1st Advantage MortgageLapeer County households have a median income of $77,306 and median rent of $988 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
- A quick profile of Lapeer County
- Lapeer County housing compared with Michigan
- Income in Lapeer County compared with Michigan
- Jobs and commutes in Lapeer County
- Lapeer County towns compared
- Counties near Lapeer County
- Budget math at the Lapeer County median
- Before borrowing in Lapeer County
- Who lives in Lapeer County, in numbers
- Checklist for Lapeer County applicants
- Who licenses lenders for Lapeer County residents
- More guides for Lapeer County
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Lapeer County
Roughly 88,837 residents live in Lapeer County, Michigan, 23rd by population among the state's 83 counties and county equivalents. It covers 647 square miles of land, or about 137 people per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau counts 13 places in the county (10 incorporated, 3 census-designated); the largest is Lapeer, with about 9,082 residents, or 10% of the county.
Lapeer County housing compared with Michigan
A typical Lapeer County rental runs $988 a month including utilities, which is 12% below Michigan. By the Census definition, 51% of Lapeer County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $239,000, a typical Lapeer County house costs 3.1 times what the median household earns in a year. 86% of Lapeer County households own their home and 14% rent. The median home was built in 1978, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Cost | Lapeer County | Michigan figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $988/mo | $1,129/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $239,000 | $231,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 86% | 73% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 51% | 50% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 23% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 6% | 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). Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Income in Lapeer County compared with Michigan
Lapeer County households have a median income of $77,306 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 16th of 83 in Michigan.
| Household income | Lapeer County | vs Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 19.4% | -3.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.0% | +3.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 28.1% | +2.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.6% | -1.9 pts |
The spread is wide: 36% of Lapeer County households make $100,000 or more, and 19% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 9.7%, 3 points lower than the state's 13.2%. None of these numbers decides a Lapeer County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Jobs and commutes in Lapeer County
By the Census industry count, 24% of employed Lapeer County residents work in manufacturing and 19% in education and health care. Manufacturing stands out: 24% of workers here, versus 18% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 5.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 79% drive to work alone and 33% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 4.5% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Lapeer County | Gap to Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 24.3% | +6.1 pts |
| Education and health care | 19.4% | -3.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.5% | -0.3 pts |
| Construction | 10.1% | +4.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.2% | -2.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.8% | -1.6 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Lapeer County towns compared
The table lists the 13 largest of 13 Census places in Lapeer County, by population. Together all 13 hold about 23,364 people, so roughly 74% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $39,318 in Attica to $85,750 in Metamora. Median rent ranges from $685 in Brown City to $1,238 in Dryden. None of the 13 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lapeer | city | 9,082 | $52,716 | $1,002 | 6 mi |
| Imlay City | city | 3,721 | $59,911 | $895 | 9 mi |
| Almont | village | 2,838 | $83,537 | $988 | 15 mi |
| Dryden | village | 1,182 | $70,352 | $1,238 | 11 mi |
| North Branch | village | 1,166 | $56,731 | $735 | 10 mi |
| Brown City | city | 1,139 | $58,750 | $685 | 15 mi |
| Barnes Lake | CDP | 952 | $79,400 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Columbiaville | village | 754 | $54,135 | $770 | 10 mi |
| Metamora | village | 693 | $85,750 | $794 | 10 mi |
| Attica | CDP | 627 | $39,318 | n/a | 5 mi |
| Millers Lake | CDP | 554 | $70,298 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Otter Lake | village | 379 | $42,969 | $1,292 | 15 mi |
| Clifford | village | 277 | $54,444 | $1,094 | 16 mi |
Counties near Lapeer County
Six nearby counties, 25 to 38 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $58,863 in Sanilac County to $97,760 in Oakland County; 2 of these neighbors top Lapeer County's median.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lapeer County | - | $77,306 | $988/mo | 86% |
| Genesee County, MI | 25 mi | $62,281 | $989/mo | 71% |
| Tuscola County, MI | 30 mi | $63,811 | $819/mo | 86% |
| St. Clair County, MI | 30 mi | $71,270 | $1,029/mo | 81% |
| Oakland County, MI | 31 mi | $97,760 | $1,376/mo | 73% |
| Macomb County, MI | 33 mi | $77,837 | $1,211/mo | 75% |
| Sanilac County, MI | 38 mi | $58,863 | $807/mo | 83% |
Budget math at the Lapeer County median
How much room does a median Lapeer County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $6,442 a month: gross income for a household at the Lapeer County median
- 15% goes to median rent ($988)
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,331 a month
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Before borrowing in Lapeer County
A few patterns in the Lapeer County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Keeping the car running. At 33% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Lapeer County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Rent squeeze. 51% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
Who lives in Lapeer County, in numbers
20% of Lapeer County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 4.8%, against 4.9% for Michigan.
| Measure | Lapeer County | Michigan statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.7 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.4% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.7% | 7.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.8% | 4.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.5% | 7.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.7% | 13.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.7% | 13.2% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.1% | 5.7% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Lapeer County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 21.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 25.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 15.5% |
| 60+ min | 17.1% |
Checklist for Lapeer County applicants
Quick steps for Lapeer County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Michigan borrowers.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Who licenses lenders for Lapeer County residents
Lapeer 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.
More guides for Lapeer County
For statewide rules and data, see the Michigan guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Lapeer County earn?
The median is $77,306; 36% earn $100,000 or more and 19% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Lapeer County rent compare with Michigan?
$988 locally versus $1,129 for the state, 12% below.
Should Lapeer County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 86% of Lapeer County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
I live in a small Lapeer County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Lapeer, Imlay City, Almont, Dryden, North Branch and 8 more.
Does living in Lapeer County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Lapeer County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.