Emmet County, Michigan: commercial real estate data.
Emmet County, Michigan had an estimated 33,949 residents on July 1, 2024, down 0.5 percent since the 2020 census base of 34,110, across 467 square miles. County output reached $2.56 bn in 2024, 1,577 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 95 7(a) approvals worth $33.1 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Emmet County
How many people live in Emmet County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202434,125
- Households15,190
- Average household size2.25
- Median household income$78,112
- Median age47.0
- Median gross rent$1,112 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$315,700
- Home value to household income4.0 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income17.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher41.6 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree17.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over25,406
- Population under 186,188
- Share under 1818.1 percent
- Population 65 and over8,521
- Share 65 and over25.0 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6419,416
- Civilian labor force17,336
- Unemployment rate3.2 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over62.1 percent
- Rank by population among Michigan counties45th of 83
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1362nd of 3,222
Emmet County is the 45th largest of 83 Michigan counties by population. A median home costs 4.0 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 25.0 percent against 18.1 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.
Emmet County
Is Emmet County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202433,949
- Census 2020 base population34,110
- Population change since the 2020 census base-0.47 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024-90
- Births, 2024225
- Deaths, 2024398
- Natural change, 2024-173
- Net domestic migration, 202469
- Net international migration, 202415
- Total net migration, 202484
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024503
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents2010th of 3,144
The county has lost 0.47 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.
Emmet County
Where are people moving to Emmet County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving1,062
- People arriving, from those returns1,743
- Tax returns filed by households leaving1,057
- Net household movement5
- Adjusted gross income arriving$141.5 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$52.7 m
- Average income of an arriving household$133,198
- Average income of a leaving household$83,971
- Largest single originCheboygan County (115 households)
- Largest single destinationCheboygan County (143 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheboygan County | 115 | 189 | $6.2 m |
| Charlevoix County | 114 | 187 | $5.8 m |
| Oakland County | 76 | 128 | $31.0 m |
| Kent County | 36 | 52 | $2.9 m |
| Wayne County | 33 | 57 | $5.1 m |
| Grand Traverse County | 26 | 41 | $1.5 m |
| Macomb County | 23 | 34 | $2.7 m |
| Antrim County | 21 | 29 | $1.3 m |
Households arriving report $49,227 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 Cheboygan 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.
Emmet County
What is the Emmet County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$2.56 bn
- County GDP, 2023$2.43 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20245.5 percent
- GDP change over five years43.4 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Michigan areas BEA publishes30th of 83
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1091st of 3,127
- GDP per resident$74,990
Output grew 5.5 percent in the latest year and 43.4 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.
Emmet County
Employment by industry in Emmet County
- Covered employment, annual average17,742
- Establishments reporting1,558
- Average annual pay$55,435
- Average weekly wage$1,066
- Retail trade, employment2,948
- Retail trade, average annual pay$43,699
- Health care and social assistance, employment2,741
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$67,765
- Accommodation and food services, employment2,402
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$35,386
- Manufacturing, employment1,564
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$72,840
- Construction, employment1,501
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment925
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 2,948 | 206 | $43,699 |
| Health care and social assistance | 2,741 | 177 | $67,765 |
| Accommodation and food services | 2,402 | 138 | $35,386 |
| Manufacturing | 1,564 | 62 | $72,840 |
| Construction | 1,501 | 258 | $62,107 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 925 | 97 | $51,130 |
| Other services, except public administration | 682 | 143 | $43,219 |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 596 | 38 | $43,417 |
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 2,948 jobs, 16.6 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Emmet County
How many businesses are in Emmet County?
- Establishments, all industries1,577
- Employment at those establishments16,212
- Annual payroll$837.0 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents46.2
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.
Emmet County
Building permits in Emmet County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024161
- Declared construction value permitted$61.1 m
- Single family units authorized159
- Multifamily units authorized2
- Multifamily share of units1.2 percent
- Average declared value per unit$379,647
- Units authorized per 1,000 households10.6
Single-family homes are 98.8 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Emmet County
SBA loans in Emmet County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded95
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$33.1 m
- Average 7(a) approval$348,892
- Median 7(a) approval$106,900
- 10th percentile approval$28,500
- 90th percentile approval$801,560
- Largest single approval$3,001,400
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)818
- Jobs per approval8.6
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active16
- Distinct industries receiving approvals46
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer10.5 percent
- Loans on real estate terms10
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter81
- Franchise loans4
- Franchise share of approvals4.2 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFull-Service Restaurants (16)
- Most active lenderThe Huntington National Bank (54)
- 504 approvals recorded15
- 504 gross approval dollars$11.8 m
- Average 504 approval$785,800
- Median 504 approval$368,000
- Distinct CDCs active2
- 504 jobs per approval9.6
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved12.2
- Most active CDCMichigan Certified Development Corporation (8)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$44.9 m
The average approval of $348,892 sits well above the median of $106,900, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 10.5 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.
Emmet County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Emmet County
Do SBA loans in Emmet County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded7
- Paid in full7
- Charged off0
- Status: Exempt from disclosure73
- Status: Paid in full7
- Status: Cancelled9
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed6
Only 7 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.
Emmet County
SBA lending by place in Emmet County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending8
- Petoskey, approvals61
- Harbor Springs, approvals18
- Alanson, approvals6
- Pellston, approvals3
- Mackinaw City, approvals3
- Bay Harbor, approvals2
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Petoskey | 61 | $23,568,600 |
| Harbor Springs | 18 | $6,538,200 |
| Alanson | 6 | $630,900 |
| Pellston | 3 | $1,048,000 |
| Mackinaw City | 3 | $635,000 |
| Bay Harbor | 2 | $524,000 |
| Petroskey | 1 | $150,000 |
| Levering | 1 | $50,000 |
Petoskey accounts for 61 approvals against 18 in Harbor Springs. 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.
Emmet County
How large is Emmet County?
- Land area467 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Michigan counties77th of 83
- Width, east to west18.7 mi
- Height, north to south35.3 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary2
- Residents per square mile of land73
- Establishments per square mile3.38
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.
Emmet County
Flood risk in Emmet County
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book13
- Of those, participating in the NFIP9
- NFIP participation rate69.2 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Emmet County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The EPA places Emmet County in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 69.2 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 Emmet 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 Emmet County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202434,125
- Households15,190
- Average household size2.25
- Median household income$78,112
- Median age47.0
Common questions
Emmet County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Emmet County, Michigan?
The Census Bureau estimates 33,949 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 34,125, in 15,190 households, ranking 45th of 83 Michigan counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Emmet County's population growing?
The population has fallen 0.47 percent since the 2020 census base of 34,110, to 33,949 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 225 births against 398 deaths, with net migration of 84. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Emmet County?
$78,112. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $315,700, which is 4.0 times income, and median gross rent is $1,112 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Emmet County?
1,577 establishments, employing 16,212 people with an annual payroll of $837.0 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 Emmet County?
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 2,948 jobs, 16.6 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 17,742 jobs at an average annual pay of $55,435, or $1,066 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Emmet County?
95 7(a) approvals totaling $33.1 m since FY2020, across 16 lenders, with a median approval of $106,900, plus 15 504 approvals worth $11.8 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Emmet County?
161 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $61.1 m. Multifamily was 1.2 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Emmet County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Emmet County come from?
The largest single origin is Cheboygan County, with 115 households. Arriving households report an average income of $133,198 against $83,971 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Emmet 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 Emmet 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.
Emmet County
Cities and places in Emmet.
14 Census places lie wholly or partly in Emmet County. All 14 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petoskey | city | 5,856 | 61 | Wholly in this county |
| Harbor Springs | city | 1,086 | 18 | Wholly in this county |
| Alanson | village | 834 | 6 | Wholly in this county |
| Mackinaw City | village | 778 | 3 | 82.9 percent here, 17.1 percent Cheboygan County |
| Pellston | village | 755 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Bay Shore | CDP | 697 | None recorded | 5.0 percent here, 95.0 percent Charlevoix County |
| Carp Lake | CDP | 380 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Conway | CDP | 237 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Brutus | CDP | 198 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Bay View | CDP | 164 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Oden | CDP | 150 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Levering | CDP | 73 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Ponshewaing | CDP | 61 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Cross Village | CDP | 47 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 3 of the county's 95 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Emmet County, the largest being Bay Harbor (2), Petroskey (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.
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