1st Advantage MortgageThe median Dickinson County household earns $65,156, and 11% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Dickinson County by the numbers
- The Dickinson County job picture
- How much Dickinson County households make
- What it costs to live in Dickinson County
- Dickinson County and the counties next door
- Places inside Dickinson County
- Dickinson County households compared
- Before borrowing in Dickinson County
- Debt-to-income at Dickinson County's medians
- Who licenses lenders for Dickinson County residents
- Checklist for Dickinson County applicants
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Dickinson County by the numbers
Roughly 25,954 residents live in Dickinson County, Michigan, 53rd by population among the state's 83 counties and county equivalents. It covers 761 square miles of land, or about 34 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Dickinson 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 Dickinson County, Iron Mountain leads by population with about 7,518; 3 of the 4 are incorporated.
The Dickinson County job picture
Education and health care employs 23% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 15%. Transportation, warehousing and utilities stands out: 9% of workers here, versus 5% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 3.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 7% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Dickinson County | Gap to Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.5% | -0.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 14.7% | -3.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.6% | +1.8 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 9.1% | +4.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.4% | -1.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.7% | -3.7 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
How much Dickinson County households make
The median household income in Dickinson County is $65,156; statewide it is $72,875, so Dickinson County runs 11% below Michigan as a whole. Only 35 Michigan counties post a higher median.
| Household income | Dickinson County | vs Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.4% | +2.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.8% | +5.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.2% | -2.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.5% | -5.0 pts |
The spread is wide: 28% of Dickinson County households make $100,000 or more, and 25% make less than $35,000. 10.5% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.2%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.424 here. A household earning below the $65,156 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
What it costs to live in Dickinson County
A typical Dickinson County rental runs $797 a month including utilities, which is 29% below Michigan. By the Census definition, 49% of Dickinson County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $153,300, or 2.4 years of median income. The ownership rate is 82%. Median construction year: 1970.
| Dickinson County | Michigan | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $797/mo | $1,129/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $153,300 | $231,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 82% | 73% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 49% | 50% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 23% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 15% | 12% | 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).
Dickinson County and the counties next door
Distances run center to center, from Florence County at 28 miles out to Delta County at 49. 1 of the six report a higher median household income than Dickinson County; Marquette County is highest at $65,429 and Iron County lowest at $55,940. Some neighbors are in Wisconsin. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Dickinson County resident follows Michigan rules.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dickinson County | - | $65,156 | $797/mo | 82% |
| Florence County, WI | 28 mi | $61,086 | $750/mo | 91% |
| Iron County, MI | 34 mi | $55,940 | $716/mo | 84% |
| Menominee County, MI | 37 mi | $56,435 | $692/mo | 81% |
| Marinette County, WI | 46 mi | $63,809 | $795/mo | 82% |
| Marquette County, MI | 46 mi | $65,429 | $949/mo | 70% |
| Delta County, MI | 49 mi | $57,809 | $692/mo | 82% |
Places inside Dickinson 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 63% of Dickinson County residents live in one of the 4. Norway has the highest median household income on the list ($63,846) and Quinnesec the lowest ($38,713), counting places with at least 500 residents. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iron Mountain | city | 7,518 | $59,405 | $744 | 16 mi |
| Kingsford | city | 5,124 | $61,635 | $917 | 18 mi |
| Norway | city | 2,833 | $63,846 | $885 | 15 mi |
| Quinnesec | CDP | 892 | $38,713 | n/a | 16 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Dickinson County households compared
College graduates make up 25% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 3.7%, against 4.9% for Michigan.
| Measure | Dickinson County | Michigan statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.9 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 25.3% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 3.6% | 7.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.7% | 4.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.3% | 7.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.0% | 13.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.5% | 13.2% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.6% | 5.7% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Dickinson County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 63.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 21.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 8.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.8% |
| 60+ min | 4.1% |
Before borrowing in Dickinson County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Dickinson County borrowers.
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 47, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
- 49% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
Debt-to-income at Dickinson County's medians
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Dickinson County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Start: $5,430 gross per month ($65,156 / 12)
- Rent at the median, $797, takes 15% of that
- At 35%, room after rent is $1,103 a month
- Under a 45% cap, $2,443 total minus rent leaves $1,646
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Dickinson County's.
Who licenses lenders for Dickinson County residents
Dickinson County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. See the Michigan state guide for the statewide picture.
Checklist for Dickinson County applicants
Before you apply, wherever you live in Dickinson County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Michigan borrowers.
- Ask a Dickinson County credit union about member loans.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Michigan guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Dickinson County earn?
The median is $65,156; 28% earn $100,000 or more and 25% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Dickinson County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $797 against $1,129 statewide, and 49% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Which towns does the Dickinson County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 4 Census places: Iron Mountain, Kingsford, Norway, Quinnesec.
Are Dickinson County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Dickinson County?
Start with the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.