Mecosta County, Michigan Income Statistics
Mecosta 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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D
Mecosta County Well below averageLess wealthy than 85% of counties in Michigan
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Mecosta County | Michigan Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $61,188 | $72,977 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $46,520 | $59,920 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.9% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 5.2% | 11.4% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 3.6% | 9.5% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Mecosta County is about 16% lower than in Michigan. Income has been growing faster in Mecosta County (4.9%/yr) than in Michigan (4.6%/yr).
About 5% of adults in Mecosta 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 Mecosta County, Michigan grew by 69.6% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $61,188 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.9% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Mecosta County
| Metric | Mecosta County | Michigan Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.534 | 0.539 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $53,489 | $69,354 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $44,397 | $54,749 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 17.0% | 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 Mecosta County, it is 0.534, about the same as Michigan's 0.539, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 20% more than women's income in Mecosta County, Michigan. Over a 35-year career, a 20% wage gap accumulates to roughly $318,220 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Mecosta County, Michigan has narrowed from about 22% to 17% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 24% in 2012, and was narrowest at 10% in 2018. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $156 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Mecosta County | Michigan Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0% | 5.7% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 8.7% | 13.5% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 17 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 742 people are unemployed in Mecosta County, Michigan.
The average commute time in Mecosta County is 17 minutes, shorter than the 21 minutes in Michigan.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Mecosta County, Michigan has fallen from 15.3% to 4.0% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 15.4% in 2013.
Mecosta County, MI Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Mecosta County, MI is the 4th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 41,242 residents against a local median of 50,792. Where Mecosta County, MI breaks from the counties next to it is unemployment, sitting 38% below the local median of 6.4% at 4.0%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 5.1% on unemployment, so Mecosta County, MI sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Mecosta County, MI has the 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mecosta County, MI | 41,242 | $61,188 #3/6 | 4.9%/yr #3/6 | 4.0% #1/6 | 0.534 #3/6 |
| Osceola County, MI | 23,226 | $58,333 | 5.1%/yr | 6.4% | 0.521 |
| Montcalm County, MI | 67,816 | $67,531 | 5.7%/yr | 5.0% | 0.537 |
| Isabella County, MI | 64,565 | $55,505 | 4.0%/yr | 6.4% | 0.555 |
| Newaygo County, MI | 50,792 | $63,785 | 4.7%/yr | 4.4% | 0.514 |
| Clare County, MI | 31,218 | $49,410 | 4.5%/yr | 9.5% | 0.547 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Mecosta County, Michigan has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than Michigan, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Mecosta County, Michigan.
How Rich Is Mecosta County, Michigan?
Mecosta County has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $61,188, about 16% lower than the Michigan average of $72,977.
How has median household income changed in Mecosta County, Michigan?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Mecosta County, Michigan rose 70%, from $36,085 to $61,188. Over the same years, income here outpaced Michigan as a whole: +70% against +50%.
What was the median household income in Mecosta County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Mecosta County, Michigan was $57,691, up 7% from $53,863 in 2022. The Michigan median that year was $71,362.
What was the median household income in Mecosta County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Mecosta County, Michigan was $45,981. By 2024 it had risen 33% to $61,188.
Is unemployment high in Mecosta County, Michigan?
Unemployment in Mecosta County, Michigan is only 4.0%, 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 Mecosta County, Michigan?
The Gini coefficient in Mecosta County is 0.534. 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 Mecosta County, Michigan?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Mecosta County, Michigan has narrowed from about 22% to 17% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 24% in 2012, and was narrowest at 10% in 2018. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $156 since 2009.
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