1st Advantage MortgageGratiot County households have a median income of $63,556 and median rent of $834 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
- Gratiot County at a glance
- How Gratiot County residents earn a living
- Paychecks and income spread in Gratiot County
- Renting and owning in Gratiot County
- Towns and communities in Gratiot County
- Gratiot County next to its neighbors
- Debt-to-income at Gratiot County's medians
- Local borrowing considerations for Gratiot County
- More Gratiot County figures
- Michigan rules that apply in Gratiot County
- Checklist for Gratiot County applicants
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Gratiot County at a glance
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Gratiot County's population at 41,385; only 38 of Michigan's 83 county-level areas are larger. It covers 568 square miles of land, or about 73 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Gratiot County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 8 places in the county (6 incorporated, 2 census-designated); the largest is Alma, with about 9,396 residents, or 23% of the county.
How Gratiot County residents earn a living
Education and health care employs 26% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 15%. The sharpest difference from the state is in education and health care, at 26% locally and 23% for Michigan. The survey's unemployment rate for Gratiot County averages 4.2% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.7%). 15% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 8% work from home.
| Where residents work | Gratiot County | Difference from Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.5% | +3.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 15.1% | -3.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.9% | +0.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.2% | -0.2 pts |
| Construction | 7.5% | +1.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.2% | -4.1 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Paychecks and income spread in Gratiot County
The median household income in Gratiot County is $63,556; statewide it is $72,875, so Gratiot County runs 13% below Michigan as a whole.
| Income band | Share in Gratiot County | Difference from Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.3% | +2.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.8% | +5.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.0% | -2.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.0% | -5.5 pts |
About 25% of households earn under $35,000, while 28% clear $100,000. Census counts 14.0% of Gratiot County residents in poverty, against 13.2% across Michigan. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.440 (0 is perfect equality). 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 Gratiot County
Renters in Gratiot County pay a median of $834 a month, 26% below the Michigan figure of $1,129. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 47% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $147,500, about 2.3 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 79%. The median home was built in 1966, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Measure | Gratiot County | Michigan | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $834/mo | $1,129/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $147,500 | $231,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 79% | 73% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 47% | 50% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 9.7% | 5.0% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Gratiot 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.
Towns and communities in Gratiot County
8 Census places fall mainly inside Gratiot County; the 8 biggest are below. They account for 22,537 residents, leaving about 46% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $51,167 in St. Louis to $63,109 in Ithaca. Median rent ranges from $731 in Breckenridge to $1,023 in Perrinton. No Gratiot County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 8.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alma | city | 9,396 | $53,307 | $836 | 7 mi |
| St. Louis | city | 7,367 | $51,167 | $794 | 8 mi |
| Ithaca | city | 2,817 | $63,109 | $819 | 0 mi |
| Breckenridge | village | 1,517 | $57,540 | $731 | 10 mi |
| Perrinton | village | 513 | $58,333 | $1,023 | 9 mi |
| Ashley | village | 483 | $58,846 | $950 | 10 mi |
| Elm Hall | CDP | 228 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
| Riverdale | CDP | 216 | n/a | n/a | 13 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Gratiot County next to its neighbors
Clinton County is closest, 24 miles from center to center; the sixth, Shiawassee County, is 33 miles off. Income ranges from $55,237 in Isabella County to $88,210 in Clinton County; 4 of these neighbors top Gratiot County's median.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gratiot County | - | $63,556 | $834/mo | 79% |
| Clinton County, MI | 24 mi | $88,210 | $1,092/mo | 82% |
| Midland County, MI | 27 mi | $77,705 | $1,016/mo | 78% |
| Isabella County, MI | 27 mi | $55,237 | $913/mo | 62% |
| Montcalm County, MI | 27 mi | $67,344 | $869/mo | 83% |
| Saginaw County, MI | 28 mi | $60,622 | $947/mo | 74% |
| Shiawassee County, MI | 33 mi | $67,404 | $899/mo | 80% |
Debt-to-income at Gratiot County's medians
Here is the Gratiot County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $5,296 a month: gross income for a household at the Gratiot County median
- Rent at the median, $834, takes 16% of that
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,443 left for all other debt payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Gratiot County's.
Local borrowing considerations for Gratiot County
A few patterns in the Gratiot County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Renters under pressure. When 47% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
More Gratiot County figures
Degree holders: 19% of adults over 25. 4.2% of residents have no health coverage.
| Gratiot County | Michigan | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.6 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.7% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.3% | 7.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.2% | 4.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.2% | 7.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.7% | 13.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.0% | 13.2% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.2% | 5.7% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Gratiot County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 39.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 30.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 14.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.9% |
| 60+ min | 7.5% |
Michigan rules that apply in Gratiot County
Gratiot County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. See the Michigan state guide for the statewide picture.
Checklist for Gratiot County applicants
Before you apply, wherever you live in Gratiot County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Related local guides
The Michigan guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Gratiot County earn?
The median is $63,556; 28% earn $100,000 or more and 25% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Gratiot County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $834 a month; 47% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I live in a small Gratiot County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Alma, St. Louis, Ithaca, Breckenridge, Perrinton and 3 more.
Will a Gratiot County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Michigan as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Is there a Gratiot County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Michigan it is the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services.