Branch County, Michigan Income Statistics
Branch County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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C
Branch County Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Branch County | Michigan Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $64,556 | $72,977 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $47,778 | $59,920 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.2% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 5.6% | 11.4% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 4.5% | 9.5% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Branch County is about 12% lower than in Michigan. Income has been growing slower in Branch County (4.2%/yr) than in Michigan (4.6%/yr).
About 6% of adults in Branch County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Michigan average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Branch County, Michigan grew by 46.4% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $64,556 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.2% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Branch County
| Metric | Branch County | Michigan Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.523 | 0.539 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $56,534 | $69,354 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $44,565 | $54,749 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 21.2% | 21.1% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Branch County, it is 0.523, lower than Michigan's 0.539, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 27% more than women's income in Branch County, Michigan. Over a 35-year career, a 27% wage gap accumulates to roughly $418,915 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
The income gap between men and women in Branch County, Michigan has stayed about the same since 2009, at around 21%. Over that period the gap was widest at 23% in 2010, and was narrowest at 13% in 2021. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,601 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Branch County | Michigan Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7% | 5.7% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 6.2% | 13.5% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 17 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 1,179 people are unemployed in Branch County, Michigan.
The average commute time in Branch County is 17 minutes, shorter than the 21 minutes in Michigan.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Branch County, Michigan has fallen from 11.7% to 5.7% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 12.1% in 2012 and fell as low as 4.2% in 2019.
Branch County, MI Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Branch County, MI is typical in size for this group, 45,300 residents against a local median of 45,654, so the measures below are close to a like for like comparison. The measure that sets Branch County, MI apart most is income growth: 4.2%/yr, 16% below the local median of 5.0%/yr. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 0.8%/yr on income growth, so Branch County, MI sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Branch County, MI has the 6th highest income growth of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Branch County, MI | 45,300 | $64,556 #4/6 | 4.2%/yr #6/6 | 5.7% #3/6 | 0.523 #3/6 |
| Steuben County, IN | 34,726 | $74,906 | 5.1%/yr | 7.2% | 0.507 |
| Calhoun County, MI | 133,799 | $63,881 | 4.6%/yr | 6.4% | 0.527 |
| LaGrange County, IN | 40,805 | $83,276 | 5.4%/yr | 4.2% | 0.557 |
| Hillsdale County, MI | 45,654 | $63,646 | 4.6%/yr | 4.4% | 0.532 |
| St. Joseph County, MI | 60,969 | $67,257 | 5.0%/yr | 5.9% | 0.504 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Branch County, Michigan has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it about on par with Michigan, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Branch County, Michigan.
How Rich Is Branch County, Michigan?
Branch County has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $64,556, about 12% lower than the Michigan average of $72,977.
Are incomes growing in Branch County, Michigan?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Branch County, Michigan rose 46%, from $44,088 to $64,556. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Michigan as a whole: +46% against +50%.
What was the median household income in Branch County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Branch County, Michigan was $62,914, up 4% from $60,561 in 2022. The Michigan median that year was $71,362.
What was the median household income in Branch County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Branch County, Michigan was $52,849. By 2024 it had risen 22% to $64,556.
What is the Gini coefficient in Branch County, Michigan?
The Gini coefficient in Branch County is 0.523. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Branch County, Michigan?
The income gap between men and women in Branch County, Michigan has stayed about the same since 2009, at around 21%. Over that period the gap was widest at 23% in 2010, and was narrowest at 13% in 2021. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,601 since 2009.
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