Ottawa County, Michigan Income Statistics
Ottawa 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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B
Ottawa County Around averageAmong the top 5 wealthiest counties in Michigan
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Ottawa County | Michigan Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $90,732 | $72,977 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $61,676 | $59,920 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.0% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 12.4% | 11.4% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 11.9% | 9.5% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Ottawa County is about 24% higher than in Michigan. Income has been growing faster in Ottawa County (5.0%/yr) than in Michigan (4.6%/yr).
About 12% of adults in Ottawa County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the Michigan average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Ottawa County, Michigan grew by 56.1% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $90,732 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.0% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Ottawa County
| Metric | Ottawa County | Michigan Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.529 | 0.539 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $73,276 | $69,354 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $54,367 | $54,749 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 25.8% | 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 Ottawa County, it is 0.529, 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 35% more than women's income in Ottawa County, Michigan. Over a 35-year career, a 35% wage gap accumulates to roughly $661,815 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Ottawa County, Michigan has narrowed from about 30% to 26% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 24% in 2015. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,565 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Ottawa County | Michigan Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% | 5.7% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 10.3% | 13.5% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 18 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 5,674 people are unemployed in Ottawa County, Michigan.
The average commute time in Ottawa County is 18 minutes, shorter than the 21 minutes in Michigan.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Ottawa County, Michigan has fallen from 8.3% to 3.5% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 8.7% in 2012 and fell as low as 3.5% in 2019.
Ottawa County, MI Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Ottawa County, MI is the largest of the 6 counties compared here, 301,203 residents against a local median of 75,795. Where Ottawa County, MI breaks from the counties next to it is median household income, sitting 38% above the local median of $65,879 at $90,732. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Unemployment tells the same story from another angle: 3.5% against a local median of 4.4%, 19% below it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, so Ottawa County, MI is not trading one advantage for another, it reads stronger than its neighbours across the board. The counties themselves spread $20,676 on median household income, so Ottawa County, MI sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Ottawa County, MI has the highest median household income 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ottawa County, MI | 301,203 | $90,732 #1/6 | 5.0%/yr #4/6 | 3.5% #2/6 | 0.529 #5/6 |
| Muskegon County, MI | 175,961 | $65,879 | 5.2%/yr | 6.4% | 0.522 |
| Allegan County, MI | 121,456 | $83,773 | 5.2%/yr | 3.0% | 0.514 |
| Van Buren County, MI | 75,795 | $68,304 | 4.8%/yr | 4.2% | 0.531 |
| Oceana County, MI | 26,915 | $63,098 | 5.1%/yr | 6.5% | 0.516 |
| Newaygo County, MI | 50,792 | $63,785 | 4.7%/yr | 4.4% | 0.514 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Ottawa County, Michigan has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than Michigan, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Ottawa County, Michigan.
How Wealthy Is Ottawa County, Michigan?
Ottawa County has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $90,732, about 24% higher than the Michigan average of $72,977.
How fast is household income rising in Ottawa County, Michigan?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Ottawa County, Michigan rose 56%, from $58,119 to $90,732. Over the same years, income here outpaced Michigan as a whole: +56% against +50%.
What was the median household income in Ottawa County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Ottawa County, Michigan was $87,838, up 4% from $84,540 in 2022. The Michigan median that year was $71,362.
What was the median household income in Ottawa County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Ottawa County, Michigan was $72,931. By 2024 it had risen 24% to $90,732.
Is it hard to find a job in Ottawa County, Michigan?
Unemployment in Ottawa County, Michigan is only 3.5%, 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 Ottawa County, Michigan?
The Gini coefficient in Ottawa County is 0.529. 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 Ottawa County, Michigan?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Ottawa County, Michigan has narrowed from about 30% to 26% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 24% in 2015. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,565 since 2009.
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