1st Advantage MortgageWashtenaw County households have a median income of $89,180 and median rent of $1,463 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Michigan before sharing details.
On this page
- Who lives in Washtenaw County
- Paychecks and income spread in Washtenaw County
- The Washtenaw County job picture
- Renting and owning in Washtenaw County
- Washtenaw County towns compared
- Washtenaw County next to its neighbors
- Budget math at the Washtenaw County median
- What the numbers mean for Washtenaw County borrowers
- Washtenaw County households compared
- Lender oversight for Washtenaw County
- Before you sign
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Washtenaw County
Washtenaw County is home to about 369,822 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 6th most populous of 83 county-level areas in Michigan. It covers 706 square miles of land, or about 524 people per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Ann Arbor, MI metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Of the 9 Census places inside Washtenaw County, Ann Arbor leads by population with about 122,036; 8 of the 9 are incorporated.
Paychecks and income spread in Washtenaw County
At $89,180, the typical Washtenaw County household income is 36% above the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Yearly household income | Washtenaw County | Gap to Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 19.6% | -3.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 35.6% | -5.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.6% | +1.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 17.2% | +7.6 pts |
Some 20% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 45% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 14.2% of Washtenaw County residents in poverty, against 13.2% across Michigan. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.487 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Washtenaw County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
The Washtenaw County job picture
Education and health care employs 37% of working residents, the largest share; professional and administrative services is next with 14%. Education and health care stands out: 37% of workers here, versus 23% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 4.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 11% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 8.2% of households have no vehicle.
| Where residents work | Washtenaw County | Difference from Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 37.2% | +13.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 13.6% | +3.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.5% | -5.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.7% | +0.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 7.9% | -2.9 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 4.1% | -1.7 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Renting and owning in Washtenaw County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,463 in Washtenaw County versus $1,129 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 56% of renter households here. Home values center on $374,100, or 4.2 years of median income. 62% of Washtenaw County households own their home and 38% rent. Median construction year: 1978.
| Measure | Washtenaw County | Michigan | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,463/mo | $1,129/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $374,100 | $231,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 62% | 73% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 56% | 50% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 3.7% | 5.0% | n/a |
When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
Washtenaw County towns compared
Here are the 9 most populous of the county's 9 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 48% of Washtenaw County residents live in one of the 9. Incomes vary by place: $106,637 at the median in Dexter, $46,588 in Ypsilanti. Median rent ranges from $840 in Manchester to $1,761 in Dexter. This guide covers each of the 9 places and the rural areas around them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor | city | 122,036 | $82,212 | $1,649 | 6 mi |
| Ypsilanti | city | 19,857 | $46,588 | $1,080 | 11 mi |
| Saline | city | 9,006 | $88,346 | $1,054 | 6 mi |
| Whitmore Lake | CDP | 7,878 | $86,779 | $1,329 | 13 mi |
| Milan | city | 5,987 | $96,949 | $1,162 | 14 mi |
| Chelsea | city | 5,426 | $72,098 | $1,619 | 10 mi |
| Dexter | city | 4,521 | $106,637 | $1,761 | 6 mi |
| Manchester | village | 2,522 | $87,614 | $840 | 12 mi |
| Barton Hills | village | 430 | $250,001 | n/a | 6 mi |
Washtenaw County next to its neighbors
Six nearby counties, 24 to 36 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $60,539 in Wayne County to $103,039 in Livingston County; 1 of these neighbors top Washtenaw County's median.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washtenaw County | - | $89,180 | $1,463/mo | 62% |
| Livingston County, MI | 24 mi | $103,039 | $1,287/mo | 87% |
| Lenawee County, MI | 27 mi | $70,518 | $987/mo | 80% |
| Jackson County, MI | 30 mi | $66,073 | $985/mo | 75% |
| Monroe County, MI | 30 mi | $77,335 | $1,059/mo | 82% |
| Wayne County, MI | 30 mi | $60,539 | $1,132/mo | 65% |
| Ingham County, MI | 36 mi | $65,526 | $1,084/mo | 59% |
Budget math at the Washtenaw County median
How much room does a median Washtenaw County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Monthly gross at the median, Washtenaw County: $7,432
- Median rent: $1,463, or 20 cents of every gross dollar
- 40% debt-to-income limit: $1,510 left for all other debt payments
If your rent is above $1,463, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
What the numbers mean for Washtenaw County borrowers
Where the Washtenaw County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Strong incomes, long terms. 45% of Washtenaw County households earn $100,000+. The risk is a term that outlasts the need.
- Renters under pressure. When 56% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
Washtenaw County households compared
59% of Washtenaw County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 3% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Washtenaw County | Michigan | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.0 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 58.7% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 4.0% | 7.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.3% | 4.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 8.2% | 7.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 22.6% | 13.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.2% | 13.2% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.6% | 5.7% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Washtenaw County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 25.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 45.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.4% |
| 60+ min | 4.9% |
Lender oversight for Washtenaw County
Consumer lenders serving Washtenaw County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Michigan that is the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. Statewide data and rules: Michigan guide.
Before you sign
Quick steps for Washtenaw County:
- Price the Washtenaw County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Related local guides
The Michigan guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Washtenaw County?
$89,180 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $72,875 for Michigan. It ranks 5th of 83 in the state.
How much is rent in Washtenaw County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,463 a month; 56% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Does this page cover Ann Arbor?
Yes, along with the other 8 Census places in Washtenaw County, such as Ypsilanti, Saline, Whitmore Lake.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Washtenaw County or elsewhere in Michigan, the same rules apply.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Washtenaw County?
Start with the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.