Hillsdale County, Michigan: commercial real estate data.
Hillsdale County, Michigan had an estimated 45,590 residents on July 1, 2024, down 0.4 percent since the 2020 census base of 45,751, across 598 square miles. County output reached $2.20 bn in 2024, 776 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 19 7(a) approvals worth $7.9 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Hillsdale County
How many people live in Hillsdale County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202445,654
- Households17,860
- Average household size2.56
- Median household income$64,242
- Median age43.1
- Median gross rent$832 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$176,100
- Home value to household income2.7 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income15.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher21.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree8.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over31,627
- Population under 189,826
- Share under 1821.5 percent
- Population 65 and over9,763
- Share 65 and over21.4 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6426,065
- Civilian labor force21,113
- Unemployment rate4.4 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over58.9 percent
- Rank by population among Michigan counties37th of 83
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1087th of 3,222
Hillsdale County is the 37th largest of 83 Michigan counties by population. A median home costs 2.7 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 21.5 percent against 21.4 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Hillsdale County
Is Hillsdale County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202445,590
- Census 2020 base population45,751
- Population change since the 2020 census base-0.35 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024-26
- Births, 2024452
- Deaths, 2024571
- Natural change, 2024-119
- Net domestic migration, 202441
- Net international migration, 202454
- Total net migration, 202495
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024312
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1969th of 3,144
The county has lost 0.35 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.
Hillsdale County
Where are people moving to Hillsdale County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving1,051
- People arriving, from those returns2,082
- Tax returns filed by households leaving1,078
- Net household movement-27
- Adjusted gross income arriving$58.4 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$4.7 m
- Average income of an arriving household$55,590
- Average income of a leaving household$49,827
- Largest single originJackson County (153 households)
- Largest single destinationJackson County (169 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson County | 153 | 274 | $8.2 m |
| Lenawee County | 131 | 290 | $7.8 m |
| Branch County | 107 | 210 | $4.4 m |
| Wayne County | 49 | 98 | $5.2 m |
| Calhoun County | 37 | 72 | $1.1 m |
| Lucas County | 23 | 46 | $1.1 m |
| Steuben County | 20 | 43 | $1.1 m |
Households arriving report $5,763 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 Jackson 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.
Hillsdale County
What is the Hillsdale County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$2.20 bn
- County GDP, 2023$2.16 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20242.0 percent
- GDP change over five years37.7 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Michigan areas BEA publishes34th of 83
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1200th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$48,224
Output grew 2.0 percent in the latest year and 37.7 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.
Hillsdale County
Employment by industry in Hillsdale County
- Covered employment, annual average12,854
- Establishments reporting880
- Average annual pay$51,536
- Average weekly wage$991
- Manufacturing, employment3,601
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$67,844
- Retail trade, employment1,853
- Retail trade, average annual pay$36,679
- Accommodation and food services, employment816
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$18,672
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment445
- Administrative and support and waste management services, average annual pay$37,095
- Construction, employment385
- Other services, except public administration, employment323
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 3,601 | 69 | $67,844 |
| Retail trade | 1,853 | 107 | $36,679 |
| Accommodation and food services | 816 | 79 | $18,672 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 445 | 31 | $37,095 |
| Construction | 385 | 83 | $49,332 |
| Other services, except public administration | 323 | 71 | $31,940 |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 265 | 32 | $36,503 |
| Finance and insurance | 258 | 37 | $73,441 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 3,601 jobs, 28.0 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Hillsdale County
How many businesses are in Hillsdale County?
- Establishments, all industries776
- Employment at those establishments10,861
- Annual payroll$532.1 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents17.0
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.
Hillsdale County
Building permits in Hillsdale County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202472
- Declared construction value permitted$20.3 m
- Single family units authorized64
- Multifamily units authorized8
- Multifamily share of units11.1 percent
- Average declared value per unit$281,260
- Units authorized per 1,000 households4.0
Single-family homes are 88.9 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Hillsdale County
SBA loans in Hillsdale County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded19
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$7.9 m
- Average 7(a) approval$413,884
- Median 7(a) approval$150,000
- Largest single approval$3,780,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)262
- Jobs per approval13.8
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active9
- Distinct industries receiving approvals14
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer26.3 percent
- Loans on real estate terms5
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter14
- Franchise loans1
- Franchise share of approvals5.3 percent
- Leading industry by approval countGeneral Automotive Repair (3)
- Most active lenderThe Huntington National Bank (8)
- 504 approvals recorded10
- 504 gross approval dollars$5.3 m
- Average 504 approval$531,800
- Median 504 approval$270,000
- Distinct CDCs active2
- 504 jobs per approval13.0
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved24.4
- Most active CDCMichigan Certified Development Corporation (9)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$13.2 m
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.
Hillsdale County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Hillsdale County
Do SBA loans in Hillsdale County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded6
- Paid in full4
- Charged off2
- Status: Paid in full4
- Status: Charged off2
- Status: Cancelled2
- Status: Exempt from disclosure11
Only 6 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.
Hillsdale County
SBA lending by place in Hillsdale County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending6
- Hillsdale, approvals11
- Litchfield, approvals2
- Dorr, approvals2
- Camden, approvals2
- Jonesville, approvals1
- Reading, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Hillsdale | 11 | $6,769,800 |
| Litchfield | 2 | $595,000 |
| Dorr | 2 | $209,000 |
| Camden | 2 | $54,000 |
| Jonesville | 1 | $216,000 |
| Reading | 1 | $20,000 |
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Hillsdale County
How large is Hillsdale County?
- Land area598 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Michigan counties36th of 83
- Width, east to west24 mi
- Height, north to south26.1 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary7
- Residents per square mile of land76
- Establishments per square mile1.30
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.
Hillsdale County
Flood risk in Hillsdale County
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book13
- Of those, participating in the NFIP5
- NFIP participation rate38.5 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Hillsdale County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/LZone 1
The EPA places Hillsdale County in radon zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 38.5 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 Hillsdale 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 Hillsdale County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202445,654
- Households17,860
- Average household size2.56
- Median household income$64,242
- Median age43.1
Common questions
Hillsdale County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Hillsdale County, Michigan?
The Census Bureau estimates 45,590 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 45,654, in 17,860 households, ranking 37th of 83 Michigan counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Hillsdale County's population growing?
The population has fallen 0.35 percent since the 2020 census base of 45,751, to 45,590 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 452 births against 571 deaths, with net migration of 95. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Hillsdale County?
$64,242. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $176,100, which is 2.7 times income, and median gross rent is $832 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Hillsdale County?
776 establishments, employing 10,861 people with an annual payroll of $532.1 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 Hillsdale County?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 3,601 jobs, 28.0 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 12,854 jobs at an average annual pay of $51,536, or $991 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Hillsdale County?
19 7(a) approvals totaling $7.9 m since FY2020, across 9 lenders, with a median approval of $150,000, plus 10 504 approvals worth $5.3 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Hillsdale County?
72 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $20.3 m. Multifamily was 11.1 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Hillsdale County?
Zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 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 Hillsdale County come from?
The largest single origin is Jackson County, with 153 households. Arriving households report an average income of $55,590 against $49,827 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Hillsdale 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 Hillsdale 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.
Hillsdale County
Cities and places in Hillsdale.
12 Census places lie wholly or partly in Hillsdale County. All 12 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hillsdale | city | 8,002 | 11 | Wholly in this county |
| Jonesville | city | 2,319 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Lake LeAnn | CDP | 1,657 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Litchfield | city | 1,566 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Reading | city | 947 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Pittsford | CDP | 707 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Camden | village | 608 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Waldron | village | 603 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| North Adams | village | 435 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Montgomery | village | 301 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Allen | village | 170 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Cambria | CDP | 128 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 2 of the county's 19 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Hillsdale County, the largest being Dorr (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.