By David Fleet
Editor
Four of five communities in The Citizen readership area reported an increase in the median household income according to new demographic data issued Dec. 6 by the U.S. Census Bureau. The new data for small communities was gathered from the American Community Survey. The data is from 2013-2017 and are five-year estimates. The data is used to track economic trends.
Goodrich Village Council President Shannon McCafferty has been a resident for about 19 years.
“You get more bang for your buck here in southern Genesee County,” said McCafferty. “It’s a more attractive community, the cost of living is lower than in the southern Oakland County where there are more high paying jobs. They drive up to have the more rural community.”

“The subdivision we have here are all moderate income and up.”
Brandon Township Supervisor Kathy Thurman says new home construction in the township has soared.
“Between 2016 and 2017 a considerable number of new homes were built in the township,” said Thurman. “2018 has been pretty decent too. People are moving here and bringing the income with them. That’s compared to 2009-2013 when we really had no new homes here.”
Brandon’s a bedroom community, added Thruman.
“It’s a rural community,” she said. “People come here for a more peaceful surroundings. The excellent school system also has a lot to do with attracting residents. We’re far enough away but not too far from shopping—it’s the home town feel where you know your neighbor that’s so attractive.”
Ronald Fisher is a professor of economics at Michigan State University who specializes in subnational governments, taxation and expenditures.
“Income is going to follow with the economy,” said Fisher, during an interview with The Citizen last week. “An increase in the median household income is part of the recovery from the Great Recession during the late 2000s.”
While local migrations of population could impact the local income that’s overwhelmed by national and international economies, says Fisher.
“Wages and employment have been increasing,” he said. “There’s been a long ongoing period of national economic growth. Often we look to local or state causation, however in more cases the increase has been driven by a national and international trend. In fact, the state and local governments often have little or no impact on their economy. Moreover, Michigan is very sensitive to the whole world economy.”