County facts · Population growth · October 23, 2026
Fastest Growing Counties in Michigan, 2020 to 2025
Michigan's fastest growing counties by percent and by people added, April 2020 to July 2025 Census estimates, with each official parcel map.
Looking for the fastest growing counties in Michigan? From the Census Bureau's April 1, 2020 estimates base to its July 1, 2025 estimate, Michigan went from about 10,079,362 to 10,127,884 residents, a change of +48,522 (+0.5%). The fastest growing county by percentage was Lake County (+9.0%), while Kent County added the most people (+17,267, +2.6%).
Each table links the county's Platbookmapper page and its official parcel viewer, so you can go from the growth numbers straight to the property lines.
Michigan growth at a glance
- County: 83
- Statewide, April 2020 to July 2025: +48,522 residents (+0.5%); July 2024 to July 2025 alone: +27,922 (+0.3%)
- Grew: 56 of 83 · Lost residents: 27
- Fastest growing by percent: Lake County (+9.0%); most people added: Kent County (+17,267)
- Counties with more deaths than births over the period: 73 of 83
The 10 fastest growing Michigan counties by percent
| # | County | Apr 2020 | Jul 2025 | Change | % change | Parcel viewer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake County | 12,091 | 13,182 | +1,091 | +9.0% | ArcGIS Web AppBuilder |
| 2 | Montmorency County | 9,157 | 9,842 | +685 | +7.5% | Beacon (Schneider Geospatial) |
| 3 | Keweenaw County | 2,046 | 2,186 | +140 | +6.8% | county web map |
| 4 | Oscoda County | 8,219 | 8,723 | +504 | +6.1% | Beacon (Schneider Geospatial) |
| 5 | Crawford County | 12,987 | 13,722 | +735 | +5.7% | county web map |
| 6 | Antrim County | 23,422 | 24,698 | +1,276 | +5.4% | ArcGIS Web AppBuilder |
| 7 | Mecosta County | 40,332 | 42,320 | +1,988 | +4.9% | county web map |
| 8 | Kalkaska County | 17,935 | 18,693 | +758 | +4.2% | county web map |
| 9 | Montcalm County | 66,627 | 69,406 | +2,779 | +4.2% | ArcGIS Experience Builder |
| 10 | Ottawa County | 296,195 | 308,459 | +12,264 | +4.1% | county web map |
These 10 added about 22,220 people combined. The median county changed by +0.9%.
The 10 counties that added the most people
| # | County | People added | % change | Jul 2025 | Parcel viewer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kent County | +17,267 | +2.6% | 675,232 | county web map |
| 2 | Oakland County | +13,962 | +1.1% | 1,288,337 | county web map |
| 3 | Ottawa County | +12,264 | +4.1% | 308,459 | county web map |
| 4 | Macomb County | +4,997 | +0.6% | 886,221 | county web map |
| 5 | Ingham County | +4,481 | +1.6% | 289,709 | county web map |
| 6 | Livingston County | +3,457 | +1.8% | 197,315 | ArcGIS Experience Builder |
| 7 | Muskegon County | +3,155 | +1.8% | 177,901 | county web map |
| 8 | Montcalm County | +2,779 | +4.2% | 69,406 | ArcGIS Experience Builder |
| 9 | Allegan County | +2,677 | +2.2% | 123,188 | ArcGIS Web AppBuilder |
| 10 | Kalamazoo County | +2,126 | +0.8% | 263,795 | ArcGIS Web AppBuilder |
The top 10 account for about 70% of all the gains in the counties that grew.
Where the new residents came from
The Census Bureau splits each change into natural change (births minus deaths), net domestic migration (moves from other parts of the US) and net international migration. Totals for April 2020 to July 2025 in the five fastest growing counties:
| County | Births minus deaths | Net domestic moves | Net international moves | Total change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake County | −550 | +1,600 | +15 | +1,091 |
| Montmorency County | −611 | +1,258 | +22 | +685 |
| Keweenaw County | −67 | +204 | +3 | +140 |
| Oscoda County | −327 | +821 | +8 | +504 |
| Crawford County | −506 | +1,224 | +25 | +735 |
In all 5, moves from elsewhere in the US were the biggest source of growth. The three parts do not add up exactly to the total because the Census Bureau also carries a small residual.
The last year alone: July 2024 to July 2025
- Lake County: +1.3% (+166)
- Mackinac County: +1.2% (+133)
- Oscoda County: +1.1% (+94)
- Antrim County: +1.1% (+257)
- Keweenaw County: +1.0% (+21)
4 of these 5 are also in the 2020–2025 top 10, so the growth is not a one-year blip.
Counties losing residents
27 of Michigan's 83 counties had fewer residents in July 2025 than in April 2020. The steepest declines:
- Huron County: −2.8% (−881, now about 30,530)
- Menominee County: −2.4% (−558, now about 22,941)
- Alger County: −2.2% (−198, now about 8,641)
- Chippewa County: −1.9% (−705, now about 36,081)
- Bay County: −1.7% (−1,740, now about 102,123)
What fast growth means on a parcel map
- New lots show up as plats first. When land is subdivided, the plat is recorded with the county and the parcel layer catches up on its own schedule, so a brand-new lot may not appear on the map for a while. Check the recorder's recent plats if a parcel looks missing.
- Parcel numbers change after splits. A tract that was one parcel last year can be several today. Search by owner name or address as well as by an old parcel number.
- City limits move. Growing cities annex land, which changes who handles zoning and permits even though the county still keeps the deed and the tax map.
- Percent is not the same as people. A small county can post a big percentage on a modest number of new residents, so read the people-added column too.
Related guides
- Largest counties in Michigan
- Michigan county GIS websites by viewer
- Michigan plat maps
- Michigan parcel map guide
- Michigan GIS parcel map
- Fastest growing counties in the US
- US counties losing population
More: All Michigan counties on Platbookmapper
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, county totals, Vintage 2025 (April 1, 2020 estimates base and July 1, 2020–2025 estimates, with components of change). Percent change is from the April 1, 2020 estimates base to the July 1, 2025 estimate.
- Platbookmapper county GIS directory (live data file behind our county pages, pulled October 23, 2026) for each official parcel viewer.