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Michigan 2024 1-Year ACS: Educational Gains Continue, Poverty Holds Steady, Income Trails National Growth

September 12, 2025

Note on the ACS 1-Year Data

On September 11, 2025, the U.S. Census Bureau released the 2024 American Community Survey (ACS) 1-year estimates. This summary highlights data for Michigan and the United States on educational attainment, poverty, and real household median income.

Due to the challenges of conducting a household survey during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the response rate to the ACS was lower than usual in 2020. Accordingly, the 2020 ACS 1-year estimates are excluded from the time series in this data release. More information on non-response bias in the 2020 1-year estimates and the implementation of an experimental weighting scheme is available on the U.S. Census Bureau website.

Michigan Population Analysis

Author:

Mark Bauby

Research Analyst

Alan Leach

Population Projections Specialist

Michigan continues to see an increase in educational attainment in associate and bachelor’s+ degrees.

Highest Educational Attainment of People Ages 25-64

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Source: 2005-2024 ACS 1-Year Estimates, Table B15001, U.S Census Bureau

 

In 2024, the highest level of education for 24.5 percent of the U.S. was a high school graduate, 9.1 percent had obtained an associate degree, and 38.7 percent had obtained at least a bachelor’s degree. In Michigan, the terminal degree for 25.6 percent of residents was a high school graduate, 10.1 percent had obtained an associate degree, and 35.5 percent had obtained at least a bachelor’s degree as their highest level of education.

From 2005 to 2024, Michigan trailed the nation in the percentage of its 25- to 64-year-old population with at least a bachelor’s degree. Although Michigan has a consistently lower percentage of residents who have obtained bachelor’s degrees or more, the percentage of the population with these degrees has increased in Michigan and the United States over the last decade. 

 

 

Michigan has seen a decline in poverty since the Great Recession but still lags the nation.

Percentage of Population Living Below Poverty

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Source: 2005-2024 ACS 1-Year Estimates, Table B17001, U.S Census Bureau

 

Michigan's poverty rate was 13.4 percent in 2024, not statistically different from the 13.5 percent reported in 2023. During this time, the national poverty rate experienced a statistically significant decline, from 12.5 percent in 2023 to 12.1 percent in 2024. In 2024, the poverty rate in the United States, unlike Michigan, appears to have dropped below levels in 2019 prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Michigan’s median household income increased, but still doesn’t exceed pre-pandemic levels.

Median Household Income (in 2024 dollars)

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Source: 2005-2024 ACS 1-Year Estimates, Table B19013, U.S Census Bureau

 

The changes in median household income from 2023 to 2024 were statistically significant for both Michigan and the United States. Michigan’s income rose from $71,216 to $72,389, an increase of $1,173 or 1.6 percent. The United States income rose from $80,002 to $81,604, an increase of $1,602 or 2.0 percent. Over the longer term, from 2019 to 2024, Michigan’s median household income saw no statistically significant change, but the nation did see a statistically significant increase from $80,872 to $81,604 (an increase of $732, or .9 percent). All figures are reported in 2024 inflation-adjusted dollars.


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