Otsego County, Michigan Income Statistics
Otsego 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
Otsego County Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Otsego County | Michigan Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $68,296 | $72,977 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $51,716 | $59,920 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.8% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 7.6% | 11.4% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 6.6% | 9.5% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Otsego County is about 6% lower than in Michigan. Income has been growing slower in Otsego County (3.8%/yr) than in Michigan (4.6%/yr).
About 8% of adults in Otsego 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 Otsego County, Michigan grew by 52.5% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $68,296 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.8% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Otsego County
| Metric | Otsego County | Michigan Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.483 | 0.539 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $58,281 | $69,354 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $47,559 | $54,749 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 18.4% | 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 Otsego County, it is 0.483, 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 23% more than women's income in Otsego County, Michigan. Over a 35-year career, a 23% wage gap accumulates to roughly $375,270 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Otsego County, Michigan has narrowed from about 39% to 18% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 40% in 2010. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $6,016 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Otsego County | Michigan Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0% | 5.7% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 10.2% | 13.5% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 16 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 531 people are unemployed in Otsego County, Michigan.
The average commute time in Otsego County is 16 minutes, shorter than the 21 minutes in Michigan.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Otsego County, Michigan has fallen from 12.4% to 4.0% in 2024.
Otsego County, MI Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Otsego County, MI is the 2nd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 25,584 residents against a local median of 13,369. Where Otsego County, MI breaks from the counties next to it is unemployment, sitting 34% below the local median of 6.1% at 4.0%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Income growth tells the same story from another angle: 3.8%/yr against a local median of 4.9%/yr, 23% below it. The picture is mixed rather than uniform: unemployment runs ahead of the neighbourhood while income growth runs behind it, so Otsego County, MI is trading one against the other rather than simply out-performing what surrounds it. The counties themselves spread 4.2% on unemployment, so Otsego County, MI sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Otsego 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Otsego County, MI | 25,584 | $68,296 #2/6 | 3.8%/yr #6/6 | 4.0% #2/6 | 0.483 #1/6 |
| Crawford County, MI | 13,369 | $60,396 | 4.9%/yr | 8.1% | 0.495 |
| Cheboygan County, MI | 25,865 | $63,766 | 5.7%/yr | 6.1% | 0.513 |
| Montmorency County, MI | 9,516 | $49,764 | 3.8%/yr | 5.3% | 0.500 |
| Antrim County, MI | 24,127 | $72,664 | 5.2%/yr | 3.9% | 0.500 |
| Oscoda County, MI | 8,425 | $49,477 | 4.4%/yr | 8.0% | 0.516 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Otsego 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 Otsego County, Michigan.
How Wealthy Is Otsego County, Michigan?
Otsego 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 $68,296, about 6% lower than the Michigan average of $72,977.
How fast is household income rising in Otsego County, Michigan?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Otsego County, Michigan rose 52%, from $44,786 to $68,296. Over the same years, income here outpaced Michigan as a whole: +52% against +50%.
What was the median household income in Otsego County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Otsego County, Michigan was $65,901, up 7% from $61,832 in 2022. The Michigan median that year was $71,362.
What was the median household income in Otsego County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Otsego County, Michigan was $55,669. By 2024 it had risen 23% to $68,296.
Is it hard to find a job in Otsego County, Michigan?
Unemployment in Otsego 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 Otsego County, Michigan?
The Gini coefficient in Otsego County is 0.483. 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 Otsego County, Michigan?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Otsego County, Michigan has narrowed from about 39% to 18% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 40% in 2010. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $6,016 since 2009.
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