1st Advantage MortgageIn Oceana County, Michigan, the typical household earns $62,417 a year and the typical rent is $759. 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
- Who lives in Oceana County
- How Oceana County residents earn a living
- Household income in Oceana County
- Renting and owning in Oceana County
- The communities that make up Oceana County
- Counties near Oceana County
- What a median Oceana County budget can carry
- Borrowing situations common in Oceana County
- People and households in Oceana County
- Before you sign
- Checking a lender's license in Michigan
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Oceana County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Oceana County's population at 26,915; only 50 of Michigan's 83 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 538 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 50 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Oceana County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Shelby is the biggest of its 7 Census places, at roughly 2,577 people (10% of the county total).
How Oceana County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Oceana County residents, by industry, is manufacturing at 22% of workers, followed by education and health care (18%). The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 9% locally and 1% for Michigan. Averaged over the five survey years, 6.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 13% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 4.3% of the total (7.0% statewide).
| Sector | Oceana County | Compared with Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 21.8% | +3.6 pts |
| Education and health care | 18.3% | -5.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.3% | -0.5 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 8.8% | +7.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.6% | -0.9 pts |
| Construction | 7.3% | +1.4 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Household income in Oceana County
Half of Oceana County households take in less than $62,417 a year and half take in more, 14% below the Michigan median of $72,875. That places it 48th among Michigan's 83 county-level areas.
| Households earning | Oceana County | +/- vs Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.3% | +2.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 48.0% | +6.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.5% | -4.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.2% | -4.3 pts |
About 25% of households earn under $35,000, while 27% clear $100,000. 13.6% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.2%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.436 here. For a borrower in Oceana 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 Oceana County
A typical Oceana County rental runs $759 a month including utilities, which is 33% below Michigan. 37% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 17% spend half or more. With a median value of $190,100, a typical Oceana County house costs 3.0 times what the median household earns in a year. 84% of Oceana County households own their home and 16% rent.
| Measure | Oceana County | Michigan | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $759/mo | $1,129/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $190,100 | $231,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 84% | 73% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 37% | 50% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 15.9% | 5.0% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 34% | 12% | n/a |
Because most Oceana 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.
The communities that make up Oceana County
7 Census places fall mainly inside Oceana County; the 7 biggest are below. They account for 6,568 residents, leaving about 76% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $80,750 at the median in Pentwater, $49,855 in Shelby. None of the 7 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shelby | village | 2,577 | $49,855 | $680 | 5 mi |
| Hart | city | 1,924 | $50,956 | $757 | 8 mi |
| Pentwater | village | 872 | $80,750 | $556 | 12 mi |
| New Era | village | 433 | $77,125 | $900 | 7 mi |
| Rothbury | village | 356 | $49,063 | $1,089 | 8 mi |
| Mears | CDP | 204 | $44,583 | $1,031 | 6 mi |
| Walkerville | village | 202 | $33,750 | $1,125 | 19 mi |
Counties near Oceana County
Six nearby counties, 12 to 45 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Ottawa County leads the group on income ($90,502), Lake County trails ($50,805), and Oceana County out-earns 1 of the six.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oceana County | - | $62,417 | $759/mo | 84% |
| Muskegon County, MI | 12 mi | $65,024 | $1,028/mo | 78% |
| Mason County, MI | 24 mi | $64,748 | $896/mo | 78% |
| Newaygo County, MI | 34 mi | $63,304 | $904/mo | 87% |
| Ottawa County, MI | 40 mi | $90,502 | $1,211/mo | 79% |
| Lake County, MI | 42 mi | $50,805 | $875/mo | 82% |
| Manistee County, MI | 45 mi | $63,516 | $842/mo | 86% |
What a median Oceana County budget can carry
How much room does a median Oceana County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Start: $5,201 gross per month ($62,417 / 12)
- Less median rent of $759, which is 15% of it
- $1,478: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
If your rent is above $759, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Borrowing situations common in Oceana County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Oceana County borrowers.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 16% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
People and households in Oceana County
22% of Oceana County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 7.5% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Oceana County | Michigan | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.2 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.5% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.7% | 7.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.5% | 4.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.3% | 7.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.4% | 13.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.6% | 13.2% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.5% | 5.7% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Oceana County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 35.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 32.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.1% |
| 60+ min | 6.1% |
Before you sign
Quick steps for Oceana County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Oceana County.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Verify the Michigan license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Checking a lender's license in Michigan
Consumer lenders serving Oceana County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Michigan that is the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: Michigan guide.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Michigan guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Oceana County household make?
About $62,417 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 14% below the Michigan median.
Is Oceana County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $759 against $1,129 statewide, and 37% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I own my home in Oceana County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 84% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Does this page cover Shelby?
Yes, along with the other 6 Census places in Oceana County, such as Hart, Pentwater, New Era.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Oceana County or elsewhere in Michigan, the same rules apply.