County · Michigan
Oceana County, Michigan
Oceana County, Michigan. Oceana County had 27,177 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 1.9% since 2020, faster than Michigan (+0.5%). It holds 24 places (7 cities, villages and boroughs, 16 towns and townships and 1 census-designated) and 8 census tracts. GEOID 26127.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
27,177
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 26,659 · ACS 2020-2024: 26,915
Median household income
$62,417
±$3,332 (90% margin)
Michigan: $72,875
Median home value
$190,100
±$13,158 (90% margin)
Michigan: $231,600
Median gross rent
$759
±$41 (90% margin)
Michigan: $1,129
How many people live in Oceana County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 26,659 residents in Oceana County. The Census Bureau estimates 27,177 for July 1, 2025, up 1.9% since 2020, faster than Michigan (+0.5%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 26,915 over 538 square miles of land.
| Measure | Oceana County | Michigan | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 26,915 | 10,077,761 | +499 |
| Households | 10,419±202 | 4,076,369 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.52±0.05 | 2.42 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 15,723±49 | 4,622,236 | −434 |
Oceana County's population since 2000
From 26,873 in 2000 to 27,177 in 2025: up 1.1%. 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.
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 Oceana County?
Oceana County holds 24 places: 7 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places), 16 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government) and 1 census-designated place. The largest is Shelby Township with 4,143 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Shelby Township | 4,109 | $67,736 |
|---|---|---|
| Grant Township, Oceana County | 3,002 | $57,625 |
| Newfield Township | 2,329 | $62,391 |
| Hart | 2,053 | $50,956 |
| Hart Township | 2,028 | $59,821 |
| Shelby | 1,964 | $49,855 |
| Golden Township | 1,660 | $67,426 |
| Pentwater Township | 1,652 | $87,708 |
| Benona Township | 1,425 | $77,632 |
| Ferry Township | 1,271 | $54,601 |
| Weare Township | 1,224 | $55,114 |
| Greenwood Township, Oceana County | 1,156 | $54,375 |
| Elbridge Township | 999 | $80,833 |
| Leavitt Township | 911 | $52,679 |
| Pentwater | 890 | $80,750 |
| Otto Township | 858 | $69,583 |
| Claybanks Township | 855 | $68,281 |
| Crystal Township, Oceana County | 681 | $54,375 |
| Hesperia | 1,034 | $37,174 |
| Rothbury | 462 | $49,063 |
| New Era | 446 | $77,125 |
| Colfax Township, Oceana County | 446 | $77,500 |
| MearsGEOID 2652720 | 332 | $44,583 |
| Walkerville | 246 | $33,750 |
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 Oceana County?
The median resident of Oceana County is 44.2 years old; 21.3% are under 18 and 22.5% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 79.5%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 15.5%. 4.1% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Oceana County | Michigan | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.2±0.3 | 40.2 | +1.0 |
| Under 18 years | 21.3%±0.2 pts | 21.2% | – |
| 65 years and over | 22.5%±0.2 pts | 18.6% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 15.5% | 5.9% | +0.6 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 79.5%±0.4 pts | 72.4% | −2.2 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 1.0%±0.3 pts | 13.1% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 3.4% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.5%±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 | 3.2%±0.5 pts | 4.5% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.2%±0.1 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 4.1%±0.7 pts | 7.2% | −1.7 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 11.4%±1.1 pts | 10.4% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.3%±0.8 pts | 5.8% | – |
| With a disability | 17.9%±1.0 pts | 14.3% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 7.5%±0.8 pts | 4.9% | −1.5 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 90.3%±0.9 pts | 92.1% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 21.5%±1.4 pts | 32.4% | +2.0 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 7.8%±0.9 pts | 12.7% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.3%±0.4 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 Oceana County earn?
Half of Oceana County's 10,419 households earn less than $62,417 a year (±$3,332), against $72,875 in Michigan. In 2015-2019 it was $61,663 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 13.6% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Oceana County | Michigan | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $62,417±$3,332 | $72,875 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $82,476±$3,583 | $98,700 | – |
| Per capita income | $33,025±$1,303 | $40,735 | +$3,064 |
| People below the poverty line | 13.6%±1.5 pts | 13.2% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 18.5%±3.4 pts | 17.6% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 15.9%±1.3 pts | 13.5% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 83.1%±1.7 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 Oceana County?
Owners occupy 84.5% of Oceana County's occupied homes and renters 15.5%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $190,100 by its owner (±$13,158). The median renter pays $759 a month including utilities, and 29.7% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Oceana County | Michigan | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $190,100±$13,158 | $231,600 | +$43,894 |
| Median gross rent | $759±$41 | $1,129 | −$138 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 29.7%±4.8 pts | 41.4% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,280±$46 | $1,569 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 84.5%±1.5 pts | 73.2% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 15,723±49 | 4,622,236 | −434 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.5%±0.3 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 2.7%±2.0 pts | 5.1% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 78.3%±1.5 pts | 72.0% | – |
| Mobile homes | 15.9%±1.3 pts | 5.0% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.9%±0.2 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 16.9%±1.3 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 Oceana County building?
Builders took permits for 136 new housing units across Oceana County in 2025 (134 single-family), 5.0 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Oceana County get to work?
77.1% of Oceana County's workers drive alone and 7.4% work from home. The average trip to work takes 23.7 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 6.5%.
| Measure | Oceana County | Michigan | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 55.9%±1.4 pts | 61.3% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 6.5%±1.3 pts | 5.7% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 77.1%±1.8 pts | 74.3% | – |
| Carpooled | 12.0%±1.6 pts | 7.9% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Walked | 2.1%±0.6 pts | 2.0% | – |
| Worked from home | 7.4%±1.1 pts | 13.5% | +3.9 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 23.7 min±1.0 | 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 Oceana County's census tracts?
Oceana County is divided into 8 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $57,826 (Tract 105) to $76,538 (Tract 108).
| Tract 10326127010300 | 7,171±27 | $65,608 |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 10426127010400 | 3,931±268 | $57,888 |
| Tract 10526127010500 | 3,187±235 | $57,826 |
| Tract 10626127010600 | 5,769±348 | $59,798 |
| Tract 10826127010800 | 2,759±232 | $76,538 |
| Tract 10926127010900 | 2,391±186 | $69,444 |
| Tract 11026127011000 | 1,707±184 | $67,426 |
| Tract 990026127990000 | 0±11 | not published |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Oceana County compare with Michigan's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 51st of 83 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 28th of 83 |
| Residents per square mile | 49th of 83 |
| Median household income | 48th of 83 |
| Median home value | 34th of 83 |
| Median gross rent | 67th of 83 |
| Poverty rate | 40th of 83 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 45th of 83 |
| Median age | 42nd of 83 |
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 Oceana 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.