County · Michigan

Gratiot County, Michigan

Gratiot County, Michigan. Gratiot County had 41,190 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 1.4% since 2020, while Michigan grew 0.5%. It holds 24 places (6 cities, villages and boroughs, 16 towns and townships and 2 census-designated) and 10 census tracts. GEOID 26057.

Gratiot County is the county of the Alma, MI micropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).

Residents, July 2025 estimate

41,190

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 41,761 · ACS 2020-2024: 41,385

Median household income

$63,556

±$2,453 (90% margin)
Michigan: $72,875

Median home value

$147,500

±$6,964 (90% margin)
Michigan: $231,600

Median gross rent

$834

±$33 (90% margin)
Michigan: $1,129

How many people live in Gratiot County, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 41,761 residents in Gratiot County. The Census Bureau estimates 41,190 for July 1, 2025, down 1.4% since 2020, while Michigan grew 0.5%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 41,385 over 568 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 −373 (41,284)
2021→2022 −154 (41,130)
2022→2023 +292 (41,422)
2023→2024 −60 (41,362)
2024→2025 −172 (41,190)

Gratiot County in Michigan. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Gratiot County	Michigan	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	41,385	10,077,761	+469
Households	14,775±214	4,076,369	no clear change
Average household size	2.40±0.03	2.42	+0.07
Housing units	16,081±97	4,622,236	−249

Gratiot County's population since 2000

From 42,285 in 2000 to 41,190 in 2025: down 2.6%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. 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 42,285
2005 (estimate) 42,479
2010 Census 42,476
2015 (estimate) 41,333
2020 Census 41,761
2025 (estimate) 41,190

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); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov

What cities and towns are in Gratiot County?

Gratiot County holds 24 places: 6 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places), 16 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government) and 2 census-designated places. The largest is Alma with 9,304 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.

Places in Gratiot County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Alma	city	9,488	9,396±21	$53,307	$115,900	21.7%	100%
St. Louis	city	7,010	7,367±18	$51,167	$119,200	13.4%	100%
Ithaca	city	2,853	2,817±31	$63,109	$133,200	16.8%	100%
Wheeler Township	township	2,612	2,591±22	$61,149	$115,400	12.3%	100%
Fulton Township	township	2,484	2,563±327	$84,934	$215,000	8.6%	100%
Pine River Township	township	2,348	2,687±413	$71,073	$156,200	9.5%	100%
Seville Township	township	2,132	1,877±258	$76,020	$136,100	10.1%	100%
Sumner Township	township	1,863	1,858±294	$57,245	$126,300	16.6%	100%
Bethany Township	township	1,773	1,162±216	$80,461	$172,400	3.8%	100%
Arcada Township	township	1,671	1,684±230	$88,523	$218,900	12.9%	100%
Elba Township, Gratiot County	township	1,293	1,090±112	$52,344	$127,200	17.0%	100%
Breckenridge	village	1,238	1,517±167	$57,540	$111,500	18.0%	100%
Newark Township	township	1,112	1,198±210	$74,750	$234,700	1.9%	100%
New Haven Township, Gratiot County	township	1,064	1,012±172	$70,192	$207,800	10.5%	100%
North Star Township	township	895	867±162	$75,000	$184,300	5.8%	100%
Emerson Township	township	849	751±101	$78,000	$183,700	6.5%	100%
Washington Township, Gratiot County	township	813	830±284	$78,750	$162,100	27.6%	100%
North Shade Township	township	558	654±125	$71,250	$177,100	7.6%	100%
Lafayette Township	township	516	573±126	$78,125	$164,300	10.7%	100%
Ashley	village	508	483±61	$58,846	$109,500	15.8%	100%
Hamilton Township, Gratiot County	township	427	408±73	$64,063	$173,700	14.3%	100%
Perrinton	village	393	513±130	$58,333	$116,500	21.6%	100%
RiverdaleGEOID 2668720	CDP	281	216±107	not published	$90,500	40.3%	100%
Elm HallGEOID 2625580	CDP	279	228±88	not published	$75,000	58.9%	100%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Gratiot County?

The median resident of Gratiot County is 39.6 years old; 19.5% are under 18 and 17.8% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 83.0%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 7.7%. 1.3% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure	Gratiot County	Michigan	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	39.6±0.4	40.2	no clear change
Under 18 years	19.5%	21.2%	–
65 years and over	17.8%±0.2 pts	18.6%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	7.7%	5.9%	+1.6 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	83.0%±0.4 pts	72.4%	−3.0 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	5.8%±0.3 pts	13.1%	no clear change
Asian alone, not Hispanic	0.4%±0.1 pts	3.4%	no clear change
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	0.3%±0.1 pts	0.3%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.1 pts	0.0%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	2.7%±0.5 pts	4.5%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.3%±0.2 pts	0.5%	–
Born outside the United States	1.3%±0.3 pts	7.2%	no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	4.1%±0.6 pts	10.4%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	5.5%±0.7 pts	5.8%	–
With a disability	16.0%±1.2 pts	14.3%	–
No health insurance coverage	4.2%±0.7 pts	4.9%	no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	91.7%±0.9 pts	92.1%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	18.7%±1.3 pts	32.4%	+3.3 pts
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	5.8%±0.8 pts	12.7%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	0.6%±0.2 pts	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 Gratiot County earn?

Half of Gratiot County's 14,775 households earn less than $63,556 a year (±$2,453), against $72,875 in Michigan. In 2015-2019 the median was $58,886 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $4,670 after inflation. 14.0% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Gratiot County	Michigan	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$63,556±$2,453	$72,875	+$4,670
Mean household income	$83,011±$4,328	$98,700	–
Per capita income	$30,221±$1,570	$40,735	no clear change
People below the poverty line	14.0%±1.6 pts	13.2%	−2.7 pts
Children under 18 below the poverty line	20.8%±4.6 pts	17.6%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	15.1%±2.1 pts	13.5%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	85.9%±1.3 pts	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 Gratiot County?

Owners occupy 78.9% of Gratiot County's occupied homes and renters 21.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $147,500 by its owner (±$6,964). The median renter pays $834 a month including utilities, and 30.8% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Gratiot County	Michigan	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$147,500±$6,964	$231,600	+$30,092
Median gross rent	$834±$33	$1,129	no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	30.8%±5.8 pts	41.4%	−11.7 pts
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,248±$38	$1,569	–
Owner-occupied homes	78.9%±1.8 pts	73.2%	+4.6 pts
Housing units	16,081±97	4,622,236	−249
Homeowner vacancy rate	0.8%±0.4 pts	0.8%	–
Rental vacancy rate	5.7%±3.3 pts	5.1%	–
Single-family detached homes	77.3%±1.9 pts	72.0%	–
Mobile homes	9.7%±1.2 pts	5.0%	–
Built 2020 or later	0.6%±0.2 pts	1.0%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	22.7%±1.8 pts	14.6%	–

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 Gratiot County building?

Builders took permits for 48 new housing units across Gratiot County in 2025 (39 single-family), 1.2 per 1,000 residents.

2019 25 units
2020 33 units
2021 43 units
2022 37 units
2023 41 units
2024 37 units
2025 48 units

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Gratiot County get to work?

79.9% of Gratiot County's workers drive alone and 7.7% work from home. The average trip to work takes 23.9 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.2%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Gratiot County	Michigan	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	52.7%±1.3 pts	61.3%	–
Unemployment rate	4.2%±1.0 pts	5.7%	−1.5 pts
Drove alone to work	79.9%±1.6 pts	74.3%	–
Carpooled	6.7%±1.0 pts	7.9%	–
Public transportation	0.1%±0.3 pts	0.9%	–
Walked	4.0%±1.0 pts	2.0%	–
Worked from home	7.7%±1.2 pts	13.5%	+3.0 pts
Mean travel time to work	23.9 min±1.1	24.2 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 are Gratiot County's census tracts?

Gratiot County is divided into 10 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $48,089 (Tract 6) to $79,196 (Tract 2).

Census tracts of Gratiot County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; sort by any column

Tract 126057000100	Elm Hall (9%)	3,957	3,714±323	$63,649	$129,500	$845	13.4%
Tract 226057000200	Alma (2%)	4,970	4,866±312	$79,196	$203,000	$835	9.6%
Tract 326057000300	St. Louis (74%)	5,058	4,415±218	$55,798	$127,800	$802	11.9%
Tract 426057000400	St. Louis	3,205	3,859±93	not published	not published	not published	–
Tract 526057000500	Alma (80%)	5,792	5,681±449	$56,788	$98,100	$846	17.8%
Tract 626057000600	Alma (93%)	4,173	4,247±314	$48,089	$124,300	$811	24.9%
Tract 726057000700	Breckenridge (26%)	3,128	3,164±125	$65,398	$120,400	$781	12.0%
Tract 826057000800	Perrinton (10%)	4,204	4,321±310	$77,841	$209,900	$930	9.2%
Tract 926057000900	Ashley (7%)	3,396	3,160±342	$64,076	$161,000	$878	15.9%
Tract 1026057001000	Ithaca (52%)	3,878	3,958±218	$64,583	$161,100	$823	12.5%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov

How does Gratiot County compare with Michigan's other counties?

Gratiot County's rank among Michigan's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	39th of 83
Growth 2020-2025	76th of 83
Residents per square mile	36th of 83
Median household income	43rd of 83
Median home value	73rd of 83
Median gross rent	53rd of 83
Poverty rate	34th of 83
Bachelor's degree or higher	62nd of 83
Median age	73rd of 83

Every county in Michigan

Source: PlainCities ranks 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 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 Gratiot County 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.