City · Michigan
Dowagiac, Michigan
Dowagiac, city, in Cass County, Michigan. Dowagiac had 5,725 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 1.4% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 5,721 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 5,732 (±36). GEOID 2622880.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
5,725
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 5,721 · ACS 2020-2024: 5,732 ±36
Median household income
$48,166
±$7,421 (90% margin)
Michigan: $72,875
Median home value
$130,800
±$22,962 (90% margin)
Michigan: $231,600
Median gross rent
$840
±$163 (90% margin)
Michigan: $1,129
Where is Dowagiac and what county is it in?
Dowagiac is a city in Cass County, Michigan. It covers 4.5 square miles of land, 1,285 residents per square mile in 2020.
Dowagiac is in the South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 2 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Dowagiac, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 5,725 people lived in Dowagiac on July 1, 2025, down 1.4% since 2020, while Michigan grew 0.5%. The 2020 Census counted 5,721 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 5,732 (±36).
| Measure | Dowagiac | Cass County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 5,732 ±36 | 51,520 | no clear change |
| Households | 2,565 ±225 | 21,207 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.20 ±0.19 | 2.41 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 2,936 ±270 | 25,679 | no clear change |
Dowagiac's population since 2000
From 6,147 in 2000 to 5,725 in 2025: down 6.9%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Dowagiac 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 Dowagiac?
The median resident of Dowagiac is 37.2 years old; 21.6% are under 18 and 21.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 74.9%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 9.2%. 5.3% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Dowagiac | Cass County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.2 ±5.3 | 45.5 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 21.6% ±3.5 pts | 20.2% | – |
| 65 years and over | 21.0% ±4.3 pts | 22.6% | – |
| Male | 49.0% ±3.6 pts | 50.3% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 9.2% ±4.8 pts | 4.5% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 74.9% ±5.4 pts | 84.0% | +8.1 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 8.0% ±3.6 pts | 4.0% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.6 pts | 0.8% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 2.0% ±1.3 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.5 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 5.5% ±2.3 pts | 5.2% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.5 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 5.3% ±2.6 pts | 2.7% | +3.1 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 10.3% ±5.2 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.6% ±3.3 pts | 7.9% | – |
| With a disability | 18.9% ±4.9 pts | 16.1% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 12.6% ±5.3 pts | 6.9% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 86.0% ±4.0 pts | 90.0% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 12.4% ±4.6 pts | 21.8% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 3.7% ±1.9 pts | 8.0% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 90.1% ±3.7 pts | 88.8% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.4% ±1.2 pts | 4.3% | – |
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 Dowagiac earn?
Half of Dowagiac's 2,565 households earn less than $48,166 a year (±$7,421), against $70,443 in Cass County and $72,875 in Michigan. In 2015-2019 it was $41,253 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 21.4% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Dowagiac | Cass County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $48,166 ±$7,421 | $70,443 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $67,681 ±$11,861 | $95,850 | – |
| Per capita income | $28,447 ±$4,266 | $39,236 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 21.4% ±6.7 pts | 11.9% | −11.3 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 34.3% ±16.4 pts | 18.9% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 28.5% ±7.3 pts | 12.8% | – |
| Households with a computer | 88.2% ±4.5 pts | 92.6% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 89.8% ±4.8 pts | 88.6% | – |
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 Dowagiac?
Owners occupy 58.1% of Dowagiac's occupied homes and renters 41.9%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $130,800 by its owner (±$22,962). The median renter pays $840 a month including utilities, and 29.2% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Dowagiac | Cass County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $130,800 ±$22,962 | $218,000 | +$43,298 |
| Median gross rent | $840 ±$163 | $916 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 29.2% ±11.3 pts | 31.9% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,028 ±$198 | $1,478 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 58.1% ±7.7 pts | 81.6% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 41.9% ±7.7 pts | 18.4% | – |
| Housing units | 2,936 ±270 | 25,679 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 2.2% ±2.1 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.9% ±6.2 pts | 5.1% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 71.2% ±6.9 pts | 84.6% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.8% ±1.2 pts | 7.7% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±1.0 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 2.7% ±2.0 pts | 6.0% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 35.4% ±7.4 pts | 17.0% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 8.5% ±4.4 pts | 5.1% | – |
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 Dowagiac building?
Builders took permits for 2 new housing units in Dowagiac in 2025 (2 in single-family houses), 0.3 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 Dowagiac work and get to work?
75.7% of Dowagiac's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 22.6 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 8.9%.
| Measure | Dowagiac | Cass County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 63.3% ±5.5 pts | 58.8% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 8.9% ±4.1 pts | 5.0% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 75.7% ±6.4 pts | 77.4% | – |
| Carpooled | 10.7% ±5.2 pts | 9.9% | – |
| Public transportation | 1.5% ±2.2 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Walked | 4.1% ±4.0 pts | 2.2% | – |
| Worked from home | 3.3% ±3.1 pts | 7.8% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 22.6 min ±4.8 | 24.4 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 Dowagiac?
1 census tract lies mostly in Dowagiac, and 3 more reach into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 20Cass County | 4,847 | $52,476 |
| Tract 19.01Cass County | 2,894 | $68,170 |
| Tract 22.01Cass County | 2,294 | $52,431 |
| Tract 21Cass County | 6,012 | $55,785 |
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 Dowagiac) · Census block assignment files
How does Dowagiac compare with other places in Michigan?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Dowagiac is the 4,540th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 142nd-most populous of 533 in Michigan.
Dowagiac ranks 1,256th 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 | 142nd | 533 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 1,032nd | 1,281 |
| Residents per square mile | 263rd | 1,356 |
| Median household income | 1,256th | 1,354 |
| Per capita income | 1,169th | 1,355 |
| Median home value | 1,198th | 1,354 |
| Median gross rent | 885th | 1,212 |
| Poverty rate | 122nd | 1,213 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 1,207th | 1,350 |
| Median age | 1,125th | 1,356 |
| Owner-occupied share | 1,278th | 1,356 |
| Travel time to work | 905th | 1,356 |
Dowagiac's figures with every place in Michigan (CSV)
Every place in Michigan, sortable · Compare Dowagiac 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 Dowagiac?
12 of the 57 figures for Dowagiac 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 Dowagiac 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 Dowagiac.