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CITY

Iron River

Michigan · 3,027 residents (2025 est.) · 6.736 sq mi
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The short version

Iron River has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $54,183. The city has grown rapidly, with population up 56% since 2000. 21% 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 $85,000. The poverty rate of 20.6% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 26% less than the Michigan median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 43.1
US median: 38.9
Less educated
21% 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
3,002
+56%since 2000
from 1,929 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
446 / sq mi
+56%since 2000
from 286 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
43.1
−8%since 2000
from 46.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:3,027 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
2K2K3K3K3K1990201020202024Iron River
20243K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$54,183
+27%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $23,438 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$29,651
+89%since 2000
from $15,728 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
36.0%
+29.8 ptssince 2009
from 6.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
20.6%
+8.8 ptssince 2000
from 11.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.467
+15%since 2010
from 0.406 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade13.4%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade9.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Information7.7%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services4.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3.5%
US avg: 4.8%
Arts, entertainment, food3.1%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.9%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction2.9%
US avg: 1.2%
Finance & insurance2.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing1.8%
US avg: 2.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$85,000
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $42,300 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$486
−23%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $345 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
70.0%
−2.1 ptssince 2000
from 72.1% in 2000
30.0% rent
Vacancy rate
25.3%
+14.6 ptssince 2009
from 10.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
12.9%
−13.8 ptssince 2009
from 26.7% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
29.7%
−15.2 ptssince 2009
from 44.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.6
−13%since 2000
from 1.8 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
59
RELATED:See current rent listings in Iron River on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic94.7%(1,827)
Black0.2%(3)
Hispanic / Latino0.8%(15)
Asian0.2%(4)
Other0%
Diversity Score2.9%(57)
2024
White, non-Hispanic85.9%(2,580)
Black1.9%(56)
Hispanic / Latino5.1%(153)
Asian0%(0)
Other7.1%(213)
Diversity Score31.7%(951)
Diversity Score
32
+975%since 2000
from 3 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
20.6%
+6.9 ptssince 2000
from 13.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
96.6%
+13.1 ptssince 2000
from 83.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.7%
+0.3 ptssince 2000
from 5.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
11.3 min
−11%since 2000
from 12.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
69.5%
−9.7 ptssince 2009
from 79.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.8%
−3.1 ptssince 2009
from 12.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
13.6%
+13.0 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.7%
−3.8 ptssince 2009
from 6.5% 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
6.2%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 6.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.7%
−0.8 ptssince 2011
from 5.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
56.5%
+8.6 ptssince 2011
from 47.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
16.7%
+6.0 ptssince 2009
from 10.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
20.8%
−37.1 ptssince 2009
from 57.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
47.8%
−2.1 ptssince 2009
from 49.9% in 2009
Female
52.2%
+2.1 ptssince 2009
from 50.1% in 2009
Foreign born
0.9%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.9%
−40.6 ptssince 2009
from 48.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
21.9%
−7.9 ptssince 2012
from 29.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.8%
−78.5 ptssince 2013
from 85.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
87.1%
+29.2 ptssince 2017
from 57.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
93.3%
−3.5 ptssince 2016
from 96.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
6.5%
+5.3 ptssince 2016
from 1.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Iron River, Michigan?

Iron River, Michigan has about 3,002 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Iron River, Michigan?

The typical household in Iron River, Michigan earns about $54,183 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Iron River, Michigan expensive?

In Iron River, Michigan, the median home is worth about $85,000, and the typical rent is about $486 a month.

How educated are people in Iron River, Michigan?

About 20.6% of adults age 25 and over in Iron River, Michigan hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Iron River, Michigan?

About 20.6% of people in Iron River, Michigan live below the federal poverty line.

Has Iron River, Michigan grown since 1990?

Yes, Iron River, Michigan has grown since 1990. The population has added about 907 residents, a change of about 43 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 →