa County
Six nearby counties, 39 to 83 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. 4 of the six report a higher median household income than Chippewa County; Emmet County is highest at $78,112 and Luce County lowest at $54,893.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chippewa County | - | $62,217 | $797/mo | 75% |
| Mackinac County, MI | 39 mi | $63,909 | $760/mo | 78% |
| Luce County, MI | 49 mi | $54,893 | $675/mo | 83% |
| Emmet County, MI | 55 mi | $78,112 | $1,112/mo | 77% |
| Cheboygan County, MI | 58 mi | $62,875 | $773/mo | 86% |
| Charlevoix County, MI | 69 mi | $76,531 | $949/mo | 83% |
| Schoolcraft County, MI | 83 mi | $56,782 | $705/mo | 87% |
More Chippewa County figures
23% of Chippewa County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 5.7% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Chippewa County | All of Michigan | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.6 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 23.3% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.4% | 7.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.7% | 4.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.9% | 7.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.5% | 13.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.0% | 13.2% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.2% | 5.7% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 52.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 30.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 10.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.3% |
| 60+ min | 3.8% |
What the numbers mean for Chippewa County borrowers
A few patterns in the Chippewa County data, and the practical point behind each:
- 47% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
A Chippewa County household budget, worked through
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Chippewa County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $5,185 a month: gross income for a household at the Chippewa County median
- Rent at the median, $797, takes 15% of that
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,432 left for all other debt payments
Two-income households and single earners in Chippewa County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Four steps for Chippewa County borrowers
Quick steps for Chippewa County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Verify the Michigan license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Lender oversight for Chippewa County
Chippewa County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. More on Michigan: Michigan personal loans.
Related local guides
The Michigan guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Chippewa County household make?
About $62,217 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 15% below the Michigan median.
How much is rent in Chippewa County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $797 a month; 47% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I own my home in Chippewa County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 75% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Does this page cover Sault Ste. Marie?
Yes, along with the other 3 Census places in Chippewa County, such as Kincheloe, Brimley, De Tour Village.
Is the fit check different in Chippewa County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.