United States › Michigan › Ontonagon County COUNTY
Ontonagon County Michigan · 5,823 residents (2025 est.) · 1,311 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
With 5,850 people, Ontonagon County is a county in Michigan. At a median age of 59.8, this is an older place than the country as a whole. Owners hold 87% of the housing stock. 18% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. Density works out to 4 people per square mile. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $111,700.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 59.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
18% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 35%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 7,818 in 2000
5,823 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
from 5 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 45.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
6K 6K 7K 8K 9K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Ontonagon County Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $54,398
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $29,552 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $16,695 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 14.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 10.4% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.409 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 8.7%
Professional, scientific, technical 5.2%
Public administration 3.5%
Education & health services 2.8%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.7%
Transportation & warehousing 0.5%
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$111,700
+35%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $45,300 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$540
−8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $321 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 85.0% in 2000
12.9% rent
from 39.6% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.03 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 20.5% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 39.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 2.2 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 96.8%(7,567)
Hispanic / Latino 0.7%(58)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 92.3%(5,402)
Hispanic / Latino 1.8%(105)
from 10 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
from 14 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 Ancestry
+ 24 more ancestry groups with data from 13.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 83.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 4.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 17.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 77.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 12.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 2.2% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 6.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 8.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 12.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 51.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 65.4% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 17.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 18.6% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 20.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 17.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 13.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 57.6% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 84.2% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 94.9% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 96.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 0.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 13.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 47.0% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 23.7% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 40.7% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 21.5% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 7.8% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 65.9% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 58.2% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
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) 13.9%(101)
Gulf War (1990s) 19.7%(143)
Share of the 726 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.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Ontonagon County Head to head
Compare Ontonagon County to nearby counties ONTONAGON COUNTY VS
Houghton County
Income $58,899 +8%
Home value $159,900 +43%
Population 37,842 +550%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ONTONAGON COUNTY VS
Gogebic County
Income $52,732 −3%
Home value $107,200 −4%
Population 14,285 +145%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ONTONAGON COUNTY VS
Baraga County
Income $55,327 +2%
Home value $138,100 +24%
Population 8,169 +40%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ONTONAGON COUNTY VS
Vilas County
Income $68,431 +26%
Home value $300,000 +169%
Population 23,761 +308%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Ontonagon County, Michigan? Ontonagon County, Michigan has about 5,850 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Ontonagon County, Michigan? The typical household in Ontonagon County, Michigan earns about $54,398 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Ontonagon County, Michigan expensive? In Ontonagon County, Michigan, the median home is worth about $111,700, and the typical rent is about $540 a month.
How educated are people in Ontonagon County, Michigan? About 18.4% of adults age 25 and over in Ontonagon County, Michigan hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Ontonagon County, Michigan? About 12.5% of people in Ontonagon County, Michigan live below the federal poverty line.
Has Ontonagon County, Michigan grown since 1990? Yes, Ontonagon County, Michigan has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 3,004 residents, a change of about -34 percent over that period.
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