Chippewa County, Michigan: commercial real estate data.
Chippewa County, Michigan had an estimated 36,253 residents on July 1, 2024, down 1.4 percent since the 2020 census base of 36,786, across 1,558 square miles. County output reached $1.60 bn in 2024, 778 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 56 7(a) approvals worth $23.9 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Chippewa County
How many people live in Chippewa County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202436,295
- Households14,080
- Average household size2.58
- Median household income$62,217
- Median age41.6
- Median gross rent$797 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$161,900
- Home value to household income2.6 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income15.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher23.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree8.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over25,680
- Population under 186,399
- Share under 1817.6 percent
- Population 65 and over7,114
- Share 65 and over19.6 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6422,782
- Civilian labor force16,061
- Unemployment rate5.2 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over53.7 percent
- Rank by population among Michigan counties44th of 83
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1310th of 3,222
Chippewa County is the 44th largest of 83 Michigan counties by population. A median home costs 2.6 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 19.6 percent against 17.6 percent, which points demand at health care, services and single story product rather than schools.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Chippewa County
Is Chippewa County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202436,253
- Census 2020 base population36,786
- Population change since the 2020 census base-1.45 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024-87
- Births, 2024275
- Deaths, 2024442
- Natural change, 2024-167
- Net domestic migration, 2024-39
- Net international migration, 2024117
- Total net migration, 202478
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-160
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents2347th of 3,144
The county has lost 1.45 percent of its population since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 by more than net migration added, so the population fell even though more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Chippewa County
Where are people moving to Chippewa County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving815
- People arriving, from those returns1,361
- Tax returns filed by households leaving728
- Net household movement87
- Adjusted gross income arriving$56.8 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$21.5 m
- Average income of an arriving household$69,656
- Average income of a leaving household$48,405
- Largest single originMackinac County (62 households)
- Largest single destinationMackinac County (40 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mackinac County | 62 | 104 | $2.2 m |
| Wayne County | 27 | 38 | $1.2 m |
| Kent County | 22 | 25 | $622,000 |
| Oakland County | 22 | 35 | $1.3 m |
Households arriving report $21,251 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Mackinac County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Chippewa County
What is the Chippewa County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$1.60 bn
- County GDP, 2023$1.54 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20244.2 percent
- GDP change over five years38.1 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Michigan areas BEA publishes48th of 83
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1454th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$44,164
Output grew 4.2 percent in the latest year and 38.1 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Chippewa County
Employment by industry in Chippewa County
- Covered employment, annual average12,793
- Establishments reporting842
- Average annual pay$52,748
- Average weekly wage$1,014
- Retail trade, employment1,554
- Retail trade, average annual pay$34,326
- Accommodation and food services, employment1,047
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$23,293
- Health care and social assistance, employment776
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$36,913
- Construction, employment652
- Construction, average annual pay$88,393
- Manufacturing, employment589
- Transportation and warehousing, employment275
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 1,554 | 116 | $34,326 |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,047 | 108 | $23,293 |
| Health care and social assistance | 776 | 74 | $36,913 |
| Construction | 652 | 98 | $88,393 |
| Manufacturing | 589 | 25 | $55,693 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 275 | 29 | $49,443 |
| Finance and insurance | 253 | 36 | $58,511 |
| Other services, except public administration | 211 | 69 | $30,036 |
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 1,554 jobs, 12.1 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Chippewa County
How many businesses are in Chippewa County?
- Establishments, all industries778
- Employment at those establishments8,650
- Annual payroll$376.2 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents21.4
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Chippewa County
Building permits in Chippewa County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202455
- Declared construction value permitted$11.1 m
- Single family units authorized55
- Multifamily units authorized0
- Multifamily share of units0.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$202,201
- Units authorized per 1,000 households3.9
Single-family homes are 100.0 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Chippewa County
SBA loans in Chippewa County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded56
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$23.9 m
- Average 7(a) approval$426,234
- Median 7(a) approval$146,100
- 10th percentile approval$29,500
- 90th percentile approval$1,505,300
- Largest single approval$3,150,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)516
- Jobs per approval9.2
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active9
- Distinct industries receiving approvals38
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer8.9 percent
- Loans on real estate terms5
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter36
- Franchise loans6
- Franchise share of approvals10.7 percent
- Leading industry by approval countReady-Mix Concrete Manufacturing (4)
- Most active lender4Front Credit Union (29)
- 504 approvals recorded9
- 504 gross approval dollars$2.5 m
- Average 504 approval$272,667
- Median 504 approval$217,000
- Distinct CDCs active1
- 504 jobs per approval1.2
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved4.5
- Most active CDCMichigan Certified Development Corporation (9)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$26.3 m
The average approval of $426,234 sits well above the median of $146,100, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 8.9 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Chippewa County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Chippewa County
Do SBA loans in Chippewa County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded17
- Paid in full16
- Charged off1
- Status: Paid in full16
- Status: Exempt from disclosure35
- Status: Charged off1
- Status: Cancelled3
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed1
Only 17 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Chippewa County
SBA lending by place in Chippewa County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending7
- Sault Ste. Marie, approvals37
- Pickford, approvals7
- Drummond Island, approvals5
- Brimley, approvals4
- Barbeau, approvals1
- Sault S Marie, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Sault Ste. Marie | 37 | $19,090,800 |
| Pickford | 7 | $823,900 |
| Drummond Island | 5 | $2,133,500 |
| Brimley | 4 | $1,522,900 |
| Barbeau | 1 | $148,000 |
| Sault S Marie | 1 | $100,000 |
| Salut Ste Marie | 1 | $50,000 |
Sault Ste. Marie accounts for 37 approvals against 7 in Pickford. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Chippewa County
How large is Chippewa County?
- Land area1,558 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Michigan counties2nd of 83
- Width, east to west84.4 mi
- Height, north to south59.4 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary2
- Residents per square mile of land23
- Establishments per square mile0.50
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Chippewa County
Flood risk in Chippewa County
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book15
- Of those, participating in the NFIP11
- NFIP participation rate73.3 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Chippewa County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/LZone 3
The EPA places Chippewa County in radon zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 73.3 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Chippewa County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Chippewa County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202436,295
- Households14,080
- Average household size2.58
- Median household income$62,217
- Median age41.6
Common questions
Chippewa County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Chippewa County, Michigan?
The Census Bureau estimates 36,253 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 36,295, in 14,080 households, ranking 44th of 83 Michigan counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Chippewa County's population growing?
The population has fallen 1.45 percent since the 2020 census base of 36,786, to 36,253 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 275 births against 442 deaths, with net migration of 78. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Chippewa County?
$62,217. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $161,900, which is 2.6 times income, and median gross rent is $797 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Chippewa County?
778 establishments, employing 8,650 people with an annual payroll of $376.2 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Chippewa County?
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 1,554 jobs, 12.1 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 12,793 jobs at an average annual pay of $52,748, or $1,014 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Chippewa County?
56 7(a) approvals totaling $23.9 m since FY2020, across 9 lenders, with a median approval of $146,100, plus 9 504 approvals worth $2.5 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Chippewa County?
55 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $11.1 m. Multifamily was 0.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Chippewa County?
Zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Chippewa County come from?
The largest single origin is Mackinac County, with 62 households. Arriving households report an average income of $69,656 against $48,405 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Chippewa County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Chippewa County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Chippewa County
Cities and places in Chippewa.
4 Census places lie wholly or partly in Chippewa County. All 4 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sault Ste. Marie | city | 13,335 | 37 | Wholly in this county |
| Kincheloe | CDP | 2,524 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Brimley | CDP | 345 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| De Tour Village | village | 212 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 15 of the county's 56 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Chippewa County, the largest being Pickford (7), Drummond Island (5), Barbeau (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.
Nearby