Michigan poverty map shows economic security by county


Source: Poverty Solutions

The Poverty and Well-Being Map has breakdowns on each of Michigan’s 83 counties.

Even before the economic repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic began, about 14% of Michiganders were living in poverty and another 29% of households were struggling to make ends meet.

That’s according to the latest Michigan Poverty and Well-Being Map released by the University of Michigan’s Poverty Solutions, an initiative that aims to prevent and alleviate poverty through action-based research. 

People living in poverty and the working poor will have an especially difficult time weathering the global pandemic, which is taking a toll on people’s economic security and health, said H. Luke Shaefer, director of Poverty Solutions.

H. Luke Shaefer

“Even before the pandemic spread to Michigan, there were many people struggling, and that shows up in a number of different ways on the Poverty and Well-Being Map,” said Shaefer, the Hermann and Amalie Kohn Professor of Social Justice and Social Policy

“Understanding this is critically important as we think about how federal, state and local relief efforts are rolled out. We need to make sure we are not letting residents who were already struggling slip through the cracks.”  

Read more about how each of the state’s 83 counties are faring here.

Back to News + Stories