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COUNTY

Kalkaska County

Michigan · 18,693 residents (2025 est.) · 559.744 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#30Highest homeownership rateof 3,14488.2%
The short version

Kalkaska County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $68,578. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 19% 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 $188,900. With a median age of 44.4, the population is older than the US median of 38.9.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 44.4
US median: 38.9
Less educated
19% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 28%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
18,239
+10%since 2000
from 16,571 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
33 / sq mi
+7%since 2009
from 31 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
44.4
+17%since 2000
from 38.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:18,693 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
13K14K16K17K19K1990201020202024Kalkaska County
202418K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 54.8%(877)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95%(905)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.6%(1,210)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 195.5%(1,005)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.4%(806)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3411.7%(2,141)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4412.4%(2,266)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5411.7%(2,134)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6416.1%(2,934)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7413.4%(2,448)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 846.3%(1,144)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2%(369)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$68,578
+4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,072 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$34,934
+114%since 2000
from $16,309 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
44.6%
+28.1 ptssince 2009
from 16.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
12.2%
+1.8 ptssince 2000
from 10.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.406
+2%since 2010
from 0.399 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade16.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Information11.9%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade9.9%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance5.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services3.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.2%
US avg: 1.6%
Transportation & warehousing2.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Public administration2.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Construction2.2%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.1%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing1.1%
US avg: 0.4%
Education & health services1%
US avg: 0.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$188,900
+28%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $81,100 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$853
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $468 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
88.2%
+3.1 ptssince 2000
from 85.1% in 2000
11.8% rent
Vacancy rate
33.4%
−5.0 ptssince 2009
from 38.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
18.4%
−13.7 ptssince 2009
from 32.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
29.5%
−7.5 ptssince 2009
from 37.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.8
Unchangedsince 2009
from 2.8 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
75
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Kalkaska County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic96.9%(16,063)
Black0.2%(34)
Hispanic / Latino0.9%(142)
Asian0.2%(37)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic92.3%(16,841)
Black0.8%(148)
Hispanic / Latino2.3%(417)
Asian0.5%(91)
Other4.1%(742)
Diversity Score
18
+87%since 2009
from 10 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
10
+7%since 2020
from 10 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican1.8%(326)
Puerto Rican0.2%(29)
Spaniard0.1%(13)
Asian origin
Asian Indian0.2%(32)
Filipino0.2%(30)
Nepalese0.1%(21)
Chinese0%(1)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
German26.7%(4,878)
English15%(2,728)
Irish13.2%(2,405)
Polish5.9%(1,077)
American4.9%(886)
French4.5%(814)
Italian3.3%(596)
Dutch2.9%(532)
Scottish2.2%(408)
Swedish1.3%(242)
Norwegian0.9%(168)
+ 27 more ancestry groups with data
Ukrainian0.7%(126)
Welsh0.7%(120)
Russian0.7%(119)
Scotch-Irish0.6%(112)
Finnish0.5%(100)
Hungarian0.5%(86)
Danish0.3%(52)
Greek0.3%(52)
Lithuanian0.3%(51)
Canadian0.3%(50)
Swiss0.3%(50)
Romanian0.2%(45)
Belgian0.2%(43)
Arab0.2%(38)
Austrian0.2%(37)
Czech0.2%(31)
British0.2%(29)
Lebanese0.1%(26)
Portuguese0.1%(25)
Croatian0.1%(20)
Israeli0.1%(13)
Syrian0.1%(12)
Slovak0%(7)
Iranian0%(4)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest Polish population · Largest American population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
19.0%
+9.3 ptssince 2000
from 9.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
90.5%
+10.6 ptssince 2000
from 80.0% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
6.9%
+3.7 ptssince 2000
from 3.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
29.7 min
+52%since 2000
from 19.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
80.2%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 78.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
10.4%
−5.5 ptssince 2009
from 15.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
7.4%
+4.5 ptssince 2009
from 3.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.1%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.0%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 4.5% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.8%
−11.9 ptssince 2011
from 15.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
55.5%
−4.4 ptssince 2011
from 59.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
11.2%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 11.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
26.6%
−31.4 ptssince 2009
from 58.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.9%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 49.5% in 2009
Female
49.1%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 50.5% in 2009
Foreign born
1.4%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
9.5%
−39.7 ptssince 2009
from 49.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
18.7%
+2.5 ptssince 2012
from 16.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.1%
−78.3 ptssince 2013
from 84.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
87.4%
+22.1 ptssince 2017
from 65.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.3%
−0.2 ptssince 2016
from 97.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.9%
−1.0 ptssince 2016
from 1.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married28.3%(2,206)
Married53.1%(4,135)
Widowed4.2%(330)
Divorced14.4%(1,121)
Women 15+
Never married21.7%(1,617)
Married55.2%(4,112)
Widowed8.9%(667)
Divorced14.2%(1,059)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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Head to head

Compare Kalkaska County to nearby counties

KALKASKA COUNTY VS
Antrim County
Income$72,054+5%
Home value$255,500+35%
Population24,698+32%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
KALKASKA COUNTY VS
Grand Traverse County
Income$81,647+19%
Home value$339,400+80%
Population96,729+417%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
KALKASKA COUNTY VS
Crawford County
Income$60,392−12%
Home value$163,000−14%
Population13,722−27%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
KALKASKA COUNTY VS
Missaukee County
Income$66,194−3%
Home value$170,400−10%
Population15,274−18%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Kalkaska County, Michigan?

Kalkaska County, Michigan has about 18,239 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Kalkaska County, Michigan?

The typical household in Kalkaska County, Michigan earns about $68,578 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Kalkaska County, Michigan expensive?

In Kalkaska County, Michigan, the median home is worth about $188,900, and the typical rent is about $853 a month.

How educated are people in Kalkaska County, Michigan?

About 19.0% of adults age 25 and over in Kalkaska County, Michigan hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Kalkaska County, Michigan?

About 12.2% of people in Kalkaska County, Michigan live below the federal poverty line.

Has Kalkaska County, Michigan grown since 1990?

Yes, Kalkaska County, Michigan has grown since 1990. The population has added about 4,742 residents, a change of about 35 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

6 census tracts
Census Tract 9503Census Tract 9504Census Tract 9502.02Census Tract 9506.01Census Tract 9502.01Census Tract 9506.02
4 ZIP codes
ZIP 49646ZIP 49676ZIP 49633ZIP 49680
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →