1st Advantage MortgageManistee County households have a median income of $63,516 and median rent of $842 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
- A quick profile of Manistee County
- Employment and commuting in Manistee County
- How much Manistee County households make
- Manistee County housing compared with Michigan
- Places inside Manistee County
- The counties around Manistee County
- A Manistee County household budget, worked through
- Reading the Manistee County data as a borrower
- Manistee County households compared
- Lender oversight for Manistee County
- A Manistee County borrower's checklist
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Manistee County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Manistee County's population at 25,350; only 56 of Michigan's 83 county-level areas are larger. It covers 542 square miles of land, or about 47 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Manistee County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 13 Census places inside Manistee County, Manistee leads by population with about 6,275; 6 of the 13 are incorporated.
Employment and commuting in Manistee County
The biggest employer of Manistee County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 21% of workers, followed by manufacturing (13%). Arts, lodging and food service stands out: 12% of workers here, versus 8% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 6.4% in Manistee County. 12% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 11% work from home. Only 4.8% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Manistee County workers | vs Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.8% | -2.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.3% | -4.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.4% | +1.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 12.2% | +3.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.2% | -1.2 pts |
| Construction | 7.9% | +2.0 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
How much Manistee County households make
The median household income in Manistee County is $63,516; statewide it is $72,875, so Manistee County runs 13% below Michigan as a whole. That places it 44th among Michigan's 83 county-level areas.
| Band | Manistee County | Compared with Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.6% | +3.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.5% | +5.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.7% | -5.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.2% | -3.3 pts |
About 27% of households earn under $35,000, while 27% clear $100,000. 12.7% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.2%). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Manistee County housing compared with Michigan
Renters in Manistee County pay a median of $842 a month, 25% below the Michigan figure of $1,129. By the Census definition, 51% of Manistee County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $182,200, about 2.9 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 86%.
| Cost | Manistee County | Michigan figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $842/mo | $1,129/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $182,200 | $231,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 86% | 73% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 51% | 50% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 7.5% | 5.0% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 33% | 12% | n/a |
Because most Manistee 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. 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?
Places inside Manistee County
The table lists the 13 largest of 13 Census places in Manistee County, by population. Together all 13 hold about 10,175 people, so roughly 60% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $43,125 in Kaleva to $60,541 in Manistee. None of the 13 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manistee | city | 6,275 | $60,541 | $768 | 0 mi |
| Parkdale | CDP | 573 | $45,000 | n/a | 3 mi |
| Kaleva | village | 542 | $43,125 | $1,594 | 18 mi |
| Oak Hill | CDP | 519 | $59,115 | n/a | 2 mi |
| Wellston | CDP | 353 | $53,333 | $769 | 18 mi |
| Brethren | CDP | 318 | $52,083 | n/a | 16 mi |
| Eastlake | village | 318 | $50,139 | n/a | 2 mi |
| Onekama | village | 305 | $32,969 | $488 | 10 mi |
| Bear Lake | village | 264 | $63,281 | n/a | 15 mi |
| Copemish | village | 255 | $46,250 | $950 | 26 mi |
| Filer City | CDP | 178 | $47,083 | n/a | 3 mi |
| Stronach | CDP | 155 | $66,719 | n/a | 3 mi |
| Arcadia | CDP | 120 | $85,694 | n/a | 18 mi |
The counties around Manistee County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Manistee County's, from 21 to 50 miles away. 3 of the six report a higher median household income than Manistee County; Grand Traverse County is highest at $81,647 and Lake County lowest at $50,805.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manistee County | - | $63,516 | $842/mo | 86% |
| Mason County, MI | 21 mi | $64,748 | $896/mo | 78% |
| Benzie County, MI | 27 mi | $74,834 | $1,026/mo | 88% |
| Lake County, MI | 31 mi | $50,805 | $875/mo | 82% |
| Wexford County, MI | 38 mi | $61,085 | $897/mo | 81% |
| Oceana County, MI | 45 mi | $62,417 | $759/mo | 84% |
| Grand Traverse County, MI | 50 mi | $81,647 | $1,288/mo | 77% |
A Manistee County household budget, worked through
How much room does a median Manistee County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Start: $5,293 gross per month ($63,516 / 12)
- Less median rent of $842, which is 16% of it
- Under a 35% cap, $1,853 total minus rent leaves $1,011
- At 45%, room after rent is $1,540 a month
Two-income households and single earners in Manistee County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Reading the Manistee County data as a borrower
What the Manistee County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Retirees. At a median age of 50.3, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
- 51% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
- Consolidating cards in Manistee County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
Manistee County households compared
25% of Manistee County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 4.8% of residents have no health coverage.
| Manistee County | Michigan | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.3 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 24.9% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.8% | 7.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.8% | 4.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.8% | 7.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.8% | 13.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.7% | 13.2% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.4% | 5.7% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Manistee County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 43.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 30.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 14.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.9% |
| 60+ min | 6.0% |
Lender oversight for Manistee County
Consumer lenders serving Manistee County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Michigan that is the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. The Michigan guide covers state rules in more detail.
A Manistee County borrower's checklist
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Ask a Manistee County credit union about member loans.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Michigan guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Manistee County a high-income county?
Its $63,516 median ranks 44th of 83 Michigan counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Manistee County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $842 a month; 51% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
What are the biggest places in Manistee County?
By population: Manistee, Parkdale, Kaleva, Oak Hill, Wellston. The county has 13 Census places in all.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Manistee County or elsewhere in Michigan, the same rules apply.
Who regulates personal lenders for Manistee County residents?
The Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services licenses consumer lenders in Michigan; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.