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CITY

Howard City

Michigan · 1,923 residents (2025 est.) · 2.415 sq mi
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The short version

Howard City has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $54,688. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $151,200. At a median age of 33.7, residents skew younger than the country as a whole.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 33.7
US median: 38.9
Less educated
7% 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
1,636
+3%since 2000
from 1,585 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
677 / sq mi
+3%since 2000
from 656 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
33.7
+7%since 2000
from 31.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:1,923 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
1K1K2K2K2K1990201020202024Howard City
20242K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$54,688
−13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $34,556 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$28,783
+104%since 2000
from $14,076 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
28.5%
+17.7 ptssince 2009
from 10.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
23.9%
+13.5 ptssince 2000
from 10.4% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.430
+15%since 2010
from 0.374 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade30.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Information16.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade15.6%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance6.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing2.2%
US avg: 2.2%
Other services1.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration1.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Education & health services1.2%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.8%
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
$151,200
+20%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $69,100 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$609
−29%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $468 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
77.5%
+7.7 ptssince 2000
from 69.8% in 2000
22.5% rent
Vacancy rate
4.1%
−6.6 ptssince 2009
from 10.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
27.8%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 28.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
47.5%
−4.5 ptssince 2009
from 52.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.8
+38%since 2000
from 2.0 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
50
RELATED:See current rent listings in Howard City on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic94.3%(1,494)
Black0.2%(3)
Hispanic / Latino2.6%(41)
Asian0.1%(2)
Other0%
Diversity Score7.3%(115)
2024
White, non-Hispanic88.8%(1,453)
Black0.2%(3)
Hispanic / Latino4.8%(79)
Asian0.6%(10)
Other5.6%(91)
Diversity Score25.7%(421)
Diversity Score
26
+254%since 2000
from 7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
7.1%
−0.7 ptssince 2000
from 7.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
86.7%
+12.3 ptssince 2000
from 74.3% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
0.0%
−3.2 ptssince 2000
from 3.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
31.1 min
+21%since 2000
from 25.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
74.5%
−3.3 ptssince 2009
from 77.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
15.4%
−5.4 ptssince 2009
from 20.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
5.1%
+4.8 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.5%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.5%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
8.7%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 8.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
1.8%
−12.9 ptssince 2011
from 14.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
64.7%
+0.1 ptssince 2011
from 64.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
10.8%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 11.1% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
19.0%
−32.2 ptssince 2009
from 51.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
54.8%
+8.2 ptssince 2009
from 46.6% in 2009
Female
45.2%
−8.2 ptssince 2009
from 53.4% in 2009
Foreign born
2.1%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
10.0%
−37.3 ptssince 2009
from 47.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
14.1%
−1.6 ptssince 2012
from 15.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.8%
−73.1 ptssince 2013
from 79.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
88.3%
+23.9 ptssince 2017
from 64.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.5%
−1.1 ptssince 2016
from 98.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.1%
+1.1 ptssince 2016
from 1.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Compare Howard City to nearby cities

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HOWARD CITY VS
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HOWARD CITY VS
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HOWARD CITY VS
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Howard City, Michigan?

Howard City, Michigan has about 1,636 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Howard City, Michigan?

The typical household in Howard City, Michigan earns about $54,688 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Howard City, Michigan expensive?

In Howard City, Michigan, the median home is worth about $151,200, and the typical rent is about $609 a month.

How educated are people in Howard City, Michigan?

About 7.1% of adults age 25 and over in Howard City, Michigan hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Howard City, Michigan?

About 23.9% of people in Howard City, Michigan live below the federal poverty line.

Has Howard City, Michigan grown since 1990?

Yes, Howard City, Michigan has grown since 1990. The population has added about 285 residents, a change of about 21 percent over that period.

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

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