1st Advantage MortgageMacomb County households have a median income of $77,837 and median rent of $1,211 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Macomb County by the numbers
- What Macomb County households earn
- Jobs and commutes in Macomb County
- Housing costs in Macomb County
- Regional comparison for Macomb County
- Places inside Macomb County
- Macomb County households compared
- Reading the Macomb County data as a borrower
- What a median Macomb County budget can carry
- Steps before you apply in Macomb County
- Michigan rules that apply in Macomb County
- More guides for Macomb County
- Frequently asked questions
Macomb County by the numbers
With an estimated 879,853 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Macomb County ranks 3rd of 83 in Michigan for population. Packed into 479 square miles, that is close to 1,836 residents for every square mile of land. It is one of the counties that make up the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Of the 14 Census places inside Macomb County, Warren leads by population with about 137,928; 14 of the 14 are incorporated.
What Macomb County households earn
The median household income in Macomb County is $77,837; statewide it is $72,875, so Macomb County runs 7% above Michigan as a whole.
| Yearly household income | Macomb County | Gap to Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.2% | -2.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.8% | +0.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 29.3% | +3.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.7% | -0.8 pts |
Some 20% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 38% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 10.4% of Macomb County residents in poverty, against 13.2% across Michigan. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Macomb County median.
Jobs and commutes in Macomb County
Manufacturing employs 20% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 20%. Compared with Michigan, the county leans toward manufacturing (20% against 18%). The survey's unemployment rate for Macomb County averages 5.7% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.7%). Long commutes are the exception here: 14% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 6.2% of households have no vehicle.
| Top industries | Macomb County share | +/- vs Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 20.5% | +2.3 pts |
| Education and health care | 20.4% | -2.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.4% | +0.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.6% | +0.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.7% | +0.2 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 6.5% | +0.7 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Housing costs in Macomb County
Renters in Macomb County pay a median of $1,211 a month, 7% above the Michigan figure of $1,129. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 51% of renter households here. Home values center on $243,900, or 3.1 years of median income. 75% of Macomb County households own their home and 25% rent. Median construction year: 1975.
| Macomb County | Michigan | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,211/mo | $1,129/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $243,900 | $231,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 75% | 73% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 51% | 50% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 3.6% | 5.0% | 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.
Regional comparison for Macomb County
St. Clair County is closest, 22 miles from center to center; the sixth, Livingston County, is 51 miles off. Income ranges from $60,539 in Wayne County to $103,039 in Livingston County; 2 of these neighbors top Macomb County's median.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Macomb County | - | $77,837 | $1,211/mo | 75% |
| St. Clair County, MI | 22 mi | $71,270 | $1,029/mo | 81% |
| Oakland County, MI | 24 mi | $97,760 | $1,376/mo | 73% |
| Wayne County, MI | 32 mi | $60,539 | $1,132/mo | 65% |
| Lapeer County, MI | 33 mi | $77,306 | $988/mo | 86% |
| Genesee County, MI | 47 mi | $62,281 | $989/mo | 71% |
| Livingston County, MI | 51 mi | $103,039 | $1,287/mo | 87% |
Places inside Macomb County
The table lists the 14 largest of 14 Census places in Macomb County, by population. Together all 14 hold about 481,397 people, so roughly 45% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $189,583 at the median in Village of Grosse Pointe Shores, $52,310 in Mount Clemens. City guides exist for the linked Macomb County places; everyone else in the county can use this page.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warren | city | 137,928 | $64,016 | $1,225 | 14 mi |
| Sterling Heights | city | 133,573 | $79,909 | $1,292 | 9 mi |
| St. Clair Shores | city | 58,140 | $73,500 | $1,183 | 12 mi |
| Roseville | city | 47,123 | $62,182 | $1,233 | 11 mi |
| Eastpointe | city | 33,982 | $62,325 | $1,325 | 14 mi |
| Mount Clemens | city | 15,511 | $52,310 | $847 | 5 mi |
| Fraser | city | 14,583 | $64,354 | $843 | 9 mi |
| New Baltimore | city | 12,072 | $106,033 | $1,039 | 9 mi |
| Center Line | city | 8,463 | $54,703 | $788 | 14 mi |
| New Haven | village | 6,475 | $66,125 | $1,268 | 7 mi |
| Utica | city | 5,180 | $58,718 | $1,131 | 6 mi |
| Romeo | village | 3,578 | $74,323 | $981 | 10 mi |
| Village of Grosse Pointe Shores | city | 2,795 | $189,583 | n/a | 15 mi |
| Armada | village | 1,994 | $102,083 | $1,061 | 12 mi |
Macomb County households compared
Degree holders: 28% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 4.9%, against 4.9% for Michigan.
| People and households | Macomb County | Michigan | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.3 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 27.7% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.2% | 7.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.9% | 4.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.2% | 7.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 13.4% | 13.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.4% | 13.2% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.7% | 5.7% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Macomb County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 21.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 39.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 25.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.3% |
| 60+ min | 5.9% |
Reading the Macomb County data as a borrower
What the Macomb County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Renters under pressure. When 51% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
- Consolidating cards in Macomb County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
What a median Macomb County budget can carry
How much room does a median Macomb County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Median income divided by twelve: $6,486 before taxes
- Less median rent of $1,211, which is 19% of it
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,578 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
If your rent is above $1,211, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Steps before you apply in Macomb County
Quick steps for Macomb County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Macomb County.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Verify the Michigan license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Michigan rules that apply in Macomb County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Macomb County, check the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. Statewide data and rules: Michigan guide.
More guides for Macomb County
Guides that cover parts of Macomb County:
Frequently asked questions
Is Macomb County a high-income county?
Its $77,837 median ranks 12th of 83 Michigan counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Macomb County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,211 a month; 51% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Which towns does the Macomb County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 14 Census places: Warren, Sterling Heights, St. Clair Shores, Roseville, Eastpointe.
Does living in Macomb 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 Macomb County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Is there a Macomb County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Michigan it is the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services.