RANK #242 / 1001 NAT · #10 / 36 MI · POP 63,409
1YR FORECAST: +3.2%
5YR OUTLOOK: +21%
Barry County, Michigan, is characterized by its numerous inland lakes and extensive natural recreation areas, such as the 5,200-acre Yankee Springs Recreation Area, which offers trails for hiking, biking, and winter sports, alongside opportunities for fishing and water activities on its nine lakes. Located in the southwest region of Michigan's Lower Peninsula, Barry County is roughly equidistant from larger metropolitan areas like Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, and Lansing, with Hastings, the county seat, about 45 minutes from these cities. The community maintains a rural feel with a slower pace of life, yet provides access to urban amenities within a reasonable commute. The average one-way commute for residents is 28.4 minutes.
Life in Barry County often appeals to families and individuals seeking a blend of rural character and modern conveniences. The county's public schools serve a significant majority of K-12 students, with several top-ranked elementary and high schools. While many residents commute to surrounding cities for work, the local economy is also supported by manufacturing and healthcare. Recent economic development efforts focus on attracting sustainable businesses and creating local job pipelines from schools, alongside initiatives to increase affordable housing and support entrepreneurs and remote workers. The county has also seen investment in sectors related to renewable resources, particularly in the bioeconomy, with a focus on woody biomass.
Barry County is one of 145 U.S. counties in this market profile — weaker than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +5.0% matches the profile's typical +4.9%.
See all 145 Heartland Steady Growth counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Below-average climate & terrain
Prices detached from rents
Housing looks overvalued at 23.9x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: Homicide rates from CDC/NCHS vital-statistics mortality data — a multi-year average that stabilizes counts in smaller counties — compiled in the County Health Rankings 2025 release. Rates per 100,000 population; U.S. average ≈ 6.5. Grade reflects homicide rate relative to the national average. Learn more →
See where Barry County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties.
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Spring Creek Solar Project
Consumers Energy
|
$140M | Under Construction |
|
Residential New Construction (Multiple Developments)
Various Builders
|
$50M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 76/100, Barry County sits in the upper half of all 1001 ranked counties. and median household income stands at $77,500 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in MI.
Housing in Barry County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $264,100 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.29, with rents averaging $972/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Barry County's population is growing — up +0.7% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of +0.4%). Home values shifted +5.0% over the past year. In-migration is outpacing local hiring, which often points to remote workers or retirees driving the headcount.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.94% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Barry County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.