1st Advantage MortgageIsabella County (64,565 residents) has a $55,237 median household income and $913 median rent, by the latest Census five-year survey. Use those as context only. A lender looks at your own documented income and debts; compare APR and total repaid on every Isabella County offer.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Isabella County
- Employment and commuting in Isabella County
- Where Isabella County differs from the rest of Michigan
- Household income in Isabella County
- What it costs to live in Isabella County
- Regional comparison for Isabella County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Isabella County
- More Isabella County figures
- Debt-to-income at Isabella County's medians
- Local borrowing considerations for Isabella County
- Steps before you apply in Isabella County
- Who licenses lenders for Isabella County residents
- More guides for Isabella County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Isabella County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Isabella County's population at 64,565; only 30 of Michigan's 83 county-level areas are larger. Packed into 573 square miles, that is close to 113 residents for every square mile of land. Isabella County is classed as nonmetropolitan in the OMB's July 2023 list. Largest place: Mount Pleasant, about 21,236 residents (33% of Isabella County); 8 Census places in all.
Employment and commuting in Isabella County
Top Isabella County industry by residents employed: education and health care, 30%; second, arts, lodging and food service, 16%. The sharpest difference from the state is in arts, lodging and food service, at 16% locally and 8% for Michigan. Averaged over the five survey years, 6.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 10% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. No car: 7.2% of Isabella County households.
| Where residents work | Isabella County | Difference from Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 29.6% | +6.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 15.7% | +7.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.1% | +1.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.1% | -7.1 pts |
| Construction | 6.0% | +0.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 5.7% | -4.6 pts |
Seasonal work is common in many Isabella County industries; if that is you, show a full year of income rather than one strong month.
Where Isabella County differs from the rest of Michigan
Ranked against the other 82 county-level areas in Michigan, these are the Isabella County figures furthest from the middle.
- Isabella County ranks the highest of 83 Michigan counties for the poverty rate: 21.9%, against 13.2% statewide. Free help, such as utility and rent assistance, should come before any loan.
- Median age: 30.1 in Isabella County, the lowest of 83 in Michigan. A young county means many first-time borrowers; read every fee line.
- Few Michigan counties match Isabella County on homeownership: 62% here, 73% for the state, ranking 3rd lowest of 83. Many renters means few borrowers have home equity to fall back on.
Household income in Isabella County
The median household income in Isabella County is $55,237; statewide it is $72,875, so Isabella County runs 24% below Michigan as a whole. That places it 71st among Michigan's 83 county-level areas.
| Household income | Isabella County | vs Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 32.2% | +9.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.8% | +2.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.5% | -6.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.5% | -5.0 pts |
32% under $35,000 and 24% at $100,000 or more: that is the Isabella County income split. Poverty rate, Isabella County: 21.9%; Michigan: 13.2%. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
What it costs to live in Isabella County
A typical Isabella County rental runs $913 a month including utilities, which is 19% below Michigan. By the Census definition, 52% of Isabella County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $170,400, about 3.1 times the median household income. 62% of Isabella County households own their home and 38% rent. The median year built is 1983. Nationally, Isabella County's $913 rent is 4% above the middle county.
| Isabella County | Michigan | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owners | 62% | 73% | -11.4 pts |
| Median home value | $170,400 | $231,600 | 26% lower |
| Median gross rent | $913/mo | $1,129/mo | 19% lower |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 23% | +1.8 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 52% | 50% | +1.5 pts |
| Vacant units | 13% | 12% | +1.3 pts |
When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
Regional comparison for Isabella County
Midland County is closest, 23 miles from center to center; the sixth, Gladwin County, is 33 miles off. Isabella County's $55,237 median trails 5 of the six and beats 1; the range runs $49,384 (Clare County) to $77,705 (Midland County).
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Isabella County | - | $55,237 | $913/mo | 62% |
| Midland County, MI | 23 mi | $77,705 | $1,016/mo | 78% |
| Clare County, MI | 24 mi | $49,384 | $765/mo | 87% |
| Mecosta County, MI | 25 mi | $60,951 | $934/mo | 77% |
| Gratiot County, MI | 27 mi | $63,556 | $834/mo | 79% |
| Montcalm County, MI | 28 mi | $67,344 | $869/mo | 83% |
| Gladwin County, MI | 33 mi | $55,349 | $690/mo | 86% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Isabella County
26,984 of Isabella County's 64,565 residents live in its 8 Census places (42%); the 8 largest are listed. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $44,706 in Mount Pleasant to $77,500 in Lake Isabella. Median rent ranges from $789 in Shepherd to $964 in Lake Isabella. From Mount Pleasant to the smallest crossroads, Isabella County residents share this guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Pleasant | city | 21,236 | $44,706 | $922 | 5 mi |
| Lake Isabella | village | 2,085 | $77,500 | $964 | 8 mi |
| Shepherd | village | 1,457 | $70,156 | $789 | 11 mi |
| Weidman | CDP | 1,156 | n/a | n/a | 8 mi |
| Rosebush | village | 331 | $44,750 | $591 | 6 mi |
| Beal City | CDP | 293 | $74,875 | n/a | 4 mi |
| Winn | CDP | 226 | $136,136 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Loomis | CDP | 200 | $71,500 | n/a | 13 mi |
More Isabella County figures
College graduates make up 31% of the adult population. About 8% go without health insurance.
| Isabella County | vs Michigan | vs U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 30.1 | -10.1 yrs | -11.4 yrs |
| Poverty rate | 21.9% | +8.7 pts | +8.7 pts |
| Work from home | 7.8% | -5.7 pts | -0.9 pts |
| No health insurance | 7.8% | +2.8 pts | -0.1 pts |
| Bachelor's or higher | 31.3% | -1.1 pts | +9.2 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.4% | +0.7 pts | +2.0 pts |
| No high school diploma | 8.1% | +0.1 pts | n/a |
| No vehicle | 7.2% | +0.1 pts | +1.7 pts |
| Commute length | Isabella County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 47.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 30.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.3% |
| 60+ min | 5.3% |
Debt-to-income at Isabella County's medians
How much room does a median Isabella County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Monthly gross at the median, Isabella County: $4,603
- Median rent: $913, or 20 cents of every gross dollar
- Under a 36% cap, $1,657 total minus rent leaves $744
If your rent is above $913, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Local borrowing considerations for Isabella County
Based on the Isabella County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Before borrowing. At 21.9% poverty, Isabella County has local aid programs worth checking (options).
- 52% 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).
Steps before you apply in Isabella County
Steps that save money for Isabella County residents:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Isabella County-area credit union.
- Verify the Michigan license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Who licenses lenders for Isabella County residents
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Isabella County, check 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.
More guides for Isabella County
Statewide:
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Isabella County earn?
The median is $55,237; 24% earn $100,000 or more and 32% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Isabella County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $913 a month; 52% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
What are the biggest places in Isabella County?
By population: Mount Pleasant, Lake Isabella, Shepherd, Weidman, Rosebush. The county has 8 Census places in all.
Are Isabella 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 Isabella County?
Start with the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.