1st Advantage MortgageRoscommon County households have a median income of $55,246 and median rent of $816 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 Roscommon County
- What Roscommon County households earn
- Roscommon County against other Michigan counties
- What it costs to live in Roscommon County
- The Roscommon County job picture
- Counties near Roscommon County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Roscommon County
- Roscommon County demographics against Michigan
- Debt-to-income, Roscommon County edition
- Before borrowing in Roscommon County
- A Roscommon County borrower's checklist
- Michigan rules that apply in Roscommon County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Roscommon County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Roscommon County's population at 23,737; only 59 of Michigan's 83 county-level areas are larger. It covers 520 square miles of land, or about 46 people per square mile. Roscommon County is classed as nonmetropolitan in the OMB's July 2023 list. Houghton Lake is the biggest of its 4 Census places, at roughly 5,769 people (24% of the county total).
What Roscommon County households earn
At $55,246, the typical Roscommon County household income is 16% below the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Yearly household income | Roscommon County | Gap to Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 29.6% | +6.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 49.1% | +7.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 16.6% | -9.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.6% | -4.9 pts |
Some 30% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 21% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 15.5% of Roscommon County residents in poverty, against 13.2% across Michigan. For a borrower in Roscommon 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.
Roscommon County against other Michigan counties
The 3 Roscommon County numbers that rank furthest from typical in Michigan, and what each means for a borrower:
- Median age: 57.7 in Roscommon County. Only 2 of 83 Michigan counties are higher. Older borrowers often rely on fixed incomes, so a fixed payment helps.
- Few Michigan counties match Roscommon County on the housing vacancy rate: 50% here, 12% for the state, ranking 5th highest of 83. High vacancy often reflects seasonal or second homes.
- The share of households earning $100,000 or more: 21% in Roscommon County. Only 9 of 83 Michigan counties are lower. Most budgets here are modest, so keep payments small.
What it costs to live in Roscommon County
Renters in Roscommon County pay a median of $816 a month, 28% below the Michigan figure of $1,129. 48% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 28% spend half or more. Median value $158,700; median income $55,246; ratio 2.9. Owners occupy 85% of homes.
| Home costs | Roscommon County | Michigan | Compared with Michigan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vacant units | 50% | 12% | +38.3 pts |
| Owners | 85% | 73% | +12.2 pts |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 23% | +3.2 pts |
| Median home value | $158,700 | $231,600 | 31% lower |
| Median gross rent | $816/mo | $1,129/mo | 28% lower |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 50% | -2.1 pts |
In an owner-heavy county like Roscommon County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
The Roscommon County job picture
By the Census industry count, 22% of employed Roscommon County residents work in education and health care and 15% in retail trade. Roscommon County over-indexes on public administration: 8% versus 4% in Michigan. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.7% in Roscommon County. 34% of Roscommon County workers get to work in under 15 minutes, while 12% need 45 or more. 786 Roscommon County households, 6.8%, have no vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Roscommon County workers | vs Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.8% | -1.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 14.7% | +3.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.5% | -7.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.4% | +0.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.8% | -1.5 pts |
| Public administration | 8.1% | +4.5 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Counties near Roscommon County
Distances run center to center, from Missaukee County at 23 miles out to Kalkaska County at 33. Richest neighbor: Kalkaska County, $68,578. Poorest: Clare County, $49,384. Roscommon County: $55,246.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roscommon County | - | $55,246 | $816/mo | 85% |
| Missaukee County, MI | 23 mi | $66,194 | $891/mo | 85% |
| Crawford County, MI | 24 mi | $60,392 | $862/mo | 80% |
| Ogemaw County, MI | 24 mi | $54,666 | $823/mo | 84% |
| Gladwin County, MI | 27 mi | $55,349 | $690/mo | 86% |
| Clare County, MI | 27 mi | $49,384 | $765/mo | 87% |
| Kalkaska County, MI | 33 mi | $68,578 | $853/mo | 88% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Roscommon County
The table lists the 4 largest of 4 Census places in Roscommon County, by population. Together all 4 hold about 11,166 people, so roughly 53% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $33,635 in Prudenville to $54,167 in Roscommon. From Houghton Lake to the smallest crossroads, Roscommon County residents share this guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houghton Lake | CDP | 5,769 | $50,305 | $827 | 7 mi |
| St. Helen | CDP | 2,929 | $44,871 | $741 | 10 mi |
| Prudenville | CDP | 1,350 | $33,635 | $856 | 4 mi |
| Roscommon | village | 1,118 | $54,167 | $659 | 10 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Roscommon County demographics against Michigan
Degree holders: 20% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 4.9%, against 4.9% for Michigan.
| People and households | Roscommon County | Compared with Michigan | Compared with median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 57.7 | +17.5 yrs | +16.2 yrs |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.2% | -12.2 pts | -1.9 pts |
| No high school diploma | 8.2% | +0.3 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.9% | -0.1 pts | -3.0 pts |
| No vehicle | 6.8% | -0.2 pts | +1.4 pts |
| Work from home | 11.2% | -2.3 pts | +2.5 pts |
| Poverty rate | 15.5% | +2.3 pts | +2.4 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.7% | -1.0 pts | +0.3 pts |
| Commute length | Roscommon County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 34.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 36.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.8% |
| 60+ min | 7.3% |
Debt-to-income, Roscommon County edition
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Roscommon County's medians:
- Median income divided by twelve: $4,604 before taxes
- Median rent: $816, or 18 cents of every gross dollar
- With a 36% ceiling, about $841 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- Under a 43% cap, $1,980 total minus rent leaves $1,164
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Before borrowing in Roscommon County
- Age 57.7 at the median. Many Roscommon County applicants document income with award letters; ask about early payoff.
- Roscommon County rent burden. 48% of renters are cost-burdened; ask your landlord about a payment plan before borrowing for rent.
- Consolidating cards in Roscommon County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
A Roscommon County borrower's checklist
Quick steps for Roscommon County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Michigan rules that apply in Roscommon County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Roscommon County resident can confirm its license with the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. State-level detail for Roscommon County borrowers is in the Michigan guide.
Related local guides
Next step up from Roscommon County:
Frequently asked questions
Where does Roscommon County rank on income in Michigan?
70th of 83, with a median of $55,246. The state median is $72,875.
What is the median rent in Roscommon County, MI?
$816 a month, utilities included, or $9,792 a year.
Is home equity cheaper than a personal loan in Roscommon County?
Often, because the home secures it. With 85% of Roscommon County homes owner-occupied, weigh that lower cost against the risk to the house.
What are the biggest places in Roscommon County?
By population: Houghton Lake, St. Helen, Prudenville, Roscommon. The county has 4 Census places in all.
Does living in Roscommon 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 Roscommon County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.