Wexford County, Michigan: commercial real estate data.
Wexford County, Michigan had an estimated 34,460 residents on July 1, 2024, up 2.4 percent since the 2020 census base of 33,667, across 565 square miles. County output reached $1.74 bn in 2024, 910 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 42 7(a) approvals worth $16.5 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Wexford County
How many people live in Wexford County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202434,077
- Households13,696
- Average household size2.49
- Median household income$61,085
- Median age42.2
- Median gross rent$897 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$170,400
- Home value to household income2.8 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income17.6 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher21.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree7.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over23,924
- Population under 187,784
- Share under 1822.8 percent
- Population 65 and over7,065
- Share 65 and over20.7 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6419,228
- Civilian labor force15,119
- Unemployment rate5.3 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over57.5 percent
- Rank by population among Michigan counties46th of 83
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1363rd of 3,222
Wexford County is the 46th largest of 83 Michigan counties by population. A median home costs 2.8 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 22.8 percent against 20.7 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Wexford County
Is Wexford County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202434,460
- Census 2020 base population33,667
- Population change since the 2020 census base2.36 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024194
- Births, 2024334
- Deaths, 2024372
- Natural change, 2024-38
- Net domestic migration, 2024145
- Net international migration, 202485
- Total net migration, 2024230
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024905
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1051st of 3,144
The county has grown 2.36 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.
Wexford County
Where are people moving to Wexford County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving1,068
- People arriving, from those returns1,978
- Tax returns filed by households leaving917
- Net household movement151
- Adjusted gross income arriving$58.5 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$12.9 m
- Average income of an arriving household$54,813
- Average income of a leaving household$49,740
- Largest single originGrand Traverse County (153 households)
- Largest single destinationMissaukee County (136 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Traverse County | 153 | 301 | $8.0 m |
| Missaukee County | 127 | 247 | $5.3 m |
| Osceola County | 80 | 158 | $2.9 m |
| Kent County | 47 | 81 | $2.7 m |
| Manistee County | 35 | 68 | $1.2 m |
| Kalkaska County | 25 | 44 | $1.1 m |
| Benzie County | 23 | 45 | $955,000 |
| Wayne County | 20 | 32 | $1.1 m |
Households arriving report $5,073 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 Grand Traverse 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.
Wexford County
What is the Wexford County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$1.74 bn
- County GDP, 2023$1.68 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20243.6 percent
- GDP change over five years34.6 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Michigan areas BEA publishes44th of 83
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1397th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$51,164
Output grew 3.6 percent in the latest year and 34.6 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.
Wexford County
Employment by industry in Wexford County
- Covered employment, annual average13,163
- Establishments reporting895
- Average annual pay$52,377
- Average weekly wage$1,007
- Manufacturing, employment3,171
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$65,069
- Retail trade, employment1,831
- Retail trade, average annual pay$34,674
- Health care and social assistance, employment1,655
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$55,156
- Accommodation and food services, employment1,052
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$20,983
- Transportation and warehousing, employment552
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment455
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 3,171 | 56 | $65,069 |
| Retail trade | 1,831 | 124 | $34,674 |
| Health care and social assistance | 1,655 | 112 | $55,156 |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,052 | 92 | $20,983 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 552 | 33 | $50,194 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 455 | 45 | $60,053 |
| Other services, except public administration | 409 | 81 | $31,415 |
| Construction | 289 | 70 | $53,579 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 3,171 jobs, 24.1 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Wexford County
How many businesses are in Wexford County?
- Establishments, all industries910
- Employment at those establishments13,253
- Annual payroll$603.8 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents26.7
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.
Wexford County
Building permits in Wexford County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024109
- Declared construction value permitted$33.1 m
- Single family units authorized59
- Multifamily units authorized50
- Multifamily share of units45.9 percent
- Average declared value per unit$303,780
- Units authorized per 1,000 households8.0
Multifamily is 45.9 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Wexford County
SBA loans in Wexford County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded42
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$16.5 m
- Average 7(a) approval$392,419
- Median 7(a) approval$147,250
- 10th percentile approval$26,400
- 90th percentile approval$1,137,600
- Largest single approval$2,470,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)311
- Jobs per approval7.4
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active14
- Distinct industries receiving approvals27
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer16.7 percent
- Loans on real estate terms7
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter28
- Franchise loans5
- Franchise share of approvals11.9 percent
- Leading industry by approval countLimited-Service Restaurants (4)
- Most active lenderThe Huntington National Bank (17)
- 504 approvals recorded12
- 504 gross approval dollars$3.2 m
- Average 504 approval$267,333
- Median 504 approval$199,000
- Distinct CDCs active2
- 504 jobs per approval4.6
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved17.1
- Most active CDCMichigan Certified Development Corporation (7)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$19.7 m
The average approval of $392,419 sits well above the median of $147,250, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 16.7 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.
Wexford County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Wexford County
Do SBA loans in Wexford County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded13
- Paid in full11
- Charged off2
- Status: Paid in full11
- Status: Exempt from disclosure24
- Status: Charged off2
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed3
- Status: Cancelled2
Only 13 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.
Wexford County
SBA lending by place in Wexford County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending4
- Cadillac, approvals32
- Manton, approvals8
- Buckley, approvals1
- Mesick, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Cadillac | 32 | $12,017,100 |
| Manton | 8 | $1,894,500 |
| Buckley | 1 | $2,470,000 |
| Mesick | 1 | $100,000 |
Cadillac accounts for 32 approvals against 8 in Manton. 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.
Wexford County
How large is Wexford County?
- Land area565 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Michigan counties47th of 83
- Width, east to west24.1 mi
- Height, north to south24.1 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary5
- Residents per square mile of land60
- Establishments per square mile1.61
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.
Wexford County
Flood risk in Wexford County
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book8
- Of those, participating in the NFIP5
- NFIP participation rate62.5 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Wexford County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/LZone 3
The EPA places Wexford 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. 62.5 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 Wexford 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 Wexford County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202434,077
- Households13,696
- Average household size2.49
- Median household income$61,085
- Median age42.2
Common questions
Wexford County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Wexford County, Michigan?
The Census Bureau estimates 34,460 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 34,077, in 13,696 households, ranking 46th of 83 Michigan counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Wexford County's population growing?
The population has grown 2.36 percent since the 2020 census base of 33,667, to 34,460 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 334 births against 372 deaths, with net migration of 230. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Wexford County?
$61,085. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $170,400, which is 2.8 times income, and median gross rent is $897 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Wexford County?
910 establishments, employing 13,253 people with an annual payroll of $603.8 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 Wexford County?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 3,171 jobs, 24.1 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 13,163 jobs at an average annual pay of $52,377, or $1,007 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Wexford County?
42 7(a) approvals totaling $16.5 m since FY2020, across 14 lenders, with a median approval of $147,250, plus 12 504 approvals worth $3.2 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Wexford County?
109 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $33.1 m. Multifamily was 45.9 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Wexford 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 Wexford County come from?
The largest single origin is Grand Traverse County, with 153 households. Arriving households report an average income of $54,813 against $49,740 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Wexford 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 Wexford 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.
Wexford County
Cities and places in Wexford.
9 Census places lie wholly or partly in Wexford 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cadillac | city | 10,445 | 32 | Wholly in this county |
| Manton | city | 1,511 | 8 | Wholly in this county |
| Buckley | village | 936 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Mesick | village | 423 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Wedgewood | CDP | 241 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Harrietta | village | 230 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Haring | CDP | 199 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Boon | CDP | 99 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Caberfae | CDP | 35 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
Nearby