Scores by category

Each category averages its indicators' percentile scores among US cities and towns.

Safety84#2,562/15,637
Economy77#3,623/15,631
Housing23#11,524/14,977
Health82#2,783/15,609
Healthcare53#7,294/15,650
Environment36#9,821/15,453
Education77#3,611/15,649
Infrastructure81#2,966/15,650
Community66#5,263/15,651
Leisure & amenities6#14,697/15,651

Strengths · Weaknesses

Indicators where Wacousta, Michigan ranks highest and lowest among US cities and towns (score = percentile, 100 = best). Values marked “Clinton County value” are the county’s: the source publishes no figure for this city or town, and the county holding most of its residents stands in.

Strengths

Voter turnout · high81.6%
98/100Michigan 74.6%United States 65.2%2024U.S. Election Assistance CommissionClinton County value
Child care cost burden · low18.5%
97/100Michigan 25.4%United States 27.9%2023 & 2024University of Wisconsin Population Health InstituteClinton County value
Poverty rate · low2.8%
92/100Michigan 13.4%United States 12.1%2020-2024U.S. Census Bureau Census table B17001High uncertainty
Lack of reliable transportation · low5.2%
92/100Michigan 8.8%United States 8.3%2023Centers for Disease Control and PreventionModel-based estimate
Poor or fair health · low12.1%
91/100Michigan 19.3%United States 19.9%2023University of Wisconsin Population Health InstituteModel-based estimate
Food insecurity · low8.2%
91/100Michigan 16.3%United States 15.6%2023Centers for Disease Control and PreventionModel-based estimate

Weaknesses

Rent as share of income · high51.0%
2/100Michigan 30.2%United States 30.6%2018-2022U.S. Census Bureau Census table B25071At least this value: the publisher's top bracket is open-ended
Pharmacies · low0.5 /10k
4/100Michigan 1.9 /10kUnited States 1.8 /10k2025U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsClinton County value
Restaurants and bars · low4.7 /10k
8/100Michigan 9.1 /10kUnited States 9.0 /10k2025U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsClinton County value
Dentists · low31 /100k
12/100Michigan 82 /100kUnited States 75 /100k2023University of Wisconsin Population Health InstituteClinton County value
Primary care physicians · low31 /100k
13/100Michigan 81 /100kUnited States 76 /100k2022University of Wisconsin Population Health InstituteClinton County value
Comfortable days · low23.6%
15/100Michigan 23.1%United States 26.8%2016-2025NOAA National Centers for Environmental InformationClinton County value

Trends

The largest changes over about five years, next to the country's over the same periods.

PopulationRising
1,571 (2015-2019) → 1,711 (2020-2024)
+8.9%5 yearsCensus table B01003US 328,329,953 → 340,003,797
Rent-burdened householdsWorsening
0.0% (2015-2019) → 100.0% (2020-2024)
+100 pts5 yearsCensus table B25070US 49.6% → 51.1%
Rent as share of incomeWorsening
11.8% (2015-2019) → 51.0% (2018-2022)
+39 pts3 yearsCensus table B25071US 29.8% → 30.0%
Bachelor's degree or higherImproving
40.5% (2015-2019) → 51.5% (2020-2024)
+11 pts5 yearsCensus table B15003US 32.1% → 35.7%
Broadband subscriptionsImproving
88.4% (2015-2019) → 96.9% (2020-2024)
+8.5 pts5 yearsCensus table B28002US 82.7% → 91.0%
Income inequality (Gini index)Worsening
0.358 (2015-2019) → 0.503 (2020-2024)
+41%5 yearsCensus table B19083US 0.482 → 0.483

What changed in five years

How each measure moved between two periods about five years apart, read against whether more or less is better, the published margin of error and the same change in other places.

Over about five years, Wacousta, Michigan improved on 1 of 11 measures with a comparison and declined on 1. 9 moved within the margin of error and 0 barely changed.

Earlier (2015-2019)
Latest (2020-2024)
Lower standingHigher standing

Position is the place's standing among cities and towns: further right is better, whichever way the measure counts.

Improved1

Broadband+8.5 points88.4% → 96.9%

Declined1

Rent burden+100 points0.0% → 100.0%

All 11 measures

Change of every measure of Wacousta, Michigan between two periods about five years apart
Measure	Before	After	Change	Reading	Favourable vs peers
Average commute time	22.0 min2015-2019	24.4 min2020-2024	+2.4 min	Within the margin of error	24%
Bachelor's degree or higher	40.5%2015-2019	51.5%2020-2024	+11 points	Within the margin of error	92%
Broadband subscriptions	88.4%2015-2019	96.9%2020-2024	+8.5 points	Improved	52%
Child poverty rate	0.0%2015-2019	0.0%2020-2024	0 points	Within the margin of error	42%
Effective property tax rate	1.32%2015-2019	1.36%2020-2024	+0 points	Within the margin of error	11%
High school diploma or higher	99.1%2015-2019	98.2%2020-2024	−0.9 points	Within the margin of error	23%
Home price to income ratio	2.3×2015-2019	2.6×2020-2024	+0.3×	Within the margin of error	62%
Income inequality (Gini index)	0.3582015-2019	0.5032020-2024	+0.146	Within the margin of error	1%
Median household income	$83,4722015-2019	$109,2502020-2024	+31%	Within the margin of error	57%
Public transit commuters	0.0%2015-2019	0.0%2020-2024	0 points	Within the margin of error	60%
Rent-burdened households	0.0%2015-2019	100.0%2020-2024	+100 points	Declined	0%

“Against peers” compares the change with the same change in the 14640 cities and towns that have the same two periods. It describes how common a change is, not why it happened.

Sources: American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. Values are the latest and the one five years earlier of the same publisher dataset; datasets that changed publisher in between are never compared.

Survey estimates (American Community Survey) compare the two most recent 5-year windows that do not share years, so the margin of error of the difference holds. The 2015-2019 window predates the pandemic and 2020-2024 includes it.
A change counts only when it is larger than 1.645 times the square root of the two standard errors squared, summed (a 90% margin). Measures published without a margin must change by at least 5% to count.
“Against peers” compares the change with the same change in the 15651 cities and towns that have the same two periods. It describes how common a change is, not why it happened.
Standing is a percentile among the same places: 0 is the lowest value on the measure (or the worst when lower is better), 100 the best.

Cities and towns like Wacousta, Michigan five years ago that improved

The places whose measures looked most like those of Wacousta, Michigan in the earlier period, ranked by how many measures improved beyond the margin of error, minus how many declined. A comparison of published data, not a forecast and not advice.

For comparison, Wacousta, Michigan itself moved −20.4 points in standing on average over the same 9 measures (standings of all places average about zero).

How the ranking works

Similarity is the root-mean-square difference of standings in the earlier period over the measures most places have. Places are ranked by measures that improved beyond the margin of error minus those that declined (a count that estimation noise in small places cannot inflate), then by the mean change of standing over the measures a place has in both periods. Only places with more improvements than declines and a rise in standing are listed. Standings are relative, so a place can improve in absolute terms and still lose standing.

Who lives here

Age, race and education of residents, from the American Community Survey. Shares are of all residents (age), residents of every origin (race) or adults 25 and over (education).

Age and sex

1,711 residents (±398)

Men
Women

80 and over†
70–79†
60–69†
50–59†
40–49†
30–39†
20–29†
10–19†
Under 10†

Share of all residents, each sex

No change since 2015–2019 is larger than the margin of error.

† Wide margin of error (more than 30% of the estimate): read with care.

Table view

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024 · Table B01001View table on data.census.gov

Race and Hispanic origin

1,711 residents (±398)

Wacousta, Michigan
Michigan share

White94%1,604
Black0.0%0
Hispanic or Latino2.5%†43
Asian0.0%0
American Indian and Alaska Native0.0%0
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander0.0%0
Other or two or more races3.7%†64

No change since 2015–2019 is larger than the margin of error.

† Wide margin of error (more than 30% of the estimate): read with care.

Table view

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024 · Table B03002View table on data.census.gov

Education

1,301 residents (±270)

Wacousta, Michigan
Michigan share

No high school diploma1.8%†24
High school or GED16%†207
Some college17%†215
Associate degree14%†185
Bachelor's degree36%†463
Graduate degree16%†207

No change since 2015–2019 is larger than the margin of error.

† Wide margin of error (more than 30% of the estimate): read with care.

Table view

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024 · Table B15003View table on data.census.gov

Counts are survey estimates, each with a margin of error. The grouping into ranges is ours; every count is the Census Bureau's.

Income

How household income is spread, not just the middle: each bar is the share of households in that income range.

Household income

737 households (±142)

Wacousta, Michigan
Michigan share

Under $25k15%†107
$25k–50k8.1%†60
$50k–75k8.0%†59
$75k–100k13%†99
$100k–150k18%†130
$150k–200k28%†205
$200k or more10%†77

Biggest shift since 2015–2019: $150k–200k (+17.1 points).

† Wide margin of error (more than 30% of the estimate): read with care.

Table view

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024 · Table B19001View table on data.census.gov

Counts are survey estimates, each with a margin of error. The grouping into ranges is ours; every count is the Census Bureau's.

Homes

Who owns and who rents, what homes cost, and what the housing stock looks like.

Owners and renters

737 households (±142)

Wacousta, Michigan
Michigan share

Own95%700
Rent5.0%†37

No change since 2015–2019 is larger than the margin of error.

† Wide margin of error (more than 30% of the estimate): read with care.

Table view

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024 · Table B25003View table on data.census.gov

Rent paid

37 households (±45)

Wacousta, Michigan
Michigan share

Under $7500.0%0
$750–1,0000.0%0
$1,000–1,5000.0%0

Home values

700 homes (±143)

Wacousta, Michigan
Michigan share

Under $150k9.7%†68
$150k–250k23%†162
$250k–400k48%†333

Age of homes

737 homes (±142)

Wacousta, Michigan
Michigan share

2010 or later2.2%†16
2000–20099.1%†67
1980–199918%†134

Size of homes

737 homes (±142)

Wacousta, Michigan
Michigan share

Studio0.0%0
1 bedroom0.0%0
2 bedrooms12%†87

Counts are survey estimates, each with a margin of error. The grouping into ranges is ours; every count is the Census Bureau's.

Getting to work

How workers travel to their job and how long it takes them.

How people get to work

731 workers (±205)

Wacousta, Michigan
Michigan share

Drive alone90%†660
Carpool0.0%0
Public transit0.0%0
Walk0.0%0
Bike0.0%0
Work from home9.7%†71
Other0.0%0

No change since 2015–2019 is larger than the margin of error.

† Wide margin of error (more than 30% of the estimate): read with care.

Table view

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024 · Table B08301View table on data.census.gov

Time to get to work

660 workers (±205)

Wacousta, Michigan
Michigan share

Under 15 min13%†86
15–29 min61%†402
30–44 min14%†93

Counts are survey estimates, each with a margin of error. The grouping into ranges is ours; every count is the Census Bureau's.

Jobs and pay

What the largest occupations here pay, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes pay by metro area, not by county or city. The metro area page lists its largest occupations and lets you look up any job.

Pay in the Lansing-East Lansing, MI

Local businesses

Employer businesses and sole proprietors by industry, per resident and against the state and the nation. Counts of businesses next to counts of people, not a measure of demand.

The Census Bureau publishes business counts by county, not by city, so these are the figures of Clinton County, the county holding most of Wacousta's residents.

Clinton County has 1,406 employer establishments, 176 for every 10,000 residents (0.71× the US rate of 248; 0.77× Michigan's), with 17,584 paid employees at an average annual pay of $49,985. The Census Bureau also counts 6,089 nonemployer businesses, mostly sole proprietors.

Establishments: 1,406; 6,089 nonemployers
Per 10,000 residents: 176; US 248 · Michigan 228
Paid employees: 17,584
Average annual pay: $49,985; US $68,342

Employer establishments, employees, average pay and nonemployers of Clinton County by industry, with the density per resident against the nation

Specialty trade contractors	140	17.5	1.13×About typical	1,398	$70,918	555
Restaurants and other eating places	93	11.6	0.63×Fewer than typical	1,592	$17,543	19
Ambulatory health care services	78	9.8	0.47×Fewer than typical	878	$47,219	277
Lessors of real estate	72	9	0.73×Fewer than typical	152	$52,375	637
Construction of buildings	66	8.3	1.09×About typical	384	$61,375	245
Services to buildings and dwellings	51	6.4	0.95×About typical	376	$46,678	319
Building equipment contractors	50	6.3	1.04×About typical	727	$68,884	113
Religious organizations	46	5.8	1.04×About typical	400	$28,928	—
Limited-service restaurants	44	5.5	0.69×Fewer than typical	760	$17,518	6
Automotive repair and maintenance	39	4.9	0.97×About typical	280	$55,014	77
Insurance agencies and brokerages	38	4.8	1.08×About typical	135	$52,704	99
Truck transportation	35	4.4	0.87×About typical	337	$60,899	81

Rank places for an industry Open Clinton County

County Business Patterns (2023); Nonemployer Statistics (2024)

Per-resident figures divide by the population estimate of 2023: 79,877 residents here, 336,755,052 in the United States. County Business Patterns counts establishments in 2023; the Nonemployer Statistics count businesses in 2024.
“More than typical” is a density at least 1.25 times the nation's per resident, “fewer” at most 0.8 times, with at least 10 establishments. It compares counts of businesses with counts of people: it says nothing about demand, incomes, size, quality or profit, and visitors and commuters are not residents.
The Census Bureau adds noise to employment and payroll to protect confidentiality, and withholds some figures: an industry with few establishments can show employees or pay as unavailable.
Industries overlap: a narrower industry (full-service restaurants) is part of a broader one (restaurants), so the rows do not add up.
Industries follow the North American Industry Classification System; the two surveys use different editions (NAICS 2017 and 2022), which this page matches industry by industry.

Federal contracts performed here

In FY2026, an estimated $644.7K of federal contract obligations were for work performed in Wacousta, Michigan: $377 per resident (US $1,994).

Obligations: $644.7K; +2.5% vs FY2025
Per resident: $377; US $1,994
Sole-source: 94%; US 30%
Single offer: 0.0%; US 8.8%

A signal is a reason to look closer, not evidence of wrongdoing: most sole-source awards are lawful and justified.

Top buying agencies

Top recipients

PECKHAM VOCATIONAL INDUSTRIES, INC.$635.1K99%
DREAMTOWN FOODS CORPORATION$4,7120.7%
GORDON FOOD SERVICE, INC$2,4430.4%
EASTERN AIR EXPRESS LLC$2,4160.4%

Spending by fiscal year

140.1KFY2017
1.3MFY2018
1.5MFY2019
1MFY2020
1.5MFY2021
1.7MFY2022
1.2MFY2023
907.4K

Top industries (NAICS)

Cut and sew apparel manufacturing · 3152$352.7K55%
Business support services · 5614$149.3K23%
Apparel accessories and other apparel manufacturing · 3159$133.3K21%
Special food services · 7223$4,7120.7%
Other food manufacturing · 3119$2,4430.4%
Nonscheduled air transportation · 4812$2,4160.4%

Source: Federal contract transactions (Federal Procurement Data System) (U.S. Department of the Treasury, USAspending.gov), data current to Oct 3, 2026, loaded Oct 3, 2026.

How this is estimated

Agencies report each contract action's place of performance as a county and a ZIP code. A ZIP code's money is split among the cities it covers by the share of its land inside each (Census 2020 ZIP code tabulation areas); the part outside city limits stays with the county.

The place of performance is what the contracting agency reports, often the contractor's office rather than where the work happens.
Shares are of land, not of people or businesses: a ZIP code that is mostly rural land but has its offices in town gives the town less than it should.
ZIP codes that are not mapped areas (post office boxes, the unique ZIP codes of large federal sites and companies) stay with their county, unless one city covers nearly all of it.
Counts of actions and awards include those only partly in Wacousta, Michigan, so they do not add up across cities.

Wacousta, Michigan's figures are part of those of Clinton County, MI ($39.4M in FY2026), never added to them: 1.6% of that total.

Grants and other federal assistance are counted by county here, not split among cities: Wacousta is mostly in Clinton County.

See federal money in Clinton County

Representation in Congress

Members serving today, with their record in the current Congress (party-unity votes cast with their caucus, roll calls missed). Not a grade.

Wacousta, Michigan is represented in the 119th Congress by these members.

House

Tom BarrettR-MI-7 · 100% of residentsWith party 97%Missed 0.7%

Senate

Explore Congress The 2026 races

County

A city can lie in several counties. Some indicators are published for counties only: the page marks them.

Clinton County81100% of residents

Metro area

The metro or micro area the city belongs to.

Lansing-East Lansing, MI69

Other cities and towns in Clinton County

Largest first.

Similar cities and towns

Closest indicator profiles across the country (no model: score distances).

Data and sources

Latest published value of each indicator; periods differ by source. Values flagged by their publisher are marked.

PLACES: Local Data for Better HealthCenters for Disease Control and Prevention · release 2025
Local Area Unemployment StatisticsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · release 2025
American Community Survey 5-Year EstimatesU.S. Census Bureau · release 2017-2024
Population Estimates ProgramU.S. Census Bureau · release 2025
Small Area Health Insurance EstimatesU.S. Census Bureau · release 2024
Small Area Income and Poverty EstimatesU.S. Census Bureau · release 2024
County Health Rankings & RoadmapsUniversity of Wisconsin Population Health Institute · release 2022-2025+2026-03-supplement

JSON · /api/v1/places/2682680

Scores by category

Strengths · Weaknesses

Strengths

Weaknesses

Trends