1st Advantage MortgageIn Iosco County, Michigan, the typical household earns $50,066 a year and the typical rent is $719. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Michigan license first.
On this page
- Iosco County by the numbers
- Household income in Iosco County
- Employment and commuting in Iosco County
- Iosco County housing compared with Michigan
- How Iosco County compares with nearby counties
- Iosco County towns compared
- Iosco County households compared
- Local borrowing considerations for Iosco County
- What a median Iosco County budget can carry
- Four steps for Iosco County borrowers
- Checking a lender's license in Michigan
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Iosco County by the numbers
Roughly 25,347 residents live in Iosco County, Michigan, 58th by population among the state's 83 counties and county equivalents. It covers 549 square miles of land, or about 46 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 6 places in the county (3 incorporated, 3 census-designated); the largest is East Tawas, with about 2,675 residents, or 11% of the county.
Household income in Iosco County
Iosco County households have a median income of $50,066 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 80th of 83 in Michigan.
| Households earning | Iosco County | +/- vs Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 35.6% | +12.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.1% | +4.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 13.9% | -12.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.4% | -5.1 pts |
The spread is wide: 18% of Iosco County households make $100,000 or more, and 36% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 17.7%, 5 points higher than the state's 13.2%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.471 (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.
Employment and commuting in Iosco County
Education and health care employs 21% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 14%. Compared with Michigan, the county leans toward transportation, warehousing and utilities (9% against 5%). The survey's unemployment rate for Iosco County averages 6.5% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.7%). Long commutes are the exception here: 10% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 7.2% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Iosco County | Gap to Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.8% | -2.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 14.3% | -4.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 14.0% | +3.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.3% | +0.9 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 9.3% | +4.5 pts |
| Construction | 8.6% | +2.7 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Iosco County housing compared with Michigan
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $719 in Iosco County versus $1,129 statewide. By the Census definition, 41% of Iosco County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $142,200, or 2.8 years of median income. Owners occupy 82% of homes. Median construction year: 1972.
| Housing | Iosco County | Michigan statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $719/mo | $1,129/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $142,200 | $231,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 82% | 73% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 41% | 50% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 28% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 6.8% | 5.0% | n/a |
Because most Iosco County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
How Iosco County compares with nearby counties
Six nearby counties, 19 to 42 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $49,515 in Oscoda County to $58,870 in Huron County; 5 of these neighbors top Iosco County's median.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iosco County | - | $50,066 | $719/mo | 82% |
| Alcona County, MI | 19 mi | $54,993 | $867/mo | 90% |
| Arenac County, MI | 30 mi | $58,811 | $761/mo | 86% |
| Alpena County, MI | 35 mi | $53,950 | $673/mo | 80% |
| Ogemaw County, MI | 37 mi | $54,666 | $823/mo | 84% |
| Huron County, MI | 42 mi | $58,870 | $788/mo | 82% |
| Oscoda County, MI | 42 mi | $49,515 | $681/mo | 87% |
Iosco County towns compared
Here are the 6 most populous of the county's 6 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 33% of Iosco County residents live in one of the 6. Incomes vary by place: $58,162 at the median in Sand Lake, $42,431 in Au Sable. Median rent ranges from $522 in Oscoda to $915 in Au Sable. Live in one of these Iosco County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Tawas | city | 2,675 | $42,450 | $608 | 8 mi |
| Au Sable | CDP | 1,643 | $42,431 | $915 | 3 mi |
| Tawas City | city | 1,614 | $46,014 | $806 | 11 mi |
| Sand Lake | CDP | 1,348 | $58,162 | $692 | 15 mi |
| Oscoda | CDP | 654 | $46,801 | $522 | 3 mi |
| Whittemore | city | 492 | $33,214 | $481 | 23 mi |
Iosco County households compared
College graduates make up 19% of the adult population. About 5% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Iosco County | Michigan | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.5 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.3% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.8% | 7.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.6% | 4.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.2% | 7.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.2% | 13.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 17.7% | 13.2% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.5% | 5.7% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Iosco County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 46.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 30.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.6% |
| 60+ min | 5.8% |
Local borrowing considerations for Iosco County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Iosco County borrowers.
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 54, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
What a median Iosco County budget can carry
Here is the Iosco County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $4,172 a month: gross income for a household at the Iosco County median
- Housing at the median rent of $719 uses 17%
- At 40%, room after rent is $950 a month
Two-income households and single earners in Iosco County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Four steps for Iosco County borrowers
Before you apply, wherever you live in Iosco County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- A Michigan license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Checking a lender's license in Michigan
The Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services is the place to verify any lender's Michigan license. 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.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Michigan guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Iosco County a high-income county?
Its $50,066 median ranks 80th of 83 Michigan counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Iosco County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $719 against $1,129 statewide, and 41% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Should Iosco County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 82% of Iosco 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 East Tawas?
Yes, along with the other 5 Census places in Iosco County, such as Au Sable, Tawas City, Sand Lake.
Is the fit check different in Iosco County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.