Mecosta County, Michigan: commercial real estate data.
Mecosta County, Michigan had an estimated 41,947 residents on July 1, 2024, up 4.0 percent since the 2020 census base of 40,344, across 555 square miles. County output reached $1.63 bn in 2024, 727 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 35 7(a) approvals worth $12.3 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Mecosta County
How many people live in Mecosta County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202441,242
- Households16,708
- Average household size2.47
- Median household income$60,951
- Median age40.0
- Median gross rent$934 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$178,900
- Home value to household income2.9 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income18.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher22.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree7.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over27,114
- Population under 187,876
- Share under 1819.1 percent
- Population 65 and over8,399
- Share 65 and over20.4 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6424,967
- Civilian labor force18,660
- Unemployment rate4.0 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over55.9 percent
- Rank by population among Michigan counties40th of 83
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1183rd of 3,222
Mecosta County is the 40th largest of 83 Michigan counties by population. A median home costs 2.9 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 20.4 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.
Mecosta County
Is Mecosta County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202441,947
- Census 2020 base population40,344
- Population change since the 2020 census base3.97 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024225
- Births, 2024381
- Deaths, 2024430
- Natural change, 2024-49
- Net domestic migration, 2024214
- Net international migration, 202460
- Total net migration, 2024274
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20241,670
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents693rd of 3,144
The county has grown 3.97 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.
Mecosta County
Where are people moving to Mecosta County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving1,429
- People arriving, from those returns2,539
- Tax returns filed by households leaving1,292
- Net household movement137
- Adjusted gross income arriving$75.2 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$13.8 m
- Average income of an arriving household$52,638
- Average income of a leaving household$47,511
- Largest single originKent County (199 households)
- Largest single destinationKent County (177 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent County | 199 | 361 | $11.1 m |
| Osceola County | 131 | 236 | $4.9 m |
| Montcalm County | 126 | 277 | $6.4 m |
| Newaygo County | 103 | 181 | $4.2 m |
| Isabella County | 69 | 123 | $2.5 m |
| Oakland County | 41 | 61 | $3.5 m |
| Lake County | 38 | 84 | $2.0 m |
| Ottawa County | 36 | 60 | $1.8 m |
Households arriving report $5,127 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 Kent 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.
Mecosta County
What is the Mecosta County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$1.63 bn
- County GDP, 2023$1.64 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 2024-1.0 percent
- GDP change over five years27.0 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Michigan areas BEA publishes47th of 83
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1449th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$39,428
Output grew -1.0 percent in the latest year and 27.0 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.
Mecosta County
Employment by industry in Mecosta County
- Covered employment, annual average12,746
- Establishments reporting696
- Average annual pay$45,193
- Average weekly wage$869
- Retail trade, employment2,362
- Retail trade, average annual pay$36,178
- Health care and social assistance, employment1,597
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$40,526
- Manufacturing, employment1,226
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$64,573
- Accommodation and food services, employment1,094
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$19,790
- Other services, except public administration, employment514
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment498
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 2,362 | 118 | $36,178 |
| Health care and social assistance | 1,597 | 76 | $40,526 |
| Manufacturing | 1,226 | 29 | $64,573 |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,094 | 68 | $19,790 |
| Other services, except public administration | 514 | 71 | $41,428 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 498 | 26 | $37,390 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 225 | 17 | $65,655 |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 182 | 11 | $22,681 |
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 2,362 jobs, 18.5 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Mecosta County
How many businesses are in Mecosta County?
- Establishments, all industries727
- Employment at those establishments9,425
- Annual payroll$401.6 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents17.6
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.
Mecosta County
Building permits in Mecosta County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024116
- Declared construction value permitted$28.9 m
- Single family units authorized116
- Multifamily units authorized0
- Multifamily share of units0.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$248,819
- Units authorized per 1,000 households6.9
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.
Mecosta County
SBA loans in Mecosta County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded35
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$12.3 m
- Average 7(a) approval$352,400
- Median 7(a) approval$76,800
- 10th percentile approval$18,860
- 90th percentile approval$645,580
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)311
- Jobs per approval8.9
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active8
- Distinct industries receiving approvals26
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer2.9 percent
- Loans on real estate terms1
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter31
- Franchise loans6
- Franchise share of approvals17.1 percent
- Leading industry by approval countLimited-Service Restaurants (5)
- Most active lenderThe Huntington National Bank (25)
- 504 approvals recorded6
- 504 gross approval dollars$6.1 m
- Average 504 approval$1,017,500
- Median 504 approval$805,500
- Distinct CDCs active3
- 504 jobs per approval14.3
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved14.1
- Most active CDCMichigan Certified Development Corporation (4)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$18.4 m
The average approval of $352,400 sits well above the median of $76,800, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 2.9 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.
Mecosta County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Mecosta County
Do SBA loans in Mecosta County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded5
- Paid in full5
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full5
- Status: Exempt from disclosure26
- Status: Cancelled2
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed2
Only 5 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.
Mecosta County
SBA lending by place in Mecosta County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending5
- Big Rapids, approvals23
- Stanwood, approvals6
- Paris, approvals3
- Morley, approvals2
- Mecosta, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Big Rapids | 23 | $10,759,100 |
| Stanwood | 6 | $413,800 |
| Paris | 3 | $308,000 |
| Morley | 2 | $155,800 |
| Mecosta | 1 | $697,300 |
Big Rapids accounts for 23 approvals against 6 in Stanwood. 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.
Mecosta County
How large is Mecosta County?
- Land area555 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Michigan counties57th of 83
- Width, east to west23.9 mi
- Height, north to south24.1 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary4
- Residents per square mile of land74
- Establishments per square mile1.31
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.
Mecosta County
Flood risk in Mecosta County
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book15
- Of those, participating in the NFIP12
- NFIP participation rate80.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Mecosta County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/LZone 3
The EPA places Mecosta 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. 80.0 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 Mecosta 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 Mecosta County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202441,242
- Households16,708
- Average household size2.47
- Median household income$60,951
- Median age40.0
Common questions
Mecosta County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Mecosta County, Michigan?
The Census Bureau estimates 41,947 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 41,242, in 16,708 households, ranking 40th of 83 Michigan counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Mecosta County's population growing?
The population has grown 3.97 percent since the 2020 census base of 40,344, to 41,947 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 381 births against 430 deaths, with net migration of 274. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Mecosta County?
$60,951. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $178,900, which is 2.9 times income, and median gross rent is $934 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Mecosta County?
727 establishments, employing 9,425 people with an annual payroll of $401.6 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 Mecosta County?
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 2,362 jobs, 18.5 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 12,746 jobs at an average annual pay of $45,193, or $869 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Mecosta County?
35 7(a) approvals totaling $12.3 m since FY2020, across 8 lenders, with a median approval of $76,800, plus 6 504 approvals worth $6.1 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Mecosta County?
116 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $28.9 m. Multifamily was 0.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Mecosta 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 Mecosta County come from?
The largest single origin is Kent County, with 199 households. Arriving households report an average income of $52,638 against $47,511 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Mecosta 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 Mecosta 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.
Mecosta County
Cities and places in Mecosta.
7 Census places lie wholly or partly in Mecosta County. All 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Rapids | city | 8,477 | 23 | Wholly in this county |
| Canadian Lakes | CDP | 2,991 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Morley | village | 624 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Mecosta | village | 464 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Barryton | village | 394 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Paris | CDP | 202 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Stanwood | village | 162 | 6 | Wholly in this county |
Nearby