In Newaygo County, Michigan, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in five dollars of the typical household's income
In Newaygo County, 18.7% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is lower than in 71% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 53% of U.S. counties.
What drives Newaygo County's score
In Newaygo County, jobs are the highest-scoring part, at 76.0. Collections and bankruptcy is the lowest part, at 35.8. Bankruptcy filings ran at 78.3 per 100,000 people (2025), lower than in 75% of U.S. counties.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Newaygo 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, Newaygo County is worse off than most counties on unemployment rate, average over the latest year (5.2%, Oct 2025 to Sep 2026).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 76.0 of 100
Jobs
Biggest factorUnemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year5.2% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202684th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working23.7% · 2020 to 202467th percentile
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- 46.1 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line11.7% · 202437th percentile
- Children below the poverty line15.4% · 202440th percentile
- People with a disability17.8% · 2020 to 202466th percentile
- People without health insurance6.2% · 2020 to 202433rd percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$66,127 · 202451st percentile
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- 40.8 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind5.1% · August 202543rd percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind4.8% · August 202544th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score36.3% · second quarter of 202634th percentile
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- 40.5 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 rent18.6% · 2020 to 202452nd percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income18.7% · fiscal year 202728th percentile
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- 35.8 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector22.5% · August 202547th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people78.3 · 202524th 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 Newaygo 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 Newaygo County, 20.7% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Newaygo County
Michigan
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
Benefit checks' share of income in Newaygo County made its largest gain on the way to its 2009 high, from 20.6% in 2004 to 29.7% in 2009.
In Newaygo County, benefit checks' share of income has tripled since 1969, reaching 29.2% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in twice as much as benefit checks
In Newaygo County, Michigan, benefit checks' share of income tripled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 29.2%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Newaygo County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 19.7% in 2012 to 21.8% in 2013.
The share of households in Newaygo County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2014 and has since fallen by about a quarter
Low on the chart: 15.0% 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, Newaygo County, Michigan.
How Newaygo County has changed
Newaygo County's population doubled to 51,504, the highest on the chart
Biggest rise: 1989 to 1994, reaching 43,005. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Newaygo County, Michigan.
The jobs count covers work located in the county; the population count covers residents.
The number of jobs located in Newaygo County rose by about half to 11,796, the highest on the chart
Biggest rise: 1995 to 2000, reaching 11,142. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Newaygo County, Michigan.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 9.6% | 2025 5.7% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 14.0% | 2024 11.7% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $24,113 | 2024 $66,127 |
The table uses 5.7% for 2025; the score uses 5.2% 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 Newaygo County's history
1840
1840 (established) 1851 (organized). Wikipedia
1851
Newaygo County was created in 1840 and organized in 1851. Wikipedia
1951
A tornado in September 1951 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
1975
A tornado in June 1975 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2012
A thunderstorm in July 2012 killed two people. NOAA Storm Events Database
2013
A flood in April 2013 did $5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2020
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 49,978, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
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Since 1975
13 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Newaygo County, 7 of them for flooding. FEMA
Newaygo County beside its neighbors
Of the six counties that border Newaygo County, four score higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Newaygo County ranks 6th of the seven; Lake County is highest, at 46.4%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake County, MI | 76 | 24.2% | 46.4% |
| Muskegon County, MI | 74 | 16.8% | 29.7% |
| Mecosta County, MI | 67 | 19.3% | 31.2% |
| Montcalm County, MI | 49 | 14.2% | 29.9% |
| Newaygo County, MI | 46 | 11.7% | 29.2% |
| Oceana County, MI | 43 | 14.5% | 32.0% |
| Kent County, MI | 29 | 9.2% | 14.8% |
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 Newaygo County the poorest county in Michigan?
No, Newaygo County's poverty rate was 11.7% in 2024, 54th 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, Newaygo County ranks 46th of 83 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Newaygo 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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Truenorth Community Services
HUD-approved housing counselor
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Legal Aid of Western Michigan
Legal aid
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Counsel & Advocacy Law Line (Lakeshore Legal Aid)
Legal aid
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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 Newaygo 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 Newaygo County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.