HUD data

Qualified Census Tracts in Michigan (2026)

HUD's Michigan QCT map — the tracts that qualify for LIHTC's 30% basis boost and concentrate Housing Choice Voucher demand, county by county.
Total QCTs
525
Counties with a QCT
45
Data year
2026

QCTs by county in Michigan

CountyFIPSQCTsSample tract GEOIDs
Wayne County2616324326163581800, 26163541000, 26163566500, 26163540100, 26163538700
Genesee County260493626049000200, 26049000900, 26049002700, 26049001700, 26049000100
Ingham County260652526065005304, 26065000100, 26065000700, 26065003700, 26065004500
Kent County260812526081001300, 26081002000, 26081001103, 26081013500, 26081002800
Washtenaw County261612026161400500, 26161400300, 26161400800, 26161410700, 26161407400
Macomb County260991926099262400, 26099263700, 26099245200, 26099255600, 26099263800
Oakland County261251926125142100, 26125181001, 26125142200, 26125141100, 26125172400
Saginaw County261451726145001200, 26145011001, 26145000900, 26145001600, 26145000800
Kalamazoo County260771226077000500, 26077001504, 26077002907, 26077001510, 26077000201
Berrien County260211026021002100, 26021002300, 26021002500, 26021000400, 26021000300
Calhoun County26025926025000300, 26025000600, 26025000200, 26025000800, 26025004100
St. Clair County26147726147623000, 26147621000, 26147624000, 26147625001, 26147622000
Muskegon County26121726121001402, 26121000500, 26121001300, 26121004200, 26121004300
Isabella County26073726073000500, 26073000701, 26073940400, 26073000600, 26073000800
Jackson County26075726075001100, 26075000600, 26075005900, 26075001000, 26075001300
Bay County26017526017280300, 26017280700, 26017286500, 26017281000, 26017280900
Midland County26111426111291500, 26111290200, 26111290100, 26111290600
Ottawa County26139426139024501, 26139024502, 26139024401, 26139025101
Clare County26035426035000900, 26035001302, 26035001301, 26035000200
Livingston County26093426093741601, 26093742202, 26093725000, 26093722300
Monroe County26115326115831900, 26115832100, 26115831201
Roscommon County26143326143970200, 26143971200, 26143971002
Mecosta County26107326107960701, 26107960500, 26107960600
Lenawee County26091326091061500, 26091061301, 26091061302
Chippewa County26033226033970200, 26033970900
Grand Traverse County26055226055551303, 26055551301
Ogemaw County26129226129950901, 26129950902
Lapeer County26087226087337000, 26087339500
Van Buren County26159226159010600, 26159011400
Marquette County26103226103000600, 26103000700
Iosco County26069226069000400, 26069000101
Houghton County26061226061000300, 26061000800
Alpena County26007126007000500
Clinton County26037126037011200
Branch County26023126023951400
Allegan County26005126005031001
Mason County26105126105950500
Charlevoix County26029126029001500
Lake County26085126085961200
Cass County26027126027001901
Hillsdale County26059126059051200
Otsego County26137126137950300
St. Joseph County26149126149040600
Gogebic County26053126053950500
Delta County26041126041970900

What is a Qualified Census Tract (QCT)?

HUD designates a census tract as a QCT when either at least 50% of households have income below 60% AMI, OR the tract has a poverty rate of 25% or higher. QCT-designated projects qualify for a 130% qualified basis under LIHTC (the "30% basis boost"). For DSCR / Section 8 investors, QCTs also identify Michiganneighborhoods with the highest concentration of Housing Choice Voucher tenants — the same census tracts that consistently rent at or above FMR under HAP contracts.

Michigan Qualified Census Tracts — FAQs

What is a Qualified Census Tract in Michigan?

A Qualified Census Tract (QCT) is a HUD-designated census tract where at least half of households earn below 60% of Area Median Income, or where the poverty rate is 25% or higher. HUD publishes the Michigan designations each year.

Why does QCT status matter to investors?

A LIHTC development located in a QCT is eligible for a 30% basis boost, which increases the credits available for the project. QCTs also tend to concentrate voucher-holding households, which is why Section 8 investors watch them.

Is a QCT the same as a Difficult Development Area?

No. A QCT is based on income and poverty concentration, while a Difficult Development Area (DDA) is based on high construction, land, and utility costs relative to area incomes. Both can qualify a LIHTC project for the same 30% basis boost.

Can you finance a rental inside a Michigan QCT?

Yes — business-purpose loans on non-owner-occupied property are underwritten on the property and the borrower's experience, not on tract designation. Property condition, rent documentation, and market liquidity still drive the terms available, subject to lender approval.

Local market news & updates

What the latest published data says about Michigan

Every update below is a published figure from a named federal source, shown with the exact period that source covers. Where a dataset is only produced at county or state level, it is labelled that way rather than presented as city data. These are market statistics for informational purposes only — they are not rates, loan terms, or an offer of credit.

  • State dataData through ACS estimates, ACS 5-Year 2023

    Michigan housing costs — ACS estimates, ACS 5-Year 2023

    The most recent published Census reading for Michigan shows a median owner-occupied home value of $217,600, a median gross rent of $1,084 per month. These are survey estimates for the period shown, not live listing prices, and they are the starting point investors use to sanity-check a rent assumption before underwriting a DSCR file.

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey

  • State dataData through ACS estimates, ACS 5-Year 2023

    Michigan renter demand indicators — ACS estimates, ACS 5-Year 2023

    Census reports a population of 10,051,595, a median household income of $71,149, a rental vacancy estimate of 12.2% for Michigan. Income and vacancy set the practical ceiling on achievable rent, which is what a DSCR calculation is ultimately built on.

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey

Source periods represented above: ACS estimates, ACS 5-Year 2023. Each figure updates only when its publisher releases a new period — we never restamp an older reading with a newer date.

Informational market data only. Nothing in this section is a rate, an annual percentage rate, a payment, a loan term, an approval, or an offer or commitment to lend. Citing a federal dataset does not imply the agency endorses, sponsors or is affiliated with Simply Approved Mortgages LLC (NMLS #2620881). Financing referenced on this page is business-purpose investment property financing.

Buying in a Michigan QCT?

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How We Evaluate This Scenario

A DSCR file is judged on the property, not your tax returns: qualifying rent divided by PITIA — principal, interest, taxes, insurance, plus HOA and flood where they apply. Most programs use the lesser of the in-place lease rent and the appraiser's market rent, so a lease signed below market usually caps the ratio no matter how strong the comps look.

Three inputs move the outcome more than anything else: rent support on the appraiser's rent schedule (Form 1007 or 1025), the LTV tier, and the credit tier. Dropping leverage by five points or moving up a FICO band frequently changes pricing more than shopping a different lender does.

Before you write an offer, price taxes and insurance at post-sale levels rather than the seller's current bill. In reassess-on-transfer states and in coastal insurance markets, that single adjustment is the most common reason a deal that penciled at contract fails the ratio at underwriting.

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