Iron County, MI Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Iron County | Michigan Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 11,372 | 9,970,748 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 9.4 | 103.1 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 0.33% | 0.18% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 51.7 | 40.1 | 37.1 |
| Households | 5,354 | 4,038,037 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Iron County declined by 2.3% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 11,650 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Iron County has a the economy index of D, which means it is barely prosperous.
| Metric | Iron County | Michigan Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $54,090 | $71,353 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 7.22% | 4.94% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 4.7% | 5.8% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Iron County is about 24% lower than in Michigan.
Housing
| Metric | Iron County | Michigan Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $118,000 | $134,610 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $510 | $1,084 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 85.3% | 72.9% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Iron County is about 19.3 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $510 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Iron County spend about 27 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 113 hours, about 4.7 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Iron County | Michigan Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 13.6 | 21.4 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 27.2 | 42.9 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 113 | 179 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $3,517 | $5,537 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 7.9% | 12.0% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 1,131 | 8,204 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 219 | 1,585 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
Michigan:
Luce County (10.8 min), Dickinson County (12.6 min), Baraga County (13.1 min).
Slowest:
Lapeer County (31.2 min), Livingston County (30.1 min), Barry County (27.7 min).
The average commute time in Iron County is 14 minutes, shorter than the 21 minutes in Michigan.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Iron County has a education index of D, which means it is barely educated.
| Metric | Iron County | Michigan Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.6% | 28.8% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.11 | 2.43 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
Michigan:
Washtenaw County (0.4), Oakland County (0.4), Leelanau County (0.4).
Lowest:
Lake County (0.2), Oscoda County (0.2), Kalkaska County (0.2).
Health
Iron County has a health index of B, which means it is quite healthy.
| Metric | Iron County | Michigan Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 81.4 | 78.3 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 18.5% | 16.4% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 20.9% | 20.9% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
Michigan:
Washtenaw County (0.8), Ottawa County (0.8), Livingston County (0.8).
Lowest:
Clare County (0.8), Oscoda County (0.8), Lake County (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Iron County, Michigan.
What is the population of Iron County, Michigan?
The population of Iron County, Michigan is 11,372, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Iron County, Michigan?
The population density of Iron County, Michigan is 9.4 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Iron County, Michigan?
The median household income in Iron County, Michigan is $54,091, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Iron County, Michigan?
The median home price in Iron County, Michigan is $118,000, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Iron County, Michigan?
The unemployment rate in Iron County, Michigan is 4.7%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.