Gratiot County, Michigan: commercial real estate data.
Gratiot County, Michigan had an estimated 41,372 residents on July 1, 2024, down 0.9 percent since the 2020 census base of 41,764, across 568 square miles. County output reached $1.98 bn in 2024, 725 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 30 7(a) approvals worth $5.2 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Gratiot County
How many people live in Gratiot County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202441,385
- Households14,775
- Average household size2.80
- Median household income$63,556
- Median age39.6
- Median gross rent$834 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$147,500
- Home value to household income2.3 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income15.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher18.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree5.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over28,638
- Population under 188,079
- Share under 1819.5 percent
- Population 65 and over7,377
- Share 65 and over17.8 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6425,929
- Civilian labor force18,116
- Unemployment rate4.2 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over54.4 percent
- Rank by population among Michigan counties39th of 83
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1180th of 3,222
Gratiot County is the 39th largest of 83 Michigan counties by population. A median home costs 2.3 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 19.5 percent against 17.8 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Gratiot County
Is Gratiot County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202441,372
- Census 2020 base population41,764
- Population change since the 2020 census base-0.94 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024-62
- Births, 2024373
- Deaths, 2024480
- Natural change, 2024-107
- Net domestic migration, 20245
- Net international migration, 202443
- Total net migration, 202448
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024193
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents2169th of 3,144
The county has lost 0.94 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.
Gratiot County
Where are people moving to Gratiot County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving1,003
- People arriving, from those returns1,752
- Tax returns filed by households leaving1,010
- Net household movement-7
- Adjusted gross income arriving$44.3 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$1.1 m
- Average income of an arriving household$44,174
- Average income of a leaving household$42,745
- Largest single originIsabella County (155 households)
- Largest single destinationIsabella County (173 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Isabella County | 155 | 275 | $6.1 m |
| Montcalm County | 131 | 226 | $4.1 m |
| Clinton County | 85 | 156 | $4.9 m |
| Saginaw County | 55 | 105 | $2.2 m |
| Midland County | 41 | 66 | $1.5 m |
| Ingham County | 36 | 65 | $1.5 m |
| Ionia County | 33 | 54 | $1.1 m |
| Eaton County | 24 | 37 | $1.0 m |
Households arriving report $1,429 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 Isabella 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.
Gratiot County
What is the Gratiot County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$1.98 bn
- County GDP, 2023$1.93 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20242.5 percent
- GDP change over five years30.4 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Michigan areas BEA publishes38th of 83
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1292nd of 3,127
- GDP per resident$47,898
Output grew 2.5 percent in the latest year and 30.4 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.
Gratiot County
Employment by industry in Gratiot County
- Covered employment, annual average12,359
- Establishments reporting794
- Average annual pay$54,845
- Average weekly wage$1,055
- Manufacturing, employment1,751
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$66,151
- Retail trade, employment1,295
- Retail trade, average annual pay$43,293
- Accommodation and food services, employment637
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$20,269
- Wholesale trade, employment606
- Wholesale trade, average annual pay$60,994
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment452
- Finance and insurance, employment328
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 1,751 | 49 | $66,151 |
| Retail trade | 1,295 | 104 | $43,293 |
| Accommodation and food services | 637 | 56 | $20,269 |
| Wholesale trade | 606 | 30 | $60,994 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 452 | 31 | $47,893 |
| Finance and insurance | 328 | 34 | $65,320 |
| Construction | 288 | 74 | $55,209 |
| Other services, except public administration | 282 | 61 | $42,678 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 1,751 jobs, 14.2 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Gratiot County
How many businesses are in Gratiot County?
- Establishments, all industries725
- Employment at those establishments10,633
- Annual payroll$511.1 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents17.5
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.
Gratiot County
Building permits in Gratiot County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202437
- Declared construction value permitted$7.9 m
- Single family units authorized37
- Multifamily units authorized0
- Multifamily share of units0.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$213,041
- Units authorized per 1,000 households2.5
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.
Gratiot County
SBA loans in Gratiot County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded30
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$5.2 m
- Average 7(a) approval$172,913
- Median 7(a) approval$67,500
- 10th percentile approval$18,620
- 90th percentile approval$280,400
- Largest single approval$1,325,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)333
- Jobs per approval11.1
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active7
- Distinct industries receiving approvals19
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer3.3 percent
- Loans on real estate terms1
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter26
- Franchise loans0
- Franchise share of approvals0.0 percent
- Leading industry by approval countGeneral Freight Trucking, Long-Distance, Truckload (4)
- Most active lenderThe Huntington National Bank (20)
- 504 approvals recorded11
- 504 gross approval dollars$5.4 m
- Average 504 approval$493,364
- Median 504 approval$350,000
- Distinct CDCs active1
- 504 jobs per approval8.2
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved16.6
- Most active CDCMichigan Certified Development Corporation (11)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$10.6 m
The average approval of $172,913 sits well above the median of $67,500, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 3.3 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.
Gratiot County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Gratiot County
Do SBA loans in Gratiot County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded7
- Paid in full7
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full7
- Status: Exempt from disclosure21
- Status: Cancelled1
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed1
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.
Gratiot County
SBA lending by place in Gratiot County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending12
- Alma, approvals6
- Ashley, approvals5
- Breckenridge, approvals4
- Ithaca, approvals3
- Sumner, approvals2
- Wheeler, approvals2
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Alma | 6 | $251,000 |
| Ashley | 5 | $1,398,400 |
| Breckenridge | 4 | $661,000 |
| Ithaca | 3 | $1,425,000 |
| Sumner | 2 | $745,000 |
| Wheeler | 2 | $250,000 |
| Middleton | 2 | $160,000 |
| St. Louis | 2 | $83,800 |
| 4 other borrower cities | 4 | $213,200 |
Alma accounts for 6 approvals against 5 in Ashley. 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.
Gratiot County
How large is Gratiot County?
- Land area568 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Michigan counties41st of 83
- Width, east to west24.1 mi
- Height, north to south24 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land73
- Establishments per square mile1.28
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.
Gratiot County
Flood risk in Gratiot County
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book11
- Of those, participating in the NFIP8
- NFIP participation rate72.7 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Gratiot County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/LZone 3
The EPA places Gratiot 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. 72.7 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 Gratiot 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 Gratiot County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202441,385
- Households14,775
- Average household size2.80
- Median household income$63,556
- Median age39.6
Common questions
Gratiot County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Gratiot County, Michigan?
The Census Bureau estimates 41,372 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 41,385, in 14,775 households, ranking 39th of 83 Michigan counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Gratiot County's population growing?
The population has fallen 0.94 percent since the 2020 census base of 41,764, to 41,372 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 373 births against 480 deaths, with net migration of 48. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Gratiot County?
$63,556. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $147,500, which is 2.3 times income, and median gross rent is $834 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Gratiot County?
725 establishments, employing 10,633 people with an annual payroll of $511.1 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 Gratiot County?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 1,751 jobs, 14.2 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 12,359 jobs at an average annual pay of $54,845, or $1,055 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Gratiot County?
30 7(a) approvals totaling $5.2 m since FY2020, across 7 lenders, with a median approval of $67,500, plus 11 504 approvals worth $5.4 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Gratiot County?
37 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $7.9 m. Multifamily was 0.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Gratiot 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 Gratiot County come from?
The largest single origin is Isabella County, with 155 households. Arriving households report an average income of $44,174 against $42,745 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Gratiot 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 Gratiot 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.
Gratiot County
Cities and places in Gratiot.
8 Census places lie wholly or partly in Gratiot County. All 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alma | city | 9,396 | 6 | Wholly in this county |
| St. Louis | city | 7,367 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Ithaca | city | 2,817 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Breckenridge | village | 1,517 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Perrinton | village | 513 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Ashley | village | 483 | 5 | Wholly in this county |
| Elm Hall | CDP | 228 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Riverdale | CDP | 216 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 10 of the county's 30 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Gratiot County, the largest being Sumner (2), Wheeler (2), Middleton (2). 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