Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

West Branch, MI Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

2,225

Median Agei

Race & Ethnicityi

White

89.5%1,991

Hispanic/Latino

4.2%94

Two or More

2.8%63

Black

2.2%49

Asian

1.3%28

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

8%123

High School Diploma

30.5%466

Some College (<1 yr)

10.7%163

Some College (1+ yr)

14.4%220

Associate's Degree

7.5%114

Bachelor's Degree

15.1%231

Master's Degree

4.5%69

Professional Degree

2.1%32

HS or Higher

92.7%

BA or Higher

21.7%

Graduate+

6.6%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$147,800

Median Renti

$842

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

41.2%435

Renter-Occupied

58.8%621

Total Units

1,188

Homeownership

41.2%

Vacancy Rate

11.1%

Home Values

Under $50K

2.5%11

$50K–$100K

17.2%75

$100K–$150K

30.8%134

$150K–$200K

16.8%73

$200K–$300K

15.2%66

$300K–$500K

15.6%68

$500K–$1M

1.8%8

Rent Distribution

Under $500

$500–$750

112

$750–$1,000

305

$1,000–$1,250

$1,250–$1,500

$1,500–$2,000

$2,000+

Year Built

2010–2019

2.2%26

2000–2009

14.1%168

1990–1999

14.9%177

1980–1989

9.2%109

1970–1979

12.4%147

1960–1969

6.5%77

1950–1959

8.4%100

1940–1949

18.2%216

1939 or earlier

14.1%168

Heating Fuel

Utility Gas

83.2%879

Electricity

10.9%115

Bottled/LP Gas

3.7%39

No Fuel

1.5%16

Wood

0.7%7

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$41,250

Mean Household Incomei

$48,386

Per Capita Incomei

$23,734

Poverty Ratei

21.4%

Unemploymenti

Labor Forcei

801

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

8%85

$10K–$15K

9.2%97

$15K–$20K

7.6%80

$20K–$25K

11%116

$25K–$30K

3.4%36

$30K–$35K

3.3%35

$35K–$40K

6.9%73

$40K–$45K

7.6%80

$45K–$50K

3.4%36

$50K–$60K

6.5%69

$60K–$75K

16.1%170

$75K–$100K

6.6%70

$100K–$125K

5.5%58

$125K–$150K

2.9%31

$150K–$200K

1.9%20

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

1084.9%

By Region

Top Countries

India

Guatemala

Germany

Canada

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

716

Avg. Commutei

21.5 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

745

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

156(8.8% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

93.6%Insured

6.4%Uninsured