Data / Rankings / Poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate) / Counties in Michigan

Counties in Michigan by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate)

Isabella County had the highest poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate) of 83 counties in 2021, at 23.8%. Livingston County had the lowest, at 5.1%. The median was 13.1% and the figure for Michigan was 13.3%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest23.8Isabella County
Lowest5.1Livingston County
Median13.183 counties
Michigan13.3History

Map of counties, 2021

Alcona County: 15.7 %Alger County: 11.2 %Allegan County: 8.9 %Alpena County: 14.9 %Antrim County: 9.9 %Arenac County: 13.9 %Baraga County: 13.5 %Barry County: 8.6 %Bay County: 15.4 %Benzie County: 10 %Berrien County: 15.9 %Branch County: 13 %Calhoun County: 15.8 %Cass County: 12.4 %Charlevoix County: 9 %Cheboygan County: 12.5 %Chippewa County: 17.7 %Clare County: 23.7 %Clinton County: 8.5 %Crawford County: 15.2 %Delta County: 12.4 %Dickinson County: 9.4 %Eaton County: 7.8 %Emmet County: 7.8 %Genesee County: 16.9 %Gladwin County: 15.2 %Gogebic County: 13.6 %Grand Traverse County: 10.5 %Gratiot County: 15.2 %Hillsdale County: 15.4 %Houghton County: 17.2 %Huron County: 11.8 %Ingham County: 17.5 %Ionia County: 10 %Iosco County: 13.7 %Iron County: 15.3 %Isabella County: 23.8 %Jackson County: 12 %Kalamazoo County: 14.3 %Kalkaska County: 15.9 %Kent County: 10.5 %Keweenaw County: 9.8 %Lake County: 19.4 %Lapeer County: 9.9 %Leelanau County: 6.4 %Lenawee County: 11 %Livingston County: 5.1 %Luce County: 16.3 %Mackinac County: 15.3 %Macomb County: 10.3 %Manistee County: 10.9 %Marquette County: 15.2 %Mason County: 14.8 %Mecosta County: 19.1 %Menominee County: 10.6 %Midland County: 10.7 %Missaukee County: 12 %Monroe County: 11.3 %Montcalm County: 12.7 %Montmorency County: 16.3 %Muskegon County: 13 %Newaygo County: 15.4 %Oakland County: 7.6 %Oceana County: 13 %Ogemaw County: 17 %Ontonagon County: 14.7 %Osceola County: 14.6 %Oscoda County: 12.4 %Otsego County: 10.8 %Ottawa County: 7.6 %Presque Isle County: 13.1 %Roscommon County: 16.8 %Saginaw County: 18 %St. Clair County: 12 %St. Joseph County: 12.6 %Sanilac County: 14.9 %Schoolcraft County: 15.4 %Shiawassee County: 10.8 %Tuscola County: 13.3 %Van Buren County: 13.7 %Washtenaw County: 13.4 %Wayne County: 20.5 %Wexford County: 13 %
  • Under 10
  • 10 to 12
  • 12 to 13
  • 13 to 15
  • 15 to 16
  • 16 and over
%, 2021. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

Top 40 counties, 2021

Isabella County: 23.8 %Isabella County23.8Clare County: 23.7 %Clare County23.7Wayne County: 20.5 %Wayne County20.5Lake County: 19.4 %Lake County19.4Mecosta County: 19.1 %Mecosta County19.1Saginaw County: 18 %Saginaw County18Chippewa County: 17.7 %Chippewa County17.7Ingham County: 17.5 %Ingham County17.5Houghton County: 17.2 %Houghton County17.2Ogemaw County: 17 %Ogemaw County17Genesee County: 16.9 %Genesee County16.9Roscommon County: 16.8 %Roscommon County16.8Luce County: 16.3 %Luce County16.3Montmorency County: 16.3 %Montmorency County16.3Berrien County: 15.9 %Berrien County15.9Kalkaska County: 15.9 %Kalkaska County15.9Calhoun County: 15.8 %Calhoun County15.8Alcona County: 15.7 %Alcona County15.7Newaygo County: 15.4 %Newaygo County15.4Hillsdale County: 15.4 %Hillsdale County15.4Bay County: 15.4 %Bay County15.4Schoolcraft County: 15.4 %Schoolcraft County15.4Iron County: 15.3 %Iron County15.3Mackinac County: 15.3 %Mackinac County15.3Crawford County: 15.2 %Crawford County15.2Gratiot County: 15.2 %Gratiot County15.2Marquette County: 15.2 %Marquette County15.2Gladwin County: 15.2 %Gladwin County15.2Alpena County: 14.9 %Alpena County14.9Sanilac County: 14.9 %Sanilac County14.9Mason County: 14.8 %Mason County14.8Ontonagon County: 14.7 %Ontonagon County14.7Osceola County: 14.6 %Osceola County14.6Kalamazoo County: 14.3 %Kalamazoo County14.3Arenac County: 13.9 %Arenac County13.9Iosco County: 13.7 %Iosco County13.7Van Buren County: 13.7 %Van Buren County13.7Gogebic County: 13.6 %Gogebic County13.6Baraga County: 13.5 %Baraga County13.5Washtenaw County: 13.4 %Washtenaw County13.4Isabella County: 23.8 %Isabella County23.8Clare County: 23.7 %Clare County23.7Wayne County: 20.5 %Wayne County20.5Lake County: 19.4 %Lake County19.4Mecosta County: 19.1 %Mecosta County19.1Saginaw County: 18 %Saginaw County18Chippewa County: 17.7 %Chippewa County17.7Ingham County: 17.5 %Ingham County17.5Houghton County: 17.2 %Houghton County17.2Ogemaw County: 17 %Ogemaw County17Genesee County: 16.9 %Genesee County16.9Roscommon County: 16.8 %Roscommon County16.8Luce County: 16.3 %Luce County16.3Montmorency County: 16.3 %Montmorency County16.3Berrien County: 15.9 %Berrien County15.9Kalkaska County: 15.9 %Kalkaska County15.9Calhoun County: 15.8 %Calhoun County15.8Alcona County: 15.7 %Alcona County15.7Newaygo County: 15.4 %Newaygo County15.4Hillsdale County: 15.4 %Hillsdale County15.4Bay County: 15.4 %Bay County15.4Schoolcraft County: 15.4 %Schoolcraft County15.4Iron County: 15.3 %Iron County15.3Mackinac County: 15.3 %Mackinac County15.3Crawford County: 15.2 %Crawford County15.2Gratiot County: 15.2 %Gratiot County15.2Marquette County: 15.2 %Marquette County15.2Gladwin County: 15.2 %Gladwin County15.2Alpena County: 14.9 %Alpena County14.9Sanilac County: 14.9 %Sanilac County14.9Mason County: 14.8 %Mason County14.8Ontonagon County: 14.7 %Ontonagon County14.7Osceola County: 14.6 %Osceola County14.6Kalamazoo County: 14.3 %Kalamazoo County14.3Arenac County: 13.9 %Arenac County13.9Iosco County: 13.7 %Iosco County13.7Van Buren County: 13.7 %Van Buren County13.7Gogebic County: 13.6 %Gogebic County13.6Baraga County: 13.5 %Baraga County13.5Washtenaw County: 13.4 %Washtenaw County13.4
%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2021 (%)
1Isabella County23.8
2Clare County23.7
3Wayne County20.5
4Lake County19.4
5Mecosta County19.1
6Saginaw County18
7Chippewa County17.7
8Ingham County17.5
9Houghton County17.2
10Ogemaw County17
11Genesee County16.9
12Roscommon County16.8
13Luce County16.3
14Montmorency County16.3
15Berrien County15.9
16Kalkaska County15.9
17Calhoun County15.8
18Alcona County15.7
19Newaygo County15.4
20Hillsdale County15.4
21Bay County15.4
22Schoolcraft County15.4
23Iron County15.3
24Mackinac County15.3
25Crawford County15.2
25Gratiot County15.2
27Marquette County15.2
28Gladwin County15.2
29Alpena County14.9
30Sanilac County14.9
31Mason County14.8
32Ontonagon County14.7
33Osceola County14.6
34Kalamazoo County14.3
35Arenac County13.9
36Iosco County13.7
37Van Buren County13.7
38Gogebic County13.6
39Baraga County13.5
40Washtenaw County13.4
41Tuscola County13.3
42Presque Isle County13.1
43Oceana County13
43Wexford County13
45Branch County13
46Muskegon County13
47Montcalm County12.7
48St. Joseph County12.6
49Cheboygan County12.5
50Oscoda County12.4
51Cass County12.4
52Delta County12.4
53Missaukee County12
54Jackson County12
54St. Clair County12
56Huron County11.8
57Monroe County11.3
58Alger County11.2
59Lenawee County11
60Manistee County10.9
61Shiawassee County10.8
62Otsego County10.8
63Midland County10.7
64Menominee County10.6
65Grand Traverse County10.5
66Kent County10.5
67Macomb County10.3
68Benzie County10
69Ionia County10
70Lapeer County9.9
71Antrim County9.9
72Keweenaw County9.8
73Dickinson County9.4
74Charlevoix County9
75Allegan County8.9
76Barry County8.6
77Clinton County8.5
78Eaton County7.8
79Emmet County7.8
80Ottawa County7.6
81Oakland County7.6
82Leelanau County6.4
83Livingston County5.1

Other periods

About this ranking

People with income in the past 12 months below the official US poverty thresholds, as a percentage of people whose poverty status is determined. United States: American Community Survey five-year estimate, where the period shown is the last year of the five-year span.

The headline single-year rate for states and counties is poverty_rate (SAIPE). Poverty status is not determined for people in institutions, military group quarters or college dormitories, or for unrelated children under 15. Absolute thresholds set by the US government, so not comparable with the EU at_risk_of_poverty_rate.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the counties are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b17001.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Census Bureau. (2026). American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs (Counties in Michigan by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b17001.dat

MLA 9

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, Counties in Michigan by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021. U.S. Census Bureau, 29 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b17001.dat. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/michigan-counties?period=2021. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2026. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs. Counties in Michigan by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b17001.dat. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/michigan-counties?period=2021.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2026) American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, Counties in Michigan by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b17001.dat, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/michigan-counties?period=2021 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_michigan_by_2021,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs: Counties in Michigan by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b17001.dat},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/michigan-counties?period=2021. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary\_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b17001.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs: Counties in Michigan by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/29
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b17001.dat
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/michigan-counties?period=2021
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/michigan-counties?period=2021.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b17001.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Questions

Which county has the highest poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate)?

Isabella County, with 23.8% in 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which county has the lowest poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate)?

Livingston County, with 5.1% in 2021.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate): other rankings

Counties in Michigan: more rankings