1st Advantage MortgageShiawassee County (67,991 residents) has a $67,404 median household income and $899 median rent, by the latest Census five-year survey. Borrow only what the expense needs, pick the shortest affordable term, and walk away from any lender asking a Shiawassee County applicant for an upfront fee.
On this page
- Population and place: Shiawassee County
- Where Shiawassee County households live
- Where Shiawassee County works
- Shiawassee County income bands
- Shiawassee County at the extremes
- Towns and communities in Shiawassee County
- How Shiawassee County compares with nearby counties
- Before borrowing in Shiawassee County
- What a median Shiawassee County budget can carry
- Shiawassee County households compared
- Checklist for Shiawassee County applicants
- Licensing and complaints for Shiawassee County
- Beyond Shiawassee County
- Frequently asked questions
Population and place: Shiawassee County
With an estimated 67,991 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Shiawassee County ranks 27th of 83 in Michigan for population. Land area is 531 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 128 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Shiawassee County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Largest place: Owosso, about 14,632 residents (22% of Shiawassee County); 14 Census places in all.
Where Shiawassee County households live
A typical Shiawassee County rental runs $899 a month including utilities, which is 20% below Michigan. Cost-burdened renters, paying 30%-plus of income: 47% in Shiawassee County, 50% statewide. Home values center on $171,600, or 2.5 years of median income. Homeowners 80%, renters 20%. The median home was built in 1969, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Home costs | Shiawassee County | Michigan | Compared with Michigan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $899/mo | $1,129/mo | 20% lower |
| Median home value | $171,600 | $231,600 | 26% lower |
| Owners | 80% | 73% | +6.9 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 47% | 50% | -3.8 pts |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 23% | -1.3 pts |
| Mobile homes | 6.4% | 5.0% | +1.4 pts |
At a $171,600 median value, many Shiawassee County owners hold equity. Using it lowers cost only if you can carry the risk (equity vs. unsecured).
Where Shiawassee County works
The biggest employer of Shiawassee County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 23% of workers, followed by manufacturing (18%). The survey's unemployment rate for Shiawassee County averages 4.0% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.7%). 30% of Shiawassee County workers get to work in under 15 minutes, while 19% need 45 or more. 1,580 Shiawassee County households, 5.6%, have no vehicle.
| Where residents work | Shiawassee County | Difference from Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.9% | -0.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 18.1% | -0.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.8% | +1.0 pts |
| Construction | 7.4% | +1.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.2% | -3.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.9% | -1.5 pts |
Self-employed in Shiawassee County? Two years of tax returns usually stand in for pay stubs.
Shiawassee County income bands
Median household income in Shiawassee County: $67,404 (8% below Michigan, $72,875).
| Yearly household income | Shiawassee County | Gap to Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 23.5% | +0.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.3% | +3.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.8% | +0.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.5% | -5.0 pts |
Six-figure households (31%) outnumber those under $35,000 (23%) in Shiawassee County. The poverty rate is 12.0%, 1 point lower than the state's 13.2%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.419 here. None of these numbers decides a Shiawassee County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Shiawassee County at the extremes
- Shiawassee County ranks 12th lowest of 83 Michigan counties for the uninsured rate: 4.0%, against 4.9% statewide. Even insured households face deductibles; ask the provider about a payment plan.
- Shiawassee County ranks 16th lowest of 83 Michigan counties for the ACS unemployment rate: 4.0%, against 5.7% statewide. A tight job market helps steady income, but lenders still verify it.
- On the housing vacancy rate, Shiawassee County sits near the bottom of Michigan at 7%, 17th lowest of 83. Few vacant units can mean a tight housing market.
Towns and communities in Shiawassee County
31,085 of Shiawassee County's 67,991 residents live in its 14 Census places (46%); the 14 largest are listed. Incomes vary by place: $77,400 at the median in Laingsburg, $46,141 in Corunna. Median rent ranges from $765 in New Lothrop to $1,250 in Vernon. This guide covers each of the 14 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owosso | city | 14,632 | $54,229 | $784 | 3 mi |
| Durand | city | 3,483 | $66,743 | $851 | 8 mi |
| Corunna | city | 3,037 | $46,141 | $932 | 3 mi |
| Perry | city | 2,073 | $75,321 | $1,091 | 9 mi |
| Laingsburg | city | 1,769 | $77,400 | $888 | 11 mi |
| Morrice | village | 1,550 | $66,071 | $1,010 | 8 mi |
| Middletown | CDP | 799 | $46,250 | $869 | 2 mi |
| New Lothrop | village | 733 | $72,344 | $765 | 15 mi |
| Vernon | village | 697 | $69,625 | $1,250 | 6 mi |
| Byron | village | 617 | $58,958 | $980 | 13 mi |
| Bancroft | village | 469 | $90,000 | $944 | 7 mi |
| Lennon | village | 465 | $66,111 | $850 | 11 mi |
| Shaftsburg | CDP | 441 | $94,100 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Henderson | CDP | 320 | $73,750 | $1,031 | 10 mi |
How Shiawassee County compares with nearby counties
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (23 to 33 miles). Richest neighbor: Livingston County, $103,039. Poorest: Saginaw County, $60,622. Shiawassee County: $67,404.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shiawassee County | - | $67,404 | $899/mo | 80% |
| Clinton County, MI | 23 mi | $88,210 | $1,092/mo | 82% |
| Genesee County, MI | 23 mi | $62,281 | $989/mo | 71% |
| Saginaw County, MI | 26 mi | $60,622 | $947/mo | 74% |
| Ingham County, MI | 27 mi | $65,526 | $1,084/mo | 59% |
| Livingston County, MI | 27 mi | $103,039 | $1,287/mo | 87% |
| Gratiot County, MI | 33 mi | $63,556 | $834/mo | 79% |
Before borrowing in Shiawassee County
- Long drives. With 19% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Shiawassee County budgets.
- Tight rental budgets. With 47% of Shiawassee County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
What a median Shiawassee County budget can carry
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Shiawassee County's medians:
- $5,617 a month: gross income for a household at the Shiawassee County median
- 16% goes to median rent ($899)
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,516 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Shiawassee County households compared
In Shiawassee County, 20% of adults have at least a four-year degree (32% in Michigan). About 4% go without health insurance.
| Shiawassee County | vs Michigan | vs U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.0% | -12.4 pts | -2.2 pts |
| Work from home | 8.3% | -5.1 pts | -0.3 pts |
| Median age | 43.2 | +3.0 yrs | +1.7 yrs |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.0% | -1.7 pts | -0.4 pts |
| No vehicle | 5.6% | -1.4 pts | +0.2 pts |
| Poverty rate | 12.0% | -1.2 pts | -1.1 pts |
| No health insurance | 4.0% | -0.9 pts | -3.8 pts |
| No high school diploma | 7.3% | -0.7 pts | n/a |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 29.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 26.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 25.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.3% |
| 60+ min | 8.5% |
Checklist for Shiawassee County applicants
A short checklist for Shiawassee County borrowers:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Shiawassee County.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Michigan borrowers.
- Ask a Shiawassee County credit union about member loans.
Licensing and complaints for Shiawassee County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Shiawassee County resident can confirm its license with the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services. If a Shiawassee County lender ignores a dispute, the CFPB complaint portal is the federal backstop.
Beyond Shiawassee County
For statewide rules and data, see the Michigan guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Shiawassee County household make?
About $67,404 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 8% below the Michigan median.
How much is rent in Shiawassee County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $899 a month; 47% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Should Shiawassee County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 80% of Shiawassee County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
I live near Owosso. Which guide is mine?
This one. Owosso and the rest of Shiawassee County have no separate city guide.
Does living in Shiawassee 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 Shiawassee County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.