Unemployment in Genesee County, Michigan, is higher than in 93% of U.S. counties
In Genesee County, 6.1% of the labor force was out of work, on average. That is higher than in 93% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 88% of U.S. counties.
What drives Genesee County's score
In Genesee County, collections and bankruptcy weighs most: the score for collections and bankruptcy is 82.6. Bankruptcy filings ran at 490.6 per 100,000 people (2025), higher than in 98% of U.S. counties. Jobs come next, at 81.4.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Genesee County: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
Genesee County does better than most counties on one measure: people without health insurance (4.8%, 2020 to 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 82.6 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Biggest factorCredit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector27.7% · August 202566th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people490.6 · 202598th percentile
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- 81.4 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year6.1% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202693rd percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working24.1% · 2020 to 202469th percentile
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- 72.9 of 100
Housing costs
Renters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent25.9% · 2020 to 202489th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income21.3% · fiscal year 202756th percentile
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- 69.5 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind6.3% · August 202563rd percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind7.4% · August 202578th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score45.0% · second quarter of 202666th percentile
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- 60.6 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line18.0% · 202480th percentile
- Children below the poverty line24.8% · 202481st percentile
- People with a disability17.8% · 2020 to 202466th percentile
- People without health insurance4.8% · 2020 to 202416th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$63,828 · 202458th percentile
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Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.
Where the money in Genesee County comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Genesee County, 18.8% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Genesee County
Michigan
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
Benefit checks' share of income in Genesee County made its largest gain on the way to its 2009 high, from 20.0% in 2004 to 30.7% in 2009.
In Genesee County, benefit checks' share of income has grown since 1969, reaching 30.0% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in twice as much as benefit checks
In Genesee County, Michigan, benefit checks' share of income rose from 1969 to 2024, reaching 30.0%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Genesee County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 16.9% in 2010 to 19.0% in 2011.
The share of households in Genesee County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2014 and has since fallen by about a fifth
Low on the chart: 14.9% in 2009. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Genesee County, Michigan.
How Genesee County has changed
Genesee County's population fell most sharply after its 1979 high, from 451,082 in 1979 to 430,254 in 1984.
Genesee County's population fell 10% from 1969 to 2024, reaching its lowest on the chart
High on the chart: 451,082 in 1979. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Genesee County, Michigan.
The number of jobs located in Genesee County had its largest drop, from 148,283 in 2005 to 126,257 in 2010.
The number of jobs located in Genesee County fell 18% from 1990 to 2025, with its low point on the chart in 2020
Low on the chart: 121,390 in 2020. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Genesee County, Michigan.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 9.5% | 2025 6.4% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 14.8% | 2024 18.0% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $28,885 | 2024 $63,828 |
The table uses 6.4% for 2025; the score uses 6.1% for the latest year (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Genesee County's history
1835
March 28, 1835 (created) April 4, 1836 (organized). Wikipedia
1937
Sit-Down Strike by United Automobile Workers against General Motors. Wikipedia
1953
Flint-Beecher tornado killed 116 people. Wikipedia
1953
A tornado in June 1953 did $25 million in property damage and killed 116 people. NOAA Storm Events Database
1953
A tornado in June 1953 did $25 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
1956
A tornado in May 1956 did $2.5 million in property damage and killed three people. NOAA Storm Events Database
1980
The county's largest recorded population was the 1980 Census count of 450,449. The 2020 Census counted 406,211, 90% of the peak. Census Bureau
2010
GM downsized workforce from 80,000 to under 8,000. Wikipedia
2014
Lead contamination in local water supply. Wikipedia
2023
Hail in July 2023 did $20 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1975
14 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Genesee County, 7 of them for flooding. FEMA
Genesee County beside its neighbors
Genesee County scores higher than all six counties that border it. For the share of income from benefit checks, Genesee County ranks 3rd of the seven; Tuscola County is highest, at 34.8%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Genesee County, MI | 88 | 18.0% | 30.0% |
| Saginaw County, MI | 83 | 16.8% | 31.7% |
| Tuscola County, MI | 56 | 11.3% | 34.8% |
| Shiawassee County, MI | 52 | 12.4% | 28.8% |
| Lapeer County, MI | 51 | 9.0% | 24.6% |
| Oakland County, MI | 23 | 7.6% | 12.8% |
| Livingston County, MI | 6 | 5.4% | 15.6% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Genesee County the poorest county in Michigan?
No, Genesee County's poverty rate was 18.0% in 2024, 8th highest of 83 in Michigan (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Lake County, at 24.2%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Genesee County ranks 3rd of 83 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Genesee County
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
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Counsel & Advocacy Law Line (Lakeshore Legal Aid)
Legal aid
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Michigan Legal Help
Legal help website
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Download the CSV for Genesee County · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Genesee County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.