1st Advantage MortgageMontmorency County households have a median income of $49,756 and median rent of $686 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Who lives in Montmorency County
- Montmorency County housing compared with Michigan
- Income in Montmorency County compared with Michigan
- The Montmorency County job picture
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Montmorency County towns compared
- People and households in Montmorency County
- Before borrowing in Montmorency County
- Debt-to-income at Montmorency County's medians
- Checklist for Montmorency County applicants
- Lender oversight for Montmorency County
- More guides for Montmorency County
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Montmorency County
Roughly 9,516 residents live in Montmorency County, Michigan, 76th by population among the state's 83 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 547 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 17 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Montmorency County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 4 places in the county (1 incorporated, 3 census-designated); the largest is Lewiston, with about 1,201 residents, or 13% of the county. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Montmorency County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Montmorency County housing compared with Michigan
A typical Montmorency County rental runs $686 a month including utilities, which is 39% below Michigan. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 53% of renter households here. Home values center on $158,600, or 3.2 years of median income. 88% of Montmorency County households own their home and 12% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1975.
| Montmorency County | Michigan | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $686/mo | $1,129/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $158,600 | $231,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 88% | 73% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 53% | 50% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 32% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 8.4% | 5.0% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 45% | 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). High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
Income in Montmorency County compared with Michigan
The median household income in Montmorency County is $49,756; statewide it is $72,875, so Montmorency County runs 32% below Michigan as a whole. In the state ranking that is 81st of 83.
| Band | Montmorency County | Compared with Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 33.6% | +10.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 52.0% | +10.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 11.5% | -14.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.9% | -6.7 pts |
The spread is wide: 14% of Montmorency County households make $100,000 or more, and 34% make less than $35,000. Census counts 18.2% of Montmorency County residents in poverty, against 13.2% across Michigan. A household earning below the $49,756 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
The Montmorency County job picture
The biggest employer of Montmorency County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 20% of workers, followed by manufacturing (18%). Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 5% of workers here, versus 1% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Montmorency County averages 5.3% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.7%). 18% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 10% work from home.
| Industry | Share of Montmorency County workers | vs Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 19.9% | -3.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 18.4% | +0.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.0% | +0.2 pts |
| Construction | 8.7% | +2.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.4% | 0.0 pts |
| Other services | 6.0% | +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.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Distances run center to center, from Otsego County at 22 miles out to Presque Isle County at 37. 5 of the six report a higher median household income than Montmorency County; Otsego County is highest at $68,183 and Oscoda County lowest at $49,515.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montmorency County | - | $49,756 | $686/mo | 88% |
| Otsego County, MI | 22 mi | $68,183 | $1,008/mo | 77% |
| Oscoda County, MI | 23 mi | $49,515 | $681/mo | 87% |
| Crawford County, MI | 33 mi | $60,392 | $862/mo | 80% |
| Alpena County, MI | 36 mi | $53,950 | $673/mo | 80% |
| Cheboygan County, MI | 36 mi | $62,875 | $773/mo | 86% |
| Presque Isle County, MI | 37 mi | $59,321 | $683/mo | 89% |
Montmorency County towns compared
Here are the 4 most populous of the county's 4 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 33% of Montmorency County residents live in one of the 4. Incomes vary by place: $54,231 at the median in Lewiston, $36,823 in Hillman. No Montmorency County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 4.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lewiston | CDP | 1,201 | $54,231 | $808 | 13 mi |
| Hillman | village | 812 | $36,823 | $434 | 12 mi |
| Atlanta | CDP | 758 | $42,936 | $699 | 2 mi |
| Canada Creek Ranch | CDP | 381 | $76,107 | n/a | 11 mi |
People and households in Montmorency County
Degree holders: 16% of adults over 25. About 6% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Montmorency County | Michigan | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 56.9 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 15.6% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.1% | 7.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.1% | 4.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.6% | 7.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.1% | 13.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 18.2% | 13.2% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.3% | 5.7% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Montmorency County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 35.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 21.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.3% |
| 60+ min | 8.3% |
Before borrowing in Montmorency County
Based on the Montmorency County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Fixed incomes. Montmorency County's median age is 56.9. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Lower-cost alternatives. In a county with 18% in poverty, nonprofit credit counseling may beat a loan (options).
- Rent squeeze. 53% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
Debt-to-income at Montmorency County's medians
Here is the Montmorency County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $4,146 a month: gross income for a household at the Montmorency County median
- Housing at the median rent of $686 uses 17%
- $973: what a 40% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Checklist for Montmorency County applicants
Quick steps for Montmorency County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Montmorency County.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Lender oversight for Montmorency County
Consumer lenders serving Montmorency 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. Statewide data and rules: Michigan guide.
More guides for Montmorency County
The Michigan guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Montmorency County earn?
The median is $49,756; 14% earn $100,000 or more and 34% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Montmorency County rent compare with Michigan?
$686 locally versus $1,129 for the state, 39% below.
What are the biggest places in Montmorency County?
By population: Lewiston, Hillman, Atlanta, Canada Creek Ranch. The county has 4 Census places in all.
Is the fit check different in Montmorency County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who regulates personal lenders for Montmorency 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.