In Gratiot County, Michigan, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in five dollars of the typical household's income
In Gratiot County, 19.0% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is lower than in 67% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 53% of U.S. counties.
What drives Gratiot County's score
In Gratiot County, jobs are the highest-scoring part, at 65.8. Late payments on loans are the lowest part, at 31.6. People with a credit card behind: 3.6%, August 2025, lower than in 79% of U.S. counties.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Gratiot 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.
Even so, Gratiot County is worse off than most counties on unemployment rate, average over the latest year (5.4%, Oct 2025 to Sep 2026).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 65.8 of 100
Jobs
Biggest factorUnemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year5.4% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202687th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working19.8% · 2020 to 202444th percentile
-
- 53.5 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector20.0% · August 202537th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people176.5 · 202568th percentile
-
- 46.2 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line14.6% · 202461st percentile
- Children below the poverty line17.3% · 202450th percentile
- People with a disability16.0% · 2020 to 202450th percentile
- People without health insurance4.2% · 2020 to 202410th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$64,157 · 202457th percentile
-
- 42.8 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 rent18.7% · 2020 to 202453rd percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income19.0% · fiscal year 202732nd percentile
-
- 31.6 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind3.6% · August 202520th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind3.9% · August 202531st percentile
- People with a subprime credit score38.1% · second quarter of 202642nd percentile
-
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 Gratiot 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 Gratiot County, 17.8% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Gratiot County
Michigan
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Gratiot County, benefit checks' share of income has more than tripled since 1969, reaching 32.2% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in nearly twice as much as benefit checks
In Gratiot County, Michigan, benefit checks' share of income more than tripled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 32.2%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Gratiot County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 15.5% in 2010 to 17.4% in 2011.
The share of households in Gratiot County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2013 and has since fallen by about a quarter
Low on the chart: 13.2% in 2020. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Gratiot County, Michigan.
How Gratiot County has changed
Gratiot County's population rose 6% from 1969 to 2024, with most of the change between 1999 and 2004
High on the chart: 42,583 in 2004. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Gratiot County, Michigan.
The number of jobs located in Gratiot County had its largest drop, from 14,421 in 2005 to 12,847 in 2010.
The number of jobs located in Gratiot County was at its highest on the chart in 2005 and is down 12% since
High on the chart: 14,421 in 2005. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Gratiot County, Michigan.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 8.9% | 2025 5.6% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 13.7% | 2024 14.6% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $24,482 | 2024 $64,157 |
The table uses 5.6% for 2025; the score uses 5.4% 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 Gratiot County's history
1956
A tornado in May 1956 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
1968
A tornado in June 1968 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2010
The county's largest recorded population was the 2010 Census count of 42,476. The 2020 Census counted 41,761, 98% of the peak. Census Bureau
2013
A flood in April 2013 did $3 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
-
Since 1965
12 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Gratiot County, 5 of them for flooding. FEMA
Gratiot County beside its neighbors
Of the six counties that border Gratiot County, four score higher. Of the group, Gratiot County gets the largest share of its income from benefit checks (32.2%).
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saginaw County, MI | 83 | 16.8% | 31.7% |
| Isabella County, MI | 69 | 19.0% | 30.4% |
| Shiawassee County, MI | 52 | 12.4% | 28.8% |
| Montcalm County, MI | 49 | 14.2% | 29.9% |
| Gratiot County, MI | 46 | 14.6% | 32.2% |
| Midland County, MI | 27 | 9.5% | 20.9% |
| Clinton County, MI | 11 | 8.4% | 16.9% |
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 Gratiot County the poorest county in Michigan?
No, Gratiot County's poverty rate was 14.6% in 2024, 22nd 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, Gratiot County ranks 44th of 83 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Gratiot 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.
-
Counsel & Advocacy Law Line (Lakeshore Legal Aid)
Legal aid
-
Michigan Legal Help
Legal help website
-
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 Gratiot 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 Gratiot County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.