Fastest Growing Counties in Michigan (2026)

County
Rank
Change (2020) ↓
2026 Pop.
2020 Pop.
Lake County110.44%13,34812,086
Montmorency County27.94%9,8979,169
Keweenaw County37.19%2,2072,059
Oscoda County47.13%8,8178,230
Crawford County56.56%13,83812,986
Antrim County66.39%24,95523,457
Mecosta County75.68%42,70840,414
Mackinac County85.06%11,36910,821
Ottawa County94.66%310,728296,893
Montcalm County104.62%69,74066,659
Kalkaska County114.59%18,74617,924
Alcona County123.7%10,56110,184
Otsego County133.6%26,04325,137
Leelanau County143.6%23,11522,312
Benzie County153.57%18,64418,002
Newaygo County163.53%51,85750,091
Gladwin County173.3%26,20925,371
Kent County183.27%680,052658,508
Clare County192.73%31,67830,837
Manistee County202.66%25,73725,070
Marquette County212.66%68,31266,542
Allegan County222.6%123,809120,666
Wexford County232.55%34,54333,684
Oceana County242.55%27,39726,717
Ingham County252.46%292,028285,005
Osceola County262.42%23,46122,906
Branch County272.42%45,96244,877
Barry County282.19%63,97362,599
Muskegon County292.17%178,577174,783
Ogemaw County302.02%21,20020,781
Schoolcraft County311.98%8,2088,049
Houghton County321.95%37,98137,256
Livingston County331.94%197,744193,974
Clinton County341.9%80,67579,168
Missaukee County351.89%15,35215,067
Roscommon County361.71%23,87723,476
Oakland County371.7%1,294,1251,272,524
Grand Traverse County381.64%96,99495,428
Lapeer County391.31%89,75788,595
Macomb County401.1%889,945880,240
Kalamazoo County411.03%264,468261,780
Iron County420.95%11,74111,630
Monroe County430.79%156,138154,912
Eaton County440.74%109,982109,174
Van Buren County450.62%76,04275,574
Arenac County460.53%15,07714,998
Cass County470.52%51,82151,553
Cheboygan County480.47%25,69425,575
Midland County490.3%83,74083,488
Presque Isle County500.27%13,03613,001
St. Clair County510.18%160,668160,386
Hillsdale County520.09%45,78245,740
Isabella County53-0.01%64,50964,518
St. Joseph County54-0.02%60,91360,923
Mason County55-0.06%29,01729,033
Washtenaw County56-0.09%371,472371,814
Ionia County57-0.1%66,80566,871
Gogebic County58-0.22%14,31714,349
Alpena County59-0.24%28,82328,891
Iosco County60-0.33%25,10725,189
Ontonagon County61-0.33%5,7805,799
Baraga County62-0.33%8,1168,143
Charlevoix County63-0.36%25,94926,042
Jackson County64-0.44%159,516160,215
Dickinson County65-0.62%25,73625,896
Shiawassee County66-0.67%67,53467,990
Calhoun County67-0.74%133,205134,198
Wayne County68-0.96%1,772,5421,789,634
Delta County69-1.16%36,45136,877
Saginaw County70-1.18%187,614189,853
Genesee County71-1.19%400,898405,746
Berrien County72-1.23%152,494154,395
Sanilac County73-1.41%39,92840,499
Tuscola County74-1.48%52,53753,324
Emmet County75-1.49%33,60334,112
Gratiot County76-1.53%41,01841,657
Luce County77-1.58%6,3106,411
Lenawee County78-1.63%97,73399,348
Bay County79-1.86%101,814103,739
Chippewa County80-2.01%36,05336,793
Menominee County81-2.96%22,76023,454
Alger County82-3.05%8,5758,845
Huron County83-3.37%30,31931,378

Michigan Counties Growth Overview

Michigan's counties show varied growth patterns from 2020 to 2026. Lake County leads with 1.67% annualized growth, followed by Montmorency County (1.28%) and Keweenaw County (1.16%). The largest counties are Wayne County (1,772,542), Oakland County (1,294,125), and Macomb County (889,945). Of the 83 counties in Michigan, 52 are growing while 31 have experienced population decline. Overall, counties averaged 0.23% annualized growth, with total population growing by 0.14% annually.

Change (2020)

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