Iron County is home to 11,667 people in Michigan. The median age is 53.1, about 14 years above the US median. 84% of homes are owner-occupied. The typical home is worth $109,100, having more than doubled since 2000. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 23% of adults. There are 10 people per square mile.
At a glance
Lower income
median household income $55,940, below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 53.1
US median: 38.9
Less educated
23% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place
What stands out about Iron County
What changed most since 1990
White share98.4% → 90.6%(−7.8 pts)US over the same years: −17.8 pts
Population13,175 → 11,667(−11%)US over the same years: +35%
Median age43.5 → 53.1(+9.6 years)US over the same years: +6.0 years
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, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)12.8%(137)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)17.6%(188)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era44.5%(475)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War2%(21)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II1%(11)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 1,068 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
Over time
Iron County, decade by decade
Iron County population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
13,175
$39,138
$72,962
10.0%
3.9
2000
13,138
$52,026
$93,087
13.7%
9.9
2010
11,817
$48,529
$108,900
15.1%
9.2
2020
11,631
$53,552
$96,357
18.9%
16.7
2024
11,667
$55,940
$109,100
22.5%
21.8
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
