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COUNTY

Arenac County

Michigan · 15,068 residents (2025 est.) · 363.178 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#76Highest homeownership rateof 3,14486.2%
The short version

Arenac County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $58,811. Population has declined 13% since 2000. 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $150,600. With a median age of 50.2, the population is older than the US median of 38.9.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 50.2
US median: 38.9
Less educated
16% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
15,077
−13%since 2000
from 17,269 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
42 / sq mi
−9%since 2009
from 46 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
50.2
+25%since 2000
from 40.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:15,068 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
15K15K16K17K18K1990201020202024Arenac County
202415K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 54.5%(682)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 94.5%(677)
US avg: 6%
10 to 145.9%(892)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 195.3%(801)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.3%(649)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3410%(1,503)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4410.2%(1,541)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5411.1%(1,680)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6416.9%(2,548)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7417%(2,563)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 847.8%(1,181)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.4%(360)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$58,811
−2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,805 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$32,082
+97%since 2000
from $16,300 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
36.1%
+20.2 ptssince 2009
from 16.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
11.7%
−2.2 ptssince 2000
from 13.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.404
−2%since 2010
from 0.414 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade19.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Information12.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade7.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance6.4%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical5.5%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.8%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction3.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Other services2.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration1.9%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing1.4%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0.9%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.9%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0.3%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$150,600
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $75,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$761
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $399 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
86.2%
+1.7 ptssince 2000
from 84.6% in 2000
13.8% rent
Vacancy rate
31.4%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 31.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
16.6%
−10.2 ptssince 2009
from 26.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
37.3%
−8.6 ptssince 2009
from 45.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.6
−7%since 2009
from 2.8 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
47
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Arenac County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic94.4%(16,298)
Black1.8%(309)
Hispanic / Latino1.4%(238)
Asian0.3%(50)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic93%(14,017)
Black0.7%(104)
Hispanic / Latino2.2%(336)
Asian0.1%(21)
Other4%(599)
Diversity Score
17
+4%since 2009
from 16 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
9
+35%since 2020
from 6 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican1.4%(212)
Cuban0.2%(36)
Spaniard0.2%(31)
Puerto Rican0.1%(10)
Asian origin
Korean0.1%(13)
Filipino0.1%(9)
Hmong0%(1)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
German26.9%(4,054)
Polish15.5%(2,344)
Irish11.8%(1,774)
English11.3%(1,701)
French8.7%(1,307)
American4%(596)
Italian2.5%(373)
Scottish2.3%(340)
Swedish1.4%(211)
Dutch1.4%(205)
Hungarian1.3%(190)
+ 27 more ancestry groups with data
Russian0.8%(122)
Scotch-Irish0.6%(91)
Norwegian0.5%(82)
Welsh0.5%(81)
Finnish0.4%(61)
Ukrainian0.4%(57)
Czech0.4%(53)
British0.3%(42)
Arab0.3%(39)
Belgian0.3%(39)
Canadian0.2%(28)
Romanian0.2%(25)
Lebanese0.2%(24)
Greek0.1%(22)
Danish0.1%(21)
Slovak0.1%(18)
Swiss0.1%(15)
Austrian0.1%(12)
Croatian0.1%(11)
Lithuanian0.1%(9)
Portuguese0.1%(9)
Latvian0%(6)
Serbian0%(4)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Polish population · Largest Irish population · Largest English population · Largest French population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
16.0%
+6.9 ptssince 2000
from 9.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
88.2%
+11.5 ptssince 2000
from 76.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.9%
+2.3 ptssince 2000
from 3.6% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
26.6 min
+27%since 2000
from 21.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
79.3%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 77.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.7%
−3.7 ptssince 2009
from 11.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.2%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
8.1%
+2.4 ptssince 2009
from 5.7% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.8%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.6%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.6%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 6.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.0%
−7.2 ptssince 2011
from 13.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
52.4%
+3.6 ptssince 2011
from 48.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
11.6%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 12.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
29.3%
−31.3 ptssince 2009
from 60.6% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
51.1%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 51.7% in 2009
Female
48.9%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 48.3% in 2009
Foreign born
0.8%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
8.3%
−43.0 ptssince 2009
from 51.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
17.7%
−1.5 ptssince 2012
from 19.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.0%
−81.2 ptssince 2013
from 87.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
87.0%
+25.2 ptssince 2017
from 61.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.5%
−0.5 ptssince 2016
from 97.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.7%
Unchangedsince 2016
from 0.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married26.9%(1,753)
Married53%(3,448)
Widowed4.1%(264)
Divorced16.1%(1,046)
Women 15+
Never married22.4%(1,416)
Married55.4%(3,501)
Widowed10.6%(669)
Divorced11.5%(729)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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Head to head

Compare Arenac County to nearby counties

ARENAC COUNTY VS
Bay County
Income$61,763+5%
Home value$152,200+1%
Population102,123+578%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ARENAC COUNTY VS
Ogemaw County
Income$54,666−7%
Home value$154,900+3%
Population21,121+40%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ARENAC COUNTY VS
Iosco County
Income$50,066−15%
Home value$142,200−6%
Population25,266+68%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ARENAC COUNTY VS
Gladwin County
Income$55,349−6%
Home value$162,300+8%
Population26,077+73%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Arenac County, Michigan?

Arenac County, Michigan has about 15,077 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Arenac County, Michigan?

The typical household in Arenac County, Michigan earns about $58,811 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Arenac County, Michigan expensive?

In Arenac County, Michigan, the median home is worth about $150,600, and the typical rent is about $761 a month.

How educated are people in Arenac County, Michigan?

About 16.0% of adults age 25 and over in Arenac County, Michigan hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Arenac County, Michigan?

About 11.7% of people in Arenac County, Michigan live below the federal poverty line.

Has Arenac County, Michigan grown since 1990?

Yes, Arenac County, Michigan has grown since 1990. The population has added about 146 residents, a change of about 1 percent over that period.

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7 census tracts
Census Tract 9705Census Tract 9702Census Tract 9703Census Tract 9704Census Tract 9701Census Tract 9900Census Tract 9901
6 ZIP codes
ZIP 48658ZIP 48703ZIP 48659ZIP 48766ZIP 48749ZIP 48765
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →