Township · Michigan

Mecosta Township, Michigan

Mecosta Township, township, in Mecosta County, Michigan. Mecosta Township had 2,891 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 5.4% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 2,744 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 2,818 (±40). GEOID 2610752780.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

2,891

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 2,744 · ACS 2020-2024: 2,818 ±40

Median household income

$61,250

±$21,516 (90% margin)
Michigan: $72,875

Median home value

$169,600

±$21,253 (90% margin)
Michigan: $231,600

Median gross rent

$852

±$52 (90% margin)
Michigan: $1,129

Where is Mecosta Township and what county is it in?

Mecosta Township is a township in Mecosta County, Michigan. It covers 34.0 square miles of land, 81 residents per square mile in 2020.

One place lies inside Mecosta Township: Stanwood (village, 194 in 2020).

Mecosta Township is in the Big Rapids, MI micropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).

Mecosta Township (marked with a dot) in Mecosta County, Michigan. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files

How many people live in Mecosta Township, and is it growing?

The Census Bureau estimates that 2,891 people lived in Mecosta Township on July 1, 2025, up 5.4% since 2020, faster than Michigan (+0.5%). The 2020 Census counted 2,744 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 2,818 (±40).

  • July 2020→2021 +28 (2,778)
  • 2021→2022 +50 (2,828)
  • 2022→2023 +25 (2,853)
  • 2023→2024 +12 (2,865)
  • 2024→2025 +26 (2,891)
ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (counts) with the change from 2015-2019
MeasureMecosta TownshipMecosta CountyMichiganChange since 2015-2019
Total population2,818±4041,24210,077,761+158
Households1,112±9816,7084,076,369no clear change
Average household size2.52±0.222.332.42no clear change
Housing units1,315±11521,1394,622,236no clear change

Mecosta Township's population since 2000

From 2,435 in 2000 to 2,891 in 2025: up 18.7%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Mecosta Township 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.

  • 2000 Census 2,435
  • 2005 (estimate) 2,607
  • 2010 Census 2,615
  • 2015 (estimate) 2,628
  • 2020 Census 2,744
  • 2025 (estimate) 2,891

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 Mecosta Township?

The median resident of Mecosta Township is 45.9 years old; 20.0% are under 18 and 16.9% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 86.3%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 8.7%.

Age, origin, education and moves, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
MeasureMecosta TownshipMecosta CountyMichiganChange since 2015-2019
Median age45.9±6.640.040.2no clear change
Under 18 years20.0%±5.0 pts19.1%21.2%–
65 years and over16.9%±3.6 pts20.4%18.6%–
Male50.9%±5.1 pts50.2%49.6%–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)3.8%±2.0 pts3.0%5.9%–
White alone, not Hispanic86.3%±4.1 pts89.6%72.4%−7.9 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic0.8%±0.9 pts2.1%13.1%–
Asian alone, not Hispanic0.0%±1.1 pts0.7%3.4%–
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic0.3%±0.4 pts0.5%0.3%–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic0.0%±1.1 pts0.0%0.0%–
Two or more races, not Hispanic8.7%±3.9 pts3.9%4.5%–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic0.1%±0.1 pts0.2%0.5%–
Born outside the United States0.4%±0.4 pts2.0%7.2%–
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)5.5%±4.0 pts6.1%10.4%–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)12.9%±5.3 pts7.2%5.8%–
With a disability16.9%±4.1 pts16.0%14.3%–
No health insurance coverage11.4%±5.9 pts7.8%4.9%no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)91.7%±3.2 pts91.4%92.1%–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)23.4%±6.4 pts22.5%32.4%no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)4.6%±2.2 pts7.7%12.7%–
Lived in the same house a year earlier92.2%±3.2 pts82.9%88.8%–
Moved from another state in the past year1.5%±1.4 pts1.9%1.4%–

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 Mecosta Township earn?

Half of Mecosta Township's 1,112 households earn less than $61,250 a year (±$21,516), against $60,951 in Mecosta County and $72,875 in Michigan. In 2015-2019 it was $54,372 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 19.1% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; 2015-2019 dollars adjusted with the R-CPI-U-RS
MeasureMecosta TownshipMecosta CountyMichiganChange since 2015-2019
Median household income$61,250±$21,516$60,951$72,875no clear change
Mean household income$80,257±$9,318$74,241$98,700–
Per capita income$30,401±$3,846$29,951$40,735no clear change
People below the poverty line19.1%±6.8 pts19.9%13.2%no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line38.3%±17.7 pts24.6%17.6%no clear change
Households receiving SNAP17.0%±5.7 pts14.4%13.5%–
Households with a computer95.2%±2.8 pts93.5%95.1%–
Households with a broadband subscription88.8%±4.2 pts82.0%90.5%–

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 Mecosta Township?

Owners occupy 81.3% of Mecosta Township's occupied homes and renters 18.7%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $169,600 by its owner (±$21,253). The median renter pays $852 a month including utilities, and 35.0% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Home values are owners' own estimates.
MeasureMecosta TownshipMecosta CountyMichiganChange since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)$169,600±$21,253$178,900$231,600no clear change
Median gross rent$852±$52$934$1,129no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent35.0%±16.3 pts41.7%41.4%no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage$1,169±$73$1,293$1,569–
Owner-occupied homes81.3%±5.0 pts76.9%73.2%no clear change
Renter-occupied homes18.7%±5.0 pts23.1%26.8%–
Housing units1,315±11521,1394,622,236no clear change
Homeowner vacancy rate0.3%±0.6 pts0.5%0.8%–
Rental vacancy rate0.0%±13.4 pts6.5%5.1%–
Single-family detached homes82.4%±4.6 pts72.8%72.0%–
Mobile homes16.2%±4.4 pts14.5%5.0%–
Built 2020 or later0.0%±2.3 pts0.6%1.0%–
Built 2010 to 20193.5%±2.3 pts6.3%4.9%–
Built 1939 or earlier4.1%±1.9 pts12.8%14.6%–
Households with no vehicle5.2%±2.6 pts7.1%7.0%–

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 Mecosta Township building?

Builders took permits for 4 new housing units in Mecosta Township in 2025 (4 in single-family houses), 1.4 per 1,000 residents against 2.3 across Michigan.

  • 2019 5 units
  • 2020 8 units
  • 2021 4 units
  • 2022 7 units
  • 2023 5 units
  • 2024 5 units
  • 2025 4 units

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 Mecosta Township work and get to work?

90.0% of Mecosta Township's workers drive alone and 2.7% work from home. The average trip to work takes 24.8 minutes.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (workers 16 and over)
MeasureMecosta TownshipMecosta CountyMichiganChange since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)52.6%±8.5 pts54.4%61.3%–
Unemployment rate2.8%±2.3 pts4.0%5.7%–
Drove alone to work90.0%±4.5 pts76.2%74.3%–
Carpooled4.6%±3.2 pts8.6%7.9%–
Public transportation0.6%±1.0 pts0.4%0.9%–
Walked0.9%±1.0 pts4.4%2.0%–
Worked from home2.7%±1.7 pts8.7%13.5%–
Mean travel time to work24.8 min±5.523.7 min24.2 minno 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 Mecosta Township?

1 census tract lies mostly in Mecosta Township, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks).

Census tracts in Mecosta Township, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
TractResidents, 2020-2024Median household incomeMedian home valueShare of tract in Mecosta Township
Tract 9607.02Mecosta County3,128 $63,281 $195,10067%
Tract 9608Mecosta County5,136 $58,169 $152,90019%

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 Mecosta Township) · Census block assignment files

How does Mecosta Township compare with other places in Michigan?

By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Mecosta Township is the 3,664th-most populous of the 16,079 U.S. towns and townships that have one and the 416th-most populous of 1,240 in Michigan.

Mecosta Township ranks 975th of 1,354 places in Michigan with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.

Mecosta Township's rank in Michigan (1 = highest): by population among the state's towns and townships with a 2025 estimate; by the other measures among places of 1,000+ residents with a reliable estimate
MeasureRankOf
Population, July 2025 estimate416th1,240
Growth 2020-2025 (PEP)81st1,281
Residents per square mile863rd1,356
Median household income975th1,354
Per capita income1,066th1,355
Median home value928th1,354
Median gross rent848th1,212
Poverty rate169th1,213
Bachelor's degree or higher635th1,350
Median age469th1,356
Owner-occupied share861st1,356
Work from home1,059th1,062
Travel time to work710th1,356

Mecosta Township's figures with every place in Michigan (CSV)

Every place in Michigan, sortable · Compare Mecosta Township 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 Mecosta Township?

15 of the 57 figures for Mecosta Township 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 Mecosta Township 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' school search.