CensusEasy
CITY

West Branch

Michigan · 2,370 residents (2025 est.) · 1.539 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Compare
The short version

West Branch has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $41,250. Population has grown 16% since 2000. 22% 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 $147,800. The poverty rate of 23.1% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 43% less than the Michigan median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 43.0
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
2,225
+16%since 2000
from 1,926 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,446 / sq mi
+16%since 2000
from 1,251 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
43.0
+24%since 2000
from 34.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:2,370 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
2K2K2K2K2K1990201020202024West Branch
20242K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$41,250
−25%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,132 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$23,734
+33%since 2000
from $17,852 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
17.0%
+4.0 ptssince 2009
from 12.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
23.1%
+9.1 ptssince 2000
from 14.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.415
−3%since 2010
from 0.427 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information19.5%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade11%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services4.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3.2%
US avg: 4.8%
Wholesale trade2.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1.3%
US avg: 1.9%
Finance & insurance1.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical1.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing0.9%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$147,800
+20%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $67,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$842
+9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $423 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
41.2%
−12.7 ptssince 2000
from 53.9% in 2000
58.8% rent
Vacancy rate
11.1%
−3.4 ptssince 2009
from 14.5% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
14.0%
−8.3 ptssince 2009
from 22.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
53.1%
+6.6 ptssince 2009
from 46.6% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.6
+60%since 2000
from 2.2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
52
RELATED:See current rent listings in West Branch on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic94.5%(1,821)
Black0.1%(2)
Hispanic / Latino0.7%(14)
Asian2.6%(50)
Other0%
Diversity Score8.5%(164)
2024
White, non-Hispanic89.5%(1,991)
Black2.2%(49)
Hispanic / Latino4.2%(94)
Asian1.3%(28)
Other2.8%(63)
Diversity Score24.5%(545)
Diversity Score
25
+188%since 2000
from 8 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
21.7%
+2.8 ptssince 2000
from 18.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
92.7%
+8.9 ptssince 2000
from 83.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
6.6%
+1.2 ptssince 2000
from 5.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.5 min
+59%since 2000
from 13.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
82.0%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 81.4% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.8%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 8.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.5%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
2.7%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
4.1%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 4.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 2.7% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
16.9%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 18.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
7.0%
+2.0 ptssince 2011
from 5.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
43.1%
−14.0 ptssince 2011
from 57.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
12.3%
+3.3 ptssince 2009
from 9.1% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
35.6%
−32.1 ptssince 2009
from 67.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
47.7%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 46.7% in 2009
Female
52.3%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 53.3% in 2009
Foreign born
4.9%
+4.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
8.8%
−34.3 ptssince 2009
from 43.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
24.2%
+0.5 ptssince 2012
from 23.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.4%
−80.8 ptssince 2013
from 87.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
93.9%
+31.0 ptssince 2017
from 62.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
95.2%
−0.2 ptssince 2016
from 95.4% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.0%
−0.7 ptssince 2016
from 1.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to West Branch

Graceville
Pop 2,217
Campbell
Pop 2,123
Dunnellon
Pop 2,056
Bonifay
Pop 2,839
Places similar to West Branch
Head to head

Compare West Branch to nearby cities

WEST BRANCH VS
Midland
Income$73,325+78%
Home value$203,900+38%
Population42,806+1706%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WEST BRANCH VS
Bay City
Income$49,420+20%
Home value$97,600−34%
Population31,868+1245%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WEST BRANCH VS
Mount Pleasant
Income$44,706+8%
Home value$173,100+17%
Population20,925+783%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WEST BRANCH VS
Cadillac
Income$51,773+26%
Home value$134,300−9%
Population10,438+340%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in West Branch, Michigan?

West Branch, Michigan has about 2,225 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in West Branch, Michigan?

The typical household in West Branch, Michigan earns about $41,250 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is West Branch, Michigan expensive?

In West Branch, Michigan, the median home is worth about $147,800, and the typical rent is about $842 a month.

How educated are people in West Branch, Michigan?

About 21.7% of adults age 25 and over in West Branch, Michigan hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in West Branch, Michigan?

About 23.1% of people in West Branch, Michigan live below the federal poverty line.

Has West Branch, Michigan grown since 1990?

Yes, West Branch, Michigan has grown since 1990. The population has added about 311 residents, a change of about 16 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
Michigan
Rankings
Highest income citiesFastest growing citiesMost educated cities
Compare
Compare West Branch with another place

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

How we source and harmonize this data →