Mason County, Michigan Income Statistics
Mason 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
Mason County Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Mason County | Michigan Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $66,292 | $72,977 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $49,683 | $59,920 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.5% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 8.4% | 11.4% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 6.3% | 9.5% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Mason County is about 9% lower than in Michigan. Income has been growing faster in Mason County (5.5%/yr) than in Michigan (4.6%/yr).
About 8% of adults in Mason 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 Mason County, Michigan grew by 67.7% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $66,292 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.5% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Mason County
| Metric | Mason County | Michigan Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.510 | 0.539 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $54,878 | $69,354 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $52,288 | $54,749 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 4.7% | 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 Mason County, it is 0.510, 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 5% more than women's income in Mason County, Michigan. Over a 35-year career, a 5% wage gap accumulates to roughly $90,650 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Mason County, Michigan has narrowed from about 28% to 5% in 2024. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $8,505 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Mason County | Michigan Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5% | 5.7% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 11.0% | 13.5% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 15 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 599 people are unemployed in Mason County, Michigan.
The average commute time in Mason County is 15 minutes, shorter than the 21 minutes in Michigan.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Mason County, Michigan has fallen from 10.6% to 4.5% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 11.5% in 2013 and fell as low as 4.4% in 2019.
Mason County, MI Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Mason County, MI is the 2nd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 29,204 residents against a local median of 25,350. Where Mason County, MI breaks from the counties next to it is unemployment, sitting 29% below the local median of 6.4% at 4.5%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 4.3% on unemployment, so Mason County, MI sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Mason County, MI has the 2nd lowest unemployment 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mason County, MI | 29,204 | $66,292 #2/6 | 5.5%/yr #3/6 | 4.5% #2/6 | 0.510 #2/6 |
| Oceana County, MI | 26,915 | $63,098 | 5.1%/yr | 6.5% | 0.516 |
| Manistee County, MI | 25,350 | $64,478 | 5.3%/yr | 6.4% | 0.517 |
| Benzie County, MI | 18,310 | $74,821 | 5.5%/yr | 3.1% | 0.497 |
| Muskegon County, MI | 175,961 | $65,879 | 5.2%/yr | 6.4% | 0.522 |
| Lake County, MI | 11,301 | $50,997 | 6.2%/yr | 7.4% | 0.517 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Mason 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 Mason County, Michigan.
How Rich Is Mason County, Michigan?
Mason 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 $66,292, about 9% lower than the Michigan average of $72,977.
How fast is household income rising in Mason County, Michigan?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Mason County, Michigan rose 68%, from $39,526 to $66,292. Over the same years, income here outpaced Michigan as a whole: +68% against +50%.
What was the median household income in Mason County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Mason County, Michigan was $63,070, up 3% from $61,010 in 2022. The Michigan median that year was $71,362.
What was the median household income in Mason County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Mason County, Michigan was $51,509. By 2024 it had risen 29% to $66,292.
Is it hard to find a job in Mason County, Michigan?
Unemployment in Mason County, Michigan is only 4.5%, well below the Michigan rate of 5.7%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Mason County, Michigan?
The Gini coefficient in Mason County is 0.510. 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 Mason County, Michigan?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Mason County, Michigan has narrowed from about 28% to 5% in 2024. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $8,505 since 2009.
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