Van Buren County, Michigan: commercial real estate data.
Van Buren County, Michigan had an estimated 76,129 residents on July 1, 2024, up 0.7 percent since the 2020 census base of 75,575, across 607 square miles. County output reached $3.31 bn in 2024, 1,327 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 89 7(a) approvals worth $45.7 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Van Buren County
How many people live in Van Buren County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202475,795
- Households30,622
- Average household size2.48
- Median household income$68,114
- Median age41.2
- Median gross rent$870 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$206,500
- Home value to household income3.0 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income15.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher23.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree8.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over52,835
- Population under 1817,385
- Share under 1822.9 percent
- Population 65 and over15,078
- Share 65 and over19.9 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6443,332
- Civilian labor force35,342
- Unemployment rate4.2 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over60.5 percent
- Rank by population among Michigan counties26th of 83
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included749th of 3,222
Van Buren County is the 26th largest of 83 Michigan counties by population. A median home costs 3.0 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 22.9 percent against 19.9 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Van Buren County
Is Van Buren County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202476,129
- Census 2020 base population75,575
- Population change since the 2020 census base0.73 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024224
- Births, 2024807
- Deaths, 2024810
- Natural change, 2024-3
- Net domestic migration, 202450
- Net international migration, 2024178
- Total net migration, 2024228
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024468
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1581st of 3,144
The county has grown 0.73 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.
Van Buren County
Where are people moving to Van Buren County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving2,116
- People arriving, from those returns3,882
- Tax returns filed by households leaving2,020
- Net household movement96
- Adjusted gross income arriving$154.1 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$27.0 m
- Average income of an arriving household$72,845
- Average income of a leaving household$62,936
- Largest single originKalamazoo County (546 households)
- Largest single destinationKalamazoo County (602 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kalamazoo County | 546 | 953 | $35.8 m |
| Allegan County | 206 | 415 | $9.6 m |
| Berrien County | 194 | 390 | $9.6 m |
| Cass County | 111 | 216 | $5.6 m |
| Kent County | 70 | 118 | $3.4 m |
| Cook County | 60 | 102 | $11.0 m |
| Ottawa County | 56 | 104 | $3.9 m |
| Calhoun County | 35 | 68 | $2.0 m |
Households arriving report $9,909 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 Kalamazoo 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.
Van Buren County
What is the Van Buren County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$3.31 bn
- County GDP, 2023$3.35 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 2024-1.0 percent
- GDP change over five years6.6 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Michigan areas BEA publishes25th of 83
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes913th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$43,713
Output grew -1.0 percent in the latest year and 6.6 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.
Van Buren County
Employment by industry in Van Buren County
- Covered employment, annual average21,597
- Establishments reporting1,643
- Average annual pay$51,293
- Average weekly wage$986
- Manufacturing, employment3,524
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$63,637
- Retail trade, employment2,574
- Retail trade, average annual pay$31,825
- Accommodation and food services, employment2,200
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$21,925
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment2,178
- Professional, scientific and technical services, average annual pay$76,053
- Health care and social assistance, employment1,388
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, employment1,312
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 3,524 | 108 | $63,637 |
| Retail trade | 2,574 | 218 | $31,825 |
| Accommodation and food services | 2,200 | 155 | $21,925 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 2,178 | 88 | $76,053 |
| Health care and social assistance | 1,388 | 204 | $44,705 |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 1,312 | 122 | $36,172 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 758 | 76 | $56,748 |
| Construction | 696 | 149 | $60,149 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 3,524 jobs, 16.3 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Van Buren County
How many businesses are in Van Buren County?
- Establishments, all industries1,327
- Employment at those establishments17,635
- Annual payroll$970.2 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.
Van Buren County
Building permits in Van Buren County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024212
- Declared construction value permitted$67.5 m
- Single family units authorized208
- Multifamily units authorized4
- Multifamily share of units1.9 percent
- Average declared value per unit$318,569
- Units authorized per 1,000 households6.9
Single-family homes are 98.1 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Van Buren County
SBA loans in Van Buren County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded89
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$45.7 m
- Average 7(a) approval$513,580
- Median 7(a) approval$198,800
- 10th percentile approval$38,160
- 90th percentile approval$1,213,200
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)1,492
- Jobs per approval16.8
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active24
- Distinct industries receiving approvals58
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer22.5 percent
- Loans on real estate terms20
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter65
- Franchise loans7
- Franchise share of approvals7.9 percent
- Most active lenderThe Huntington National Bank (42)
- 504 approvals recorded28
- 504 gross approval dollars$19.2 m
- Average 504 approval$684,750
- Median 504 approval$477,000
- Distinct CDCs active2
- 504 jobs per approval6.4
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved9.4
- Most active CDCMichigan Certified Development Corporation (18)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$64.9 m
The average approval of $513,580 sits well above the median of $198,800, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 22.5 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.
Van Buren County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Van Buren County
Do SBA loans in Van Buren County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded6
- Paid in full6
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full6
- Status: Exempt from disclosure70
- Status: Cancelled11
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed2
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.
Van Buren County
SBA lending by place in Van Buren County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending14
- South Haven, approvals22
- Paw Paw, approvals20
- Mattawan, approvals15
- Bloomingdale, approvals8
- Lawton, approvals5
- Gobles, approvals5
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| South Haven | 22 | $11,325,100 |
| Paw Paw | 20 | $16,187,800 |
| Mattawan | 15 | $5,729,100 |
| Bloomingdale | 8 | $2,349,000 |
| Lawton | 5 | $2,774,000 |
| Gobles | 5 | $1,423,200 |
| Decatur | 4 | $1,493,400 |
| Dowagiac | 2 | $2,153,000 |
| 6 other borrower cities | 8 | $2,274,000 |
South Haven accounts for 22 approvals against 20 in Paw Paw. 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.
Van Buren County
How large is Van Buren County?
- Land area607 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Michigan counties35th of 83
- Width, east to west30.8 mi
- Height, north to south24.3 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary4
- Residents per square mile of land125
- Establishments per square mile2.19
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.
Van Buren County
Flood risk in Van Buren County
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book22
- Of those, participating in the NFIP16
- NFIP participation rate72.7 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Van Buren County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/LZone 3
The EPA places Van Buren 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 Van Buren 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 Van Buren County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202475,795
- Households30,622
- Average household size2.48
- Median household income$68,114
- Median age41.2
Common questions
Van Buren County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Van Buren County, Michigan?
The Census Bureau estimates 76,129 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 75,795, in 30,622 households, ranking 26th of 83 Michigan counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Van Buren County's population growing?
The population has grown 0.73 percent since the 2020 census base of 75,575, to 76,129 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 807 births against 810 deaths, with net migration of 228. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Van Buren County?
$68,114. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $206,500, which is 3.0 times income, and median gross rent is $870 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Van Buren County?
1,327 establishments, employing 17,635 people with an annual payroll of $970.2 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 Van Buren County?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 3,524 jobs, 16.3 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 21,597 jobs at an average annual pay of $51,293, or $986 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Van Buren County?
89 7(a) approvals totaling $45.7 m since FY2020, across 24 lenders, with a median approval of $198,800, plus 28 504 approvals worth $19.2 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Van Buren County?
212 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $67.5 m. Multifamily was 1.9 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Van Buren 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 Van Buren County come from?
The largest single origin is Kalamazoo County, with 546 households. Arriving households report an average income of $72,845 against $62,936 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Van Buren 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 Van Buren 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.
Van Buren County
Cities and places in Van Buren.
11 Census places lie wholly or partly in Van Buren County. All 11 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Haven | city | 3,998 | 22 | Wholly in this county |
| Paw Paw | village | 3,289 | 20 | Wholly in this county |
| Mattawan | village | 2,692 | 15 | Wholly in this county |
| Hartford | city | 2,458 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Bangor | city | 2,129 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Lawton | village | 2,104 | 5 | Wholly in this county |
| Decatur | village | 1,835 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Lawrence | village | 942 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Gobles | city | 595 | 5 | Wholly in this county |
| Bloomingdale | village | 522 | 8 | Wholly in this county |
| Breedsville | village | 288 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 6 of the county's 89 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Van Buren County, the largest being Dowagiac (2), Kalamazoo (2), Covert (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.
Nearby