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CITY

Bad Axe

Michigan · 2,943 residents (2025 est.) · 2.332 sq mi
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The short version

Bad Axe has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $44,688. Population has declined 14% since 2000. 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $125,200. With a median age of 48.6, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. Households here earn about 39% less than the Michigan median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 48.6
US median: 38.9
Less educated
22% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
2,992
−14%since 2000
from 3,462 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,283 / sq mi
−14%since 2000
from 1,485 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
48.6
+26%since 2000
from 38.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:2,943 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
3K3K3K3K4K1990201020202024Bad Axe
20243K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$44,688
−24%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,125 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$28,740
+65%since 2000
from $17,465 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
31.8%
+18.4 ptssince 2009
from 13.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
20.2%
+6.1 ptssince 2000
from 14.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.429
−21%since 2010
from 0.543 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade18.5%
US avg: 9.9%
Information16.7%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services7.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Wholesale trade7%
US avg: 6.9%
Public administration6.9%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance4.5%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing2%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0.8%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.4%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$125,200
−2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $70,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$742
+22%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $333 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
57.4%
−10.8 ptssince 2000
from 68.2% in 2000
42.6% rent
Vacancy rate
10.1%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 11.2% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
20.4%
−4.3 ptssince 2009
from 24.7% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
42.5%
+6.1 ptssince 2009
from 36.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.8
+28%since 2000
from 2.2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
58
RELATED:See current rent listings in Bad Axe on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic96.5%(3,340)
Black0.3%(9)
Hispanic / Latino1.5%(53)
Asian0.6%(20)
Other0%
Diversity Score5.9%(204)
2024
White, non-Hispanic86%(2,573)
Black0.6%(19)
Hispanic / Latino7.8%(234)
Asian1.9%(56)
Other3.7%(110)
Diversity Score31.6%(945)
Diversity Score
32
+437%since 2000
from 6 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
22.1%
+5.7 ptssince 2000
from 16.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
87.2%
+10.6 ptssince 2000
from 76.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.0%
+2.2 ptssince 2000
from 4.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.5 min
+93%since 2000
from 11.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
75.8%
−5.8 ptssince 2009
from 81.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.2%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 10.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
2.0%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 2.5% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
8.0%
+3.6 ptssince 2009
from 4.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
5.0%
+3.6 ptssince 2009
from 1.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
14.5%
+2.6 ptssince 2009
from 11.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.6%
−7.7 ptssince 2011
from 13.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
49.4%
−5.2 ptssince 2011
from 54.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
6.6%
−8.4 ptssince 2009
from 15.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
25.4%
−44.6 ptssince 2009
from 70.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
46.2%
+3.4 ptssince 2009
from 42.8% in 2009
Female
53.8%
−3.4 ptssince 2009
from 57.2% in 2009
Foreign born
5.0%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 3.7% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
4.7%
−34.7 ptssince 2009
from 39.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
20.0%
−1.2 ptssince 2012
from 21.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
2.9%
−88.3 ptssince 2013
from 91.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
76.1%
+8.3 ptssince 2017
from 67.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
89.2%
−9.0 ptssince 2016
from 98.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
6.4%
+6.0 ptssince 2016
from 0.4% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Frequently asked

How many people live in Bad Axe, Michigan?

Bad Axe, Michigan has about 2,992 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Bad Axe, Michigan?

The typical household in Bad Axe, Michigan earns about $44,688 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Bad Axe, Michigan expensive?

In Bad Axe, Michigan, the median home is worth about $125,200, and the typical rent is about $742 a month.

How educated are people in Bad Axe, Michigan?

About 22.1% of adults age 25 and over in Bad Axe, Michigan hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Bad Axe, Michigan?

About 20.2% of people in Bad Axe, Michigan live below the federal poverty line.

Has Bad Axe, Michigan grown since 1990?

Yes, Bad Axe, Michigan has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 492 residents, a change of about -14 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →