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CITY · 2020 ACS

Plainwell

Michigan · 3,788 residents · 2.08 sq mi
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The short version

Plainwell is home to 3,788 people in Michigan. 19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 33% national rate. The foreign-born share is 0%. Median home value sits at $135,900. 78% were living in the same home a year earlier. The average commute runs 20 minutes.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 40.2
US median: 38.8
Less educated
19% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
More affordable
home values down 7%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

3,788
−4%since 2000
from 3,933 in 2000
1990 – 2025
40.2
+11%since 2000
from 36.2 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
2.08 sq mi
Population, 19902024
4K4K4K4K4K19902000201020202024Plainwell
20244K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 55.3%(202)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.8%(218)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 146.5%(245)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 196.3%(238)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 246.4%(242)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3413.1%(495)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4412.1%(458)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5411.4%(431)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6414.3%(540)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7411%(416)
US avg: 10%
75 to 845.5%(210)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over2.5%(93)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$58,776
−1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $39,590 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
$25,577
+51%since 2000
from $16,982 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
28.8%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 28.2% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
10.1%
+4.0 ptssince 2000
from 6.1% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade24.5%
US avg: 10%
Information14.3%
US avg: 11.1%
Finance & insurance3.8%
US avg: 5.5%
Wholesale trade3.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Education & health services2.6%
US avg: 0.8%
Other services2.1%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration1.5%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing1.4%
US avg: 2.5%
Professional, scientific, technical1.3%
US avg: 4.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

$135,900
−7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $97,100 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
$723
−4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $502 in 2000
US average: $1,124
65.2%
−4.2 ptssince 2000
from 69.4% in 2000
34.8% rent
2.34 people
−8%since 2009
from 2.54 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
2.3
−16%since 2009
from 2.8 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic96.1%(3,780)
Black0.5%(18)
Hispanic / Latino1.7%(65)
Asian0.3%(12)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic88.6%(3,356)
Black1.2%(44)
Hispanic / Latino3.9%(149)
Asian0.4%(17)
Other2.9%(110)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican6.1%(232)
Ancestry
German17.5%(663)
Dutch15.3%(581)
Irish9.5%(360)
English9.1%(344)
American4.2%(160)
Italian3.7%(142)
French3.6%(137)
Scottish2%(76)
Polish1.9%(71)
Scotch-Irish1.1%(42)
Swedish1.1%(41)
+ 5 more ancestry groups with data
Greek0.9%(34)
Finnish0.3%(13)
Danish0.3%(12)
British0.3%(11)
Czech0.3%(10)
Section 05

Education

18.6%
+0.7 ptssince 2000
from 18.0% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
94.8%
+15.3 ptssince 2000
from 79.5% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
5.9%
+2.1 ptssince 2000
from 3.8% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

19.7 min
+56%since 2000
from 12.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
81.5%
−4.0 ptssince 2009
from 85.5% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
5.0%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 3.3% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

2.3%
−13.3 ptssince 2011
from 15.6% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
55.2%
−13.3 ptssince 2011
from 68.4% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
67.8%
US average: 73.3%
32.8%
−3.8 ptssince 2009
from 36.6% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

48.2%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 48.5% in 2009
51.8%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 51.5% in 2009
0.0%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
3.9%
−12.8 ptssince 2013
from 16.7% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
94.0%
US average: 91.9%
78.1%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married42.8%(746)
Married40.8%(711)
Widowed3.1%(54)
Divorced13.2%(230)
Women 15+
Never married24%(371)
Married43.4%(670)
Widowed16%(247)
Divorced16.5%(255)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

3.9%
−12.8 ptssince 2013
from 16.7% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
68.0%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
12.8%
US average: 13.7%
21.8%
US average: 17.6%
17.3%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
3.2%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
80.5%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
35.4%
US average: 35.2%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later)14.7%(39)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)27.2%(72)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era33.6%(89)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War3.4%(9)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II2.6%(7)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 265 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Plainwell, Michigan?

Plainwell, Michigan has about 3,788 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Plainwell, Michigan?

The typical household in Plainwell, Michigan earns about $58,776 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Plainwell, Michigan expensive?

In Plainwell, Michigan, the median home is worth about $135,900, and the typical rent is about $723 a month.

How educated are people in Plainwell, Michigan?

About 18.6% of adults age 25 and over in Plainwell, Michigan hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Plainwell, Michigan?

About 10.1% of people in Plainwell, Michigan live below the federal poverty line.

Has Plainwell, Michigan grown since 1990?

Yes, Plainwell, Michigan has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 269 residents, a change of about -7 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 →