City profile · Michigan · Census ACS 2023

North Branch, MI

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for North Branch - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

1,199
Residents
$42,500
Median income
$121,400
Median home
$1,411
Median rent (state)

North Branch - the verdict

Nationally, North Branch sits in the 10th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

10th
percentile, household income
18th
percentile, home value
55th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: North Branch, MI

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 1,199 residents in North Branch, a small town within Michigan. North Branch households earn a median of $42,500 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 14.9%. Typical homes in North Branch are valued around $121,400, and the median resident age is 34.9 years. 7.5% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 59.9% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The city is served by 4 public schools according to NCES Common Core of Data.

Living costs in Michigan run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Michigan at 96.2 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Below Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,411 per month statewide. Monthly utility costs average around $238 across Michigan, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Natural-hazard exposure scores 66.4 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Moderate).

Population

1,199 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Michigan

Median Household Income

$42,500 /yr

Poverty 14.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

96.2 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Michigan average

How does North Branch compare to other US cities?

Where North Branch sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 10% higher than other cities
Home value 18% pricier than other cities
Median rent 55% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares North Branch against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Michigan only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Michigan-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher places North Branch near the bottom of Michigan's cities

Among the 727 Michigan cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, North Branch ranks #665 - the 8th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares North Branch only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#627 of 718
13th percentile in Michigan
Median Gross Rent
#61 of 727
76th percentile in Michigan
Median Home Value
#460 of 721
36th percentile in Michigan
Poverty Rate
#167 of 727
77th percentile in Michigan
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#665 of 727
8th percentile in Michigan

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Michigan only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

10thIncome percentile

10th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How North Branch's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$121,400 Among the most affordable more affordable than 82% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). This entry sits in this band. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. North Branch $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - North Branch, MI North Branch, MI's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not North Branch, MI-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution North Branch, MI median $42,500/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
North Branch, MI's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for North Branch, MI. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 7.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 14.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 59.9%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
1,199
Median Income
$42,500
Median Home Value
$121,400
Median Age
34.9
Poverty Rate
14.9%
Labor force participation
59.9%
Bachelor's Degree+
7.5%

Schools

Total Schools
4
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,104 residents1,106 residents1,108 residents1,110 residents1,112 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,107 residents 1,111 residents ▲ +0.4%
North Branch's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
80.0%
Carpool
8.3%
Public Transit
1.3%
Walk
2.6%
Work from Home
6.3%
Other
1.5%

Based on 541 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Michigan - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$105
avg/month
Natural Gas
$85
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$48
avg/month
Total Utilities
$238
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Michigan state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Michigan state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county North Branch sits in

Cost of Living Index
96.2
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,411/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
66.4 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Michigan

Luna Pier
1,204 people
Brown City
1,211 people
Lawrence
1,186 people
Sand Lake
1,214 people
Weidman
1,217 people
Kent City
1,218 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to North Branch's 1,199 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Taft Mosswood, CA
1,199 people
Milledgeville, IL
1,199 people
Washington, KS
1,199 people
Creighton, NE
1,199 people
Cando, ND
1,199 people
Harper, TX
1,199 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to North Branch's $42,500 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Ider, AL
$42,500 median income
Mentone, AL
$42,500 median income
Teller, AK
$42,500 median income
Tuckerman, AR
$42,500 median income
Arboles, CO
$42,500 median income
Equality, IL
$42,500 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - North Branch, MI Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition North Branch, MI - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 94.9% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 6.3% White 94.9% Black or African American 0.8% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.9% Two or more races 3.4% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How North Branch compares to nearby Michigan cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
North Branch (this city) 1,199 $42,500
Luna Pier 1,204 $51,830
Brown City 1,211 $60,357
Lawrence 1,186 $36,188
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MI NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about North Branch, MI?

What is the population of North Branch, MI? +

1,199 people live in North Branch, MI according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in North Branch, MI? +

The median household income in North Branch is $42,500 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in North Branch? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for North Branch; the closest available measure is the Michigan state average, a cost of living index of 96.2 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Michigan vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in North Branch, MI? +

The median home value in North Branch is $121,400, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.