Village · Michigan
Decatur, Michigan
Decatur, village, in Van Buren County, Michigan. Decatur had 1,646 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 2.8% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 1,651 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 1,835 (±334). GEOID 2621040.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
1,646
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 1,651 · ACS 2020-2024: 1,835 ±334
Median household income
$61,806
±$11,977 (90% margin)
Michigan: $72,875
Median home value
$137,500
±$15,126 (90% margin)
Michigan: $231,600
Median gross rent
$785
±$79 (90% margin)
Michigan: $1,129
Where is Decatur and what county is it in?
Decatur is a village in Van Buren County, Michigan. It covers 1.4 square miles of land, 1,222 residents per square mile in 2020.
Decatur lies entirely within Decatur Township, a township with its own local government (2020 census blocks).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Decatur, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 1,646 people lived in Decatur on July 1, 2025, down 2.8% since 2020, while Michigan grew 0.5%. The 2020 Census counted 1,651 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 1,835 (±334).
| Measure | Decatur | Van Buren County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 1,835 ±334 | 75,795 | no clear change |
| Households | 739 ±133 | 30,622 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.46 ±0.31 | 2.44 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 818 ±141 | 37,405 | no clear change |
Decatur's population since 2000
From 1,838 in 2000 to 1,646 in 2025: down 10.4%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Decatur as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Decatur?
The median resident of Decatur is 33.3 years old; 22.0% are under 18 and 13.4% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 73.7%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 16.1%.
| Measure | Decatur | Van Buren County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.3 ±4.2 | 41.2 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 22.0% ±5.0 pts | 22.9% | – |
| 65 years and over | 13.4% ±5.0 pts | 19.9% | – |
| Male | 50.4% ±4.4 pts | 49.9% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 16.1% ±9.7 pts | 12.5% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 73.7% ±10.3 pts | 78.2% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 3.4% ±3.3 pts | 3.5% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.3 pts | 0.5% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.6 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.6 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 6.5% ±3.5 pts | 4.4% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.6 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 4.6% ±4.7 pts | 4.6% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 11.2% ±7.2 pts | 10.1% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.1% ±3.5 pts | 6.1% | – |
| With a disability | 14.7% ±4.7 pts | 11.7% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 12.6% ±5.1 pts | 7.0% | +6.4 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 87.8% ±7.4 pts | 89.6% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 14.8% ±5.4 pts | 23.0% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 4.0% ±2.6 pts | 8.4% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 87.6% ±6.6 pts | 92.1% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 7.4% ±6.1 pts | 1.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Decatur earn?
Half of Decatur's 739 households earn less than $61,806 a year (±$11,977), against $68,114 in Van Buren County and $72,875 in Michigan. In 2015-2019 it was $51,205 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 19.7% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Decatur | Van Buren County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $61,806 ±$11,977 | $68,114 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $79,655 ±$14,521 | $85,909 | – |
| Per capita income | $31,484 ±$5,475 | $35,009 | +$6,422 |
| People below the poverty line | 19.7% ±10.1 pts | 14.3% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 18.2% ±16.0 pts | 19.2% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 15.3% ±4.3 pts | 13.7% | – |
| Households with a computer | 92.4% ±4.3 pts | 93.9% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 93.1% ±3.6 pts | 89.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Decatur?
Owners occupy 76.6% of Decatur's occupied homes and renters 23.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $137,500 by its owner (±$15,126). The median renter pays $785 a month including utilities.
| Measure | Decatur | Van Buren County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $137,500 ±$15,126 | $206,500 | +$35,229 |
| Median gross rent | $785 ±$79 | $870 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 15.4% ±11.8 pts | 38.9% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,185 ±$72 | $1,404 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 76.6% ±8.3 pts | 80.6% | +11.8 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 23.4% ±8.3 pts | 19.4% | – |
| Housing units | 818 ±141 | 37,405 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 2.4% ±3.4 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 14.8% ±13.7 pts | 6.5% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 82.2% ±6.3 pts | 78.2% | – |
| Mobile homes | 2.2% ±1.8 pts | 11.1% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±3.6 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 0.5% ±0.7 pts | 5.2% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 41.8% ±9.5 pts | 17.7% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 4.3% ±2.9 pts | 5.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Decatur building?
Builders took permits for 1 new housing units in Decatur in 2025 (1 in single-family houses), 0.6 per 1,000 residents against 2.3 across Michigan.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Decatur work and get to work?
62.5% of Decatur's workers drive alone and 5.4% work from home. The average trip to work takes 23.0 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 7.3%.
| Measure | Decatur | Van Buren County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 65.6% ±6.9 pts | 58.6% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 7.3% ±4.5 pts | 4.2% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 62.5% ±11.8 pts | 76.3% | – |
| Carpooled | 28.2% ±11.8 pts | 10.2% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.6% ±0.9 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Walked | 3.1% ±2.9 pts | 1.9% | – |
| Worked from home | 5.4% ±2.9 pts | 10.5% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 23.0 min ±4.3 | 24.5 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Decatur?
No census tract lies mostly in Decatur; 1 tract reaches into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 116.01Van Buren County | 3,886 | $71,513 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Decatur) · Census block assignment files
How does Decatur compare with other places in Michigan?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Decatur is the 8,423rd-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 283rd-most populous of 533 in Michigan.
Decatur ranks 956th of 1,354 places in Michigan with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 283rd | 533 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 1,208th | 1,281 |
| Residents per square mile | 284th | 1,356 |
| Median household income | 956th | 1,354 |
| Per capita income | 982nd | 1,355 |
| Median home value | 1,161st | 1,354 |
| Median gross rent | 1,005th | 1,212 |
| Poverty rate | 158th | 1,213 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 1,087th | 1,350 |
| Median age | 1,279th | 1,356 |
| Owner-occupied share | 975th | 1,356 |
| Work from home | 978th | 1,062 |
| Travel time to work | 873rd | 1,356 |
Decatur's figures with every place in Michigan (CSV)
Every place in Michigan, sortable · Compare Decatur with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Decatur?
18 of the 57 figures for Decatur on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Decatur are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Decatur.