Isabella County, Michigan: commercial real estate data.
Isabella County, Michigan had an estimated 65,072 residents on July 1, 2024, up 1.0 percent since the 2020 census base of 64,402, across 573 square miles. County output reached $3.27 bn in 2024, 1,423 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 35 7(a) approvals worth $14.2 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Isabella County
How many people live in Isabella County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202464,565
- Households24,914
- Average household size2.59
- Median household income$55,237
- Median age30.1
- Median gross rent$913 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$170,400
- Home value to household income3.1 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income19.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher31.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree13.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over36,489
- Population under 1811,471
- Share under 1817.8 percent
- Population 65 and over9,022
- Share 65 and over14.0 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6444,072
- Civilian labor force33,926
- Unemployment rate6.4 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over63.9 percent
- Rank by population among Michigan counties31st of 83
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included858th of 3,222
Isabella County is the 31st largest of 83 Michigan counties by population. A median home costs 3.1 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 17.8 percent against 14.0 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Isabella County
Is Isabella County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202465,072
- Census 2020 base population64,402
- Population change since the 2020 census base1.04 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024587
- Births, 2024572
- Deaths, 2024579
- Natural change, 2024-7
- Net domestic migration, 2024282
- Net international migration, 2024314
- Total net migration, 2024596
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 202443
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1471st of 3,144
The county has grown 1.04 percent since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 and the population still grew, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Isabella County
Where are people moving to Isabella County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving2,027
- People arriving, from those returns3,332
- Tax returns filed by households leaving2,073
- Net household movement-46
- Adjusted gross income arriving$97.3 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$7.0 m
- Average income of an arriving household$48,008
- Average income of a leaving household$43,568
- Largest single originClare County (175 households)
- Largest single destinationMidland County (169 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clare County | 175 | 328 | $6.7 m |
| Gratiot County | 173 | 309 | $6.7 m |
| Midland County | 151 | 236 | $6.9 m |
| Mecosta County | 102 | 178 | $3.4 m |
| Montcalm County | 80 | 153 | $3.1 m |
| Kent County | 74 | 103 | $3.2 m |
| Oakland County | 59 | 80 | $3.6 m |
| Ingham County | 53 | 80 | $1.9 m |
Households arriving report $4,440 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 Clare 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.
Isabella County
What is the Isabella County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$3.27 bn
- County GDP, 2023$3.22 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20241.5 percent
- GDP change over five years28.4 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Michigan areas BEA publishes26th of 83
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes925th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$50,579
Output grew 1.5 percent in the latest year and 28.4 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.
Isabella County
Employment by industry in Isabella County
- Covered employment, annual average26,640
- Establishments reporting1,405
- Average annual pay$50,992
- Average weekly wage$981
- Health care and social assistance, employment3,145
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$43,048
- Retail trade, employment3,119
- Retail trade, average annual pay$36,058
- Manufacturing, employment2,589
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$61,354
- Accommodation and food services, employment2,298
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$21,563
- Construction, employment1,653
- Transportation and warehousing, employment936
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 3,145 | 164 | $43,048 |
| Retail trade | 3,119 | 185 | $36,058 |
| Manufacturing | 2,589 | 69 | $61,354 |
| Accommodation and food services | 2,298 | 126 | $21,563 |
| Construction | 1,653 | 165 | $70,988 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 936 | 41 | $70,532 |
| Finance and insurance | 705 | 64 | $62,104 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 639 | 98 | $66,264 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 3,145 jobs, 11.8 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Isabella County
How many businesses are in Isabella County?
- Establishments, all industries1,423
- Employment at those establishments25,575
- Annual payroll$1.24 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents22.0
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.
Isabella County
Building permits in Isabella County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202475
- Declared construction value permitted$16.4 m
- Single family units authorized71
- Multifamily units authorized4
- Multifamily share of units5.3 percent
- Average declared value per unit$218,199
- Units authorized per 1,000 households3.0
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.
Isabella County
SBA loans in Isabella County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded35
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$14.2 m
- Average 7(a) approval$405,774
- Median 7(a) approval$225,000
- 10th percentile approval$50,000
- 90th percentile approval$908,000
- Largest single approval$2,364,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)422
- Jobs per approval12.1
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active19
- Distinct industries receiving approvals24
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer22.9 percent
- Loans on real estate terms8
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter25
- Franchise loans3
- Franchise share of approvals8.6 percent
- Most active lenderThe Huntington National Bank (11)
- 504 approvals recorded9
- 504 gross approval dollars$4.5 m
- Average 504 approval$503,556
- Median 504 approval$270,000
- Distinct CDCs active2
- 504 jobs per approval4.7
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved9.3
- Most active CDCMichigan Certified Development Corporation (8)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$18.7 m
The average approval of $405,774 sits well above the median of $225,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 22.9 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.
Isabella County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Isabella County
Do SBA loans in Isabella County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded6
- Paid in full6
- Charged off0
- Status: Exempt from disclosure26
- Status: Paid in full6
- Status: Cancelled3
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.
Isabella County
SBA lending by place in Isabella County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending6
- Mount Pleasant, approvals22
- Weidman, approvals4
- Rosebush, approvals3
- Shepherd, approvals3
- Blanchard, approvals2
- Clare, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Mount Pleasant | 22 | $8,216,800 |
| Weidman | 4 | $3,707,000 |
| Rosebush | 3 | $834,500 |
| Shepherd | 3 | $280,000 |
| Blanchard | 2 | $1,113,800 |
| Clare | 1 | $50,000 |
Mount Pleasant accounts for 22 approvals against 4 in Weidman. 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.
Isabella County
How large is Isabella County?
- Land area573 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Michigan counties38th of 83
- Width, east to west24.2 mi
- Height, north to south24.1 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary5
- Residents per square mile of land113
- Establishments per square mile2.48
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.
Isabella County
Flood risk in Isabella County
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book21
- Of those, participating in the NFIP20
- NFIP participation rate95.2 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Isabella County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/LZone 3
The EPA places Isabella 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. 95.2 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 Isabella 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 Isabella County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202464,565
- Households24,914
- Average household size2.59
- Median household income$55,237
- Median age30.1
Common questions
Isabella County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Isabella County, Michigan?
The Census Bureau estimates 65,072 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 64,565, in 24,914 households, ranking 31st of 83 Michigan counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Isabella County's population growing?
The population has grown 1.04 percent since the 2020 census base of 64,402, to 65,072 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 572 births against 579 deaths, with net migration of 596. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Isabella County?
$55,237. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $170,400, which is 3.1 times income, and median gross rent is $913 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Isabella County?
1,423 establishments, employing 25,575 people with an annual payroll of $1.24 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Isabella County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 3,145 jobs, 11.8 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 26,640 jobs at an average annual pay of $50,992, or $981 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Isabella County?
35 7(a) approvals totaling $14.2 m since FY2020, across 19 lenders, with a median approval of $225,000, plus 9 504 approvals worth $4.5 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Isabella County?
75 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $16.4 m. Multifamily was 5.3 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Isabella 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 Isabella County come from?
The largest single origin is Clare County, with 175 households. Arriving households report an average income of $48,008 against $43,568 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Isabella 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 Isabella 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.
Isabella County
Cities and places in Isabella.
9 Census places lie wholly or partly in Isabella County. All 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Pleasant | city | 21,236 | 22 | Wholly in this county |
| Clare | city | 3,324 | 1 | 15.0 percent here, 85.0 percent Clare County |
| Lake Isabella | village | 2,085 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Shepherd | village | 1,457 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Weidman | CDP | 1,156 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Rosebush | village | 331 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Beal City | CDP | 293 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Winn | CDP | 226 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Loomis | CDP | 200 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 2 of the county's 35 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Isabella County, the largest being Blanchard (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