1st Advantage MortgageNewaygo County households have a median income of $63,304 and median rent of $904 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
- Getting oriented in Newaygo County
- How much Newaygo County households make
- Renting and owning in Newaygo County
- The Newaygo County job picture
- Newaygo County next to its neighbors
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Newaygo County
- Newaygo County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Reading the Newaygo County data as a borrower
- A Newaygo County household budget, worked through
- Checklist for Newaygo County applicants
- Checking a lender's license in Michigan
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Newaygo County
Roughly 50,792 residents live in Newaygo County, Michigan, 36th by population among the state's 83 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 839 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 61 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Newaygo County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 5 places in the county (5 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Fremont, with about 4,568 residents, or 9% of the county.
How much Newaygo County households make
The median household income in Newaygo County is $63,304; statewide it is $72,875, so Newaygo County runs 13% below Michigan as a whole. That places it 45th among Michigan's 83 county-level areas.
| Household income | Newaygo County | vs Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.2% | +2.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.2% | +5.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.0% | -2.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.6% | -4.9 pts |
Some 25% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 28% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 12.8% of Newaygo County residents in poverty, against 13.2% across Michigan. For a borrower in Newaygo County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Renting and owning in Newaygo County
Renters in Newaygo County pay a median of $904 a month, 20% below the Michigan figure of $1,129. 45% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 23% spend half or more. With a median value of $186,700, a typical Newaygo County house costs 2.9 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 87% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1978.
| Measure | Newaygo County | Michigan | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $904/mo | $1,129/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $186,700 | $231,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 87% | 73% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 45% | 50% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 29% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 19.1% | 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).
The Newaygo County job picture
By the Census industry count, 22% of employed Newaygo County residents work in manufacturing and 17% in education and health care. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 22% locally and 18% for Michigan. Averaged over the five survey years, 4.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are common here: 25% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 4.7% of the total (7.0% statewide).
| Industry | Share of Newaygo County workers | vs Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 21.6% | +3.4 pts |
| Education and health care | 17.2% | -6.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.1% | +1.3 pts |
| Construction | 9.0% | +3.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.8% | -2.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 5.7% | -2.7 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Newaygo County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Newaygo County next to its neighbors
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Newaygo County's, from 23 to 38 miles away. 2 of the six report a higher median household income than Newaygo County; Montcalm County is highest at $67,344 and Lake County lowest at $50,805.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newaygo County | - | $63,304 | $904/mo | 87% |
| Mecosta County, MI | 23 mi | $60,951 | $934/mo | 77% |
| Lake County, MI | 30 mi | $50,805 | $875/mo | 82% |
| Muskegon County, MI | 33 mi | $65,024 | $1,028/mo | 78% |
| Oceana County, MI | 34 mi | $62,417 | $759/mo | 84% |
| Montcalm County, MI | 37 mi | $67,344 | $869/mo | 83% |
| Osceola County, MI | 38 mi | $58,267 | $807/mo | 84% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Newaygo County
Here are the 5 most populous of the county's 5 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 20% of Newaygo County residents live in one of the 5. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $37,174 in Hesperia to $58,083 in Grant. Live in one of these Newaygo County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fremont | city | 4,568 | $57,452 | $730 | 11 mi |
| Newaygo | city | 2,512 | $40,689 | $1,040 | 10 mi |
| White Cloud | city | 1,280 | $45,192 | $831 | 1 mi |
| Grant | city | 1,096 | $58,083 | $1,063 | 16 mi |
| Hesperia | village | 934 | $37,174 | $571 | 13 mi |
Newaygo County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 18% of adults over 25. 6.2% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Newaygo County | Michigan | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.7 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.1% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.6% | 7.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.2% | 4.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.7% | 7.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.2% | 13.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.8% | 13.2% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.4% | 5.7% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Newaygo County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 27.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 29.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 11.1% |
| 60+ min | 13.5% |
Reading the Newaygo County data as a borrower
What the Newaygo County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Long drives. With 25% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Newaygo County budgets.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 19% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Newaygo County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
A Newaygo County household budget, worked through
How much room does a median Newaygo County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $5,275 a month: gross income for a household at the Newaygo County median
- Rent at the median, $904, takes 17% of that
- At 36%, room after rent is $995 a month
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,364 a month
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Newaygo County's.
Checklist for Newaygo County applicants
Quick steps for Newaygo County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Newaygo County.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Verify the Michigan license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Checking a lender's license in Michigan
Before sharing details with a lender, a Newaygo County resident can confirm its license with the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. Statewide data and rules: Michigan guide.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Michigan guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Newaygo County a high-income county?
Its $63,304 median ranks 45th of 83 Michigan counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Newaygo County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $904 a month; 45% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Should Newaygo County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 87% of Newaygo County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Does this page cover Fremont?
Yes, along with the other 4 Census places in Newaygo County, such as Newaygo, White Cloud, Grant.
Can Newaygo County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Michigan county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.