Delta County, Michigan: commercial real estate data.
Delta County, Michigan had an estimated 36,687 residents on July 1, 2024, down 0.6 percent since the 2020 census base of 36,904, across 1,171 square miles. County output reached $1.64 bn in 2024, 991 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 27 7(a) approvals worth $23.5 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Delta County
How many people live in Delta County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202436,813
- Households15,971
- Average household size2.30
- Median household income$57,809
- Median age48.0
- Median gross rent$692 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$157,100
- Home value to household income2.7 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income14.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher20.6 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree5.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over27,317
- Population under 187,037
- Share under 1819.1 percent
- Population 65 and over9,658
- Share 65 and over26.2 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6420,118
- Civilian labor force15,743
- Unemployment rate4.2 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over52.9 percent
- Rank by population among Michigan counties43rd of 83
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1292nd of 3,222
Delta County is the 43rd largest of 83 Michigan counties by population. A median home costs 2.7 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 26.2 percent against 19.1 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.
Delta County
Is Delta County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202436,687
- Census 2020 base population36,904
- Population change since the 2020 census base-0.59 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024-159
- Births, 2024245
- Deaths, 2024496
- Natural change, 2024-251
- Net domestic migration, 202482
- Net international migration, 202414
- Total net migration, 202496
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024716
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents2052nd of 3,144
The county has lost 0.59 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.
Delta County
Where are people moving to Delta County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving646
- People arriving, from those returns1,108
- Tax returns filed by households leaving569
- Net household movement77
- Adjusted gross income arriving$36.9 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$5.5 m
- Average income of an arriving household$57,176
- Average income of a leaving household$55,160
- Largest single originMarquette County (64 households)
- Largest single destinationMarquette County (60 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marquette County | 64 | 106 | $2.7 m |
| Menominee County | 55 | 92 | $2.1 m |
| Schoolcraft County | 35 | 71 | $1.2 m |
| Brown County | 26 | 36 | $1.6 m |
Households arriving report $2,016 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 Marquette 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.
Delta County
What is the Delta County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$1.64 bn
- County GDP, 2023$1.55 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20245.8 percent
- GDP change over five years29.1 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Michigan areas BEA publishes46th of 83
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1445th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$44,420
Output grew 5.8 percent in the latest year and 29.1 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.
Delta County
Employment by industry in Delta County
- Covered employment, annual average13,848
- Establishments reporting1,044
- Average annual pay$47,978
- Average weekly wage$923
- Retail trade, employment2,044
- Retail trade, average annual pay$33,451
- Manufacturing, employment1,988
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$73,880
- Health care and social assistance, employment1,935
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$50,830
- Accommodation and food services, employment1,219
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$19,144
- Other services, except public administration, employment885
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment861
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 2,044 | 145 | $33,451 |
| Manufacturing | 1,988 | 64 | $73,880 |
| Health care and social assistance | 1,935 | 87 | $50,830 |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,219 | 89 | $19,144 |
| Other services, except public administration | 885 | 111 | $32,440 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 861 | 48 | $30,330 |
| Construction | 639 | 116 | $65,147 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 473 | 51 | $51,493 |
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 2,044 jobs, 14.8 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Delta County
How many businesses are in Delta County?
- Establishments, all industries991
- Employment at those establishments11,596
- Annual payroll$547.9 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents26.9
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.
Delta County
Building permits in Delta County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202438
- Declared construction value permitted$11.5 m
- Single family units authorized36
- Multifamily units authorized2
- Multifamily share of units5.3 percent
- Average declared value per unit$302,927
- Units authorized per 1,000 households2.4
Single-family homes are 94.7 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Delta County
SBA loans in Delta County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded27
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$23.5 m
- Average 7(a) approval$871,259
- Median 7(a) approval$397,000
- 10th percentile approval$111,280
- 90th percentile approval$2,040,000
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)296
- Jobs per approval11.0
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active16
- Distinct industries receiving approvals17
- Median 7(a) term144 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer33.3 percent
- Loans on real estate terms9
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter12
- Franchise loans9
- Franchise share of approvals33.3 percent
- Leading industry by approval countHotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels (7)
- Most active lenderNicolet National Bank (5)
- 504 approvals recorded1
- 504 gross approval dollars$653,000
- Average 504 approval$653,000
- Median 504 approval$653,000
- Distinct CDCs active1
- 504 jobs per approval10.0
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved15.3
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$24.2 m
The average approval of $871,259 sits well above the median of $397,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. 33.3 percent of approvals run on real estate terms of 240 months or more, so this is a market where SBA credit is buying buildings, not just funding operations.
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.
Delta County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Delta County
Do SBA loans in Delta County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded8
- Paid in full8
- Charged off0
- Status: Exempt from disclosure18
- Status: Paid in full8
- Status: Cancelled1
Only 8 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.
Delta County
SBA lending by place in Delta County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending4
- Escanaba, approvals18
- Gladstone, approvals7
- Cooks, approvals1
- Rapid River, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Escanaba | 18 | $17,398,200 |
| Gladstone | 7 | $5,460,800 |
| Cooks | 1 | $340,000 |
| Rapid River | 1 | $325,000 |
Escanaba accounts for 18 approvals against 7 in Gladstone. 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.
Delta County
How large is Delta County?
- Land area1,171 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Michigan counties4th of 83
- Width, east to west43.8 mi
- Height, north to south42 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary4
- Residents per square mile of land31
- Establishments per square mile0.85
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.
Delta County
Flood risk in Delta County
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book16
- Of those, participating in the NFIP14
- NFIP participation rate87.5 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Delta County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/LZone 3
The EPA places Delta 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. 87.5 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 Delta 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 Delta County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202436,813
- Households15,971
- Average household size2.30
- Median household income$57,809
- Median age48.0
Common questions
Delta County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Delta County, Michigan?
The Census Bureau estimates 36,687 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 36,813, in 15,971 households, ranking 43rd of 83 Michigan counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Delta County's population growing?
The population has fallen 0.59 percent since the 2020 census base of 36,904, to 36,687 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 245 births against 496 deaths, with net migration of 96. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Delta County?
$57,809. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $157,100, which is 2.7 times income, and median gross rent is $692 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Delta County?
991 establishments, employing 11,596 people with an annual payroll of $547.9 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 Delta County?
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 2,044 jobs, 14.8 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 13,848 jobs at an average annual pay of $47,978, or $923 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Delta County?
27 7(a) approvals totaling $23.5 m since FY2020, across 16 lenders, with a median approval of $397,000, plus 1 504 approvals worth $653,000 since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Delta County?
38 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $11.5 m. Multifamily was 5.3 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Delta 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 Delta County come from?
The largest single origin is Marquette County, with 64 households. Arriving households report an average income of $57,176 against $55,160 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Delta 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 Delta 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.
Delta County
Cities and places in Delta.
5 Census places lie wholly or partly in Delta County. All 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Escanaba | city | 12,354 | 18 | Wholly in this county |
| Gladstone | city | 5,253 | 7 | Wholly in this county |
| Rapid River | CDP | 223 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Rock | CDP | 160 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Garden | village | 154 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 1 of the county's 27 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Delta County, the largest being Cooks (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