County profile · Michigan
Mecosta County, MI market data
How Mecosta County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 42,320
- +4.7% since 2020
- Households
- 16,708
- Median household income
- $60,951
- +35.4% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $178,900
- Jobs located here
- 11,143
- Highest market score
- 70
- HVAC and plumbing, #206 of 1,707 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Mecosta County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Mecosta County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
Mecosta County has an estimated 42,320 people and 16,708 households. Population estimates put the population change in Mecosta County from 2020 to 2025 at +4.7%, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in Mecosta County is $60,951, 25% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 35.4%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in Mecosta County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 110, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on child care and other personal services (52).
Of the business types scored in Mecosta County, HVAC and plumbing companies (70), gyms and studios (67) and primary care and pediatric clinics (66) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For HVAC and plumbing companies, that ranks #206 of 1,707 scored counties.
Mecosta County is part of the Big Rapids area. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for car washes and detailers (58% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for spas and skin care studios (48% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Mecosta County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Mecosta County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HVAC and plumbing | 70 | #206 of 1,707 | 7 | 4.2 | $5.7M | 120 | 4 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 67 | #354 of 2,088 | 16 | 9.6 | $700K | 106 | 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 66 | #357 of 1,656 | 11 | 6.6 | $1.9M | 106 | 13 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 64 | #564 of 2,405 | 61 | 36.5 | $912K | 137 | 25 |
| Auto repair shops | 64 | #574 of 2,378 | 34 | 20.3 | $516K | 116 | 18 |
| Auto repair and car care | 64 | #580 of 2,401 | 58 | 34.7 | $303K | 113 | 25 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 63 | #575 of 2,087 | 15 | 9.0 | $1.9M | 150 | Under 3 |
| Home repair trades | 61 | #547 of 2,057 | 17 | 10.2 | $2.3M | 97 | 7 |
| Chiropractors | 60 | #461 of 1,490 | 8 | 4.8 | $2.6M | 109 | 5 |
| Physical therapy | 60 | #462 of 1,422 | 11 | 6.6 | $1.9M | 79 | 3 |
| Spas and skin care | 59 | #549 of 1,769 | 10 | 6.0 | $1.4M | 165 | 4 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 59 | #620 of 1,886 | 15 | 9.0 | $1.4M | 141 | 14 |
| Hair salons | 59 | #727 of 2,339 | 27 | 16.2 | $535K | 124 | 9 |
| Nail salons | 58 | #458 of 1,328 | 7 | 4.2 | $2.1M | 123 | Under 3 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 58 | #828 of 2,405 | 128 | 76.6 | $435K | 117 | 64 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 57 | #818 of 2,210 | 24 | 14.4 | $1.2M | 136 | Under 3 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 56 | #831 of 2,385 | 50 | 29.9 | $289K | 136 | 15 |
| Funeral homes | 53 | #638 of 1,472 | 5 | 3.0 | $482K | 71 | 3 |
| Convenience stores | 53 | #1,020 of 2,261 | 15 | 9.0 | $6.2M | 78 | 5 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 53 | #1,065 of 2,394 | 118 | 70.6 | $177K | 116 | 40 |
| Grocery stores | 52 | #949 of 2,070 | 12 | 7.2 | $7.7M | 83 | 6 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 51 | #887 of 1,889 | 12 | 7.2 | $4.6M | 112 | 10 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 51 | #1,168 of 2,402 | 34 | 20.3 | $2.7M | 81 | 11 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 50 | #1,148 of 2,222 | 22 | 13.2 | $2.5M | 83 | 28 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 49 | #742 of 1,493 | 9 | 5.4 | $2M | 69 | 8 |
| Pizza | 49 | #1,082 of 2,090 | 15 | 9.0 | $3.7M | 73 | 28 |
| Gas stations | 49 | #1,228 of 2,358 | 26 | 15.6 | $1.8M | 74 | 19 |
| Gyms | 48 | #1,012 of 1,792 | 14 | 8.4 | $801K | 62 | 3 |
| Pet businesses | 48 | #1,222 of 2,200 | 23 | 13.8 | $517K | 59 | 5 |
| Car washes and detailing | 47 | #814 of 1,451 | 10 | 6.0 | $1.8M | 70 | Under 3 |
| Insurance agencies | 47 | #1,216 of 2,272 | 18 | 10.8 | $1.5M | 123 | 18 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 45 | #1,070 of 1,771 | 15 | 9.0 | $1.2M | 72 | 13 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 43 | #833 of 1,327 | 8 | 4.8 | $2.2M | 71 | 6 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 40 | #1,392 of 2,063 | 18 | 10.8 | $3.1M | 83 | 10 |
| House cleaning | 38 | #643 of 847 | 6 | 3.6 | $3M | 47 | 5 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 38 | #949 of 1,302 | 9 | 5.4 | $2.3M | 74 | 5 |
| Veterinarians | 36 | #1,081 of 1,485 | 8 | 4.8 | $1.5M | 55 | 5 |
| Child care and preschools | 35 | #1,228 of 1,611 | 10 | 6.0 | $508K | 51 | 9 |
| Real estate | 35 | #1,882 of 2,229 | 58 | 34.7 | Index only | 84 | 18 |
| Property management | 33 | #739 of 910 | 5 | 3.0 | Index only | 76 | Under 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | 33 | #944 of 1,177 | 7 | 4.2 | $5.7M | 67 | Under 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 32 | #1,151 of 1,461 | 9 | 5.4 | $1.3M | 52 | Under 3 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 30 | #2,032 of 2,176 | 52 | 31.1 | Index only | 74 | 14 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.4 | $7.2M | 57 | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.4 | $4.4M | 175 | 4 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.8 | $4.8M | 255 | Under 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.8 | $13.3M | 111 | 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.8 | $4M | 88 | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.2 | $5.6M | Too few | 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.6 | $28.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.6 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.6 | $17.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in Mecosta County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $17.6M | $1,051 | 110 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $45.7M | $2,737 | 105 |
| Food away from home | $55.6M | $3,329 | 82 |
| Groceries | $92.7M | $5,551 | 88 |
| Personal care products and services | $14.4M | $864 | 86 |
| Child care and other personal services | $5.1M | $304 | 52 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $11.2M | $671 | 68 |
| Medical and dental services | $20.8M | $1,248 | 97 |
| Pets | $11.9M | $712 | 78 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $28.6M | $1,714 | 83 |
| Vehicle insurance | $27.9M | $1,669 | 85 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $39.9M | $2,389 | 79 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $18.1M | $1,084 | 77 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $211.2M | $12,641 | 76 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Mecosta County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 42,320+4.7% since 2020
- Households
- 16,708
- Median age
- 41.6
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 77%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.9
- Land area
- 555 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 74
- Median household income
- $60,951+35.4% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $74,230
- Median home value
- $178,900
- Jobs located here
- 11,143
- Daytime population
- 38,247Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Mecosta County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Mecosta County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
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Questions
How fast is Mecosta County, MI growing?
Population estimates put Mecosta County at 42,320 people in 2025, up 4.7% since 2020, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 16,708 households. Median household income rose 35.4% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in Mecosta County, MI spend?
Households in Mecosta County spend about $211.2M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $92.7M on groceries and $55.6M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in Mecosta County spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 110, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on child care and other personal services (52).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Mecosta County, MI?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Mecosta County are for HVAC and plumbing companies (70), gyms and studios (67) and primary care and pediatric clinics (66). Mecosta County ranks #206 of 1,707 scored counties for HVAC and plumbing companies.
How does Mecosta County, MI compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Mecosta County is $60,951 a year, 25% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 4.7% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $178,900, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Mecosta County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for car washes and detailers (58% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for spas and skin care studios (48% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 43 of the 56 business types have a score in Mecosta County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Mecosta County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
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Screening a site or an acquisition in Mecosta County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Mecosta County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.