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Buying a home in Manistee County, Michigan

The typical owner-occupied home in Manistee County is worth about $182,200, 21% below the Michigan median of $231,600 and 45% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,898 a year in property taxes, about 1.04% of their home's value, lower than the Michigan rate of 1.25%. The median household earns $63,516 a year, so the median home costs 2.9 times the median income (3.2 times for Michigan). 86% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 51% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Manistee County at a glance

Manistee County Michigan U.S.
Median home value $182,200 $231,600 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $1,898 $2,904 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 1.04% 1.25% 0.94%
Median household income $63,516 $72,875 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 86% 73% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 51% 58% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,218 $1,569 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 19.1% 19.3% 21.0%
Median rent $842 $1,129 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 31.1% 30.2% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1972 1972 1980
Vacant homes 32.8% 11.8% 10.1%
Population 25,350 10,077,761 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Manistee County

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Manistee County home of $182,200 with 20% down costs about $1,214 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,518, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.

Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $52,044 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 23% of the median Manistee County household income of $63,516; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $222,000.

The median rent here is $842 a month, so owning the median home costs about $372 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$36,440
Loan amount$145,760
Principal and interest$981
Property taxes (1.04% a year)$158
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$76
PMI$0
Total per month$1,214

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$6,377
Loan amount$178,900
Principal and interest$1,203
Property taxes (1.04% a year)$158
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$76
FHA mortgage insurance$81
Total per month$1,518

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Questions about home buying in Manistee County

What is the median home value in Manistee County?

About $182,200 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Manistee County?

Homeowners pay a median $1,898 a year, which is about 1.04% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.

What income do you need to buy a home in Manistee County?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,214 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $52,044 a year.

More about Manistee County

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data