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COUNTY

Benzie County

Michigan · 18,568 residents (2025 est.) · 319.696 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#40Highest homeownership rateof 3,14487.8%
The short version

Benzie County has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $74,834. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $285,700. With a median age of 50.8, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. It sits in the top 10% of US counties for household income.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 50.8
US median: 38.9
Average education
37% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 50%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
18,310
+14%since 2000
from 15,998 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
57 / sq mi
+5%since 2009
from 55 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
50.8
+25%since 2000
from 40.8 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:18,568 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
12K13K15K17K19K1990201020202024Benzie County
202418K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 54.2%(766)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 94.4%(801)
US avg: 6%
10 to 145.2%(951)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 195%(908)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.6%(851)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 349.8%(1,791)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4410.9%(1,988)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5411%(2,021)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6416.2%(2,972)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7416.9%(3,091)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 848.6%(1,568)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over3.3%(602)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$74,834
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $37,350 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$42,600
+130%since 2000
from $18,524 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
49.9%
+28.9 ptssince 2009
from 21.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
9.7%
+2.7 ptssince 2000
from 7.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.449
+10%since 2010
from 0.406 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information12.7%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade8.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Retail trade8.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services5.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance3.9%
US avg: 5.9%
Public administration3.9%
US avg: 4.8%
Professional, scientific, technical3.5%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing2.2%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.5%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.8%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.4%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$285,700
+50%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $104,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,026
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $486 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
87.8%
+2.0 ptssince 2000
from 85.7% in 2000
12.2% rent
Vacancy rate
37.5%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 39.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
21.3%
−10.1 ptssince 2009
from 31.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
39.7%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 37.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.8
+4%since 2009
from 3.7 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
80
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Benzie County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic95.4%(15,270)
Black0.3%(43)
Hispanic / Latino1.5%(233)
Asian0.2%(25)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic91.4%(16,728)
Black0.6%(118)
Hispanic / Latino2.5%(457)
Asian0.5%(99)
Other5%(908)
Diversity Score
20
+49%since 2009
from 14 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
11
−56%since 2020
from 25 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
Mexican1.5%(275)
Puerto Rican0.3%(60)
Cuban0.2%(36)
Asian origin
Filipino0.3%(63)
Chinese0.1%(23)
Vietnamese0.1%(22)
Japanese0.1%(21)
Korean0.1%(15)
Asian Indian0.1%(12)
Pacific Islander origin
Chamorro0.1%(21)
Ancestry
German21.6%(3,955)
English18%(3,301)
Irish13.4%(2,455)
Polish5.9%(1,075)
American4.5%(833)
French4.1%(752)
Dutch3.5%(637)
Scottish3.2%(585)
Norwegian3%(543)
Italian2.7%(493)
Czech1.5%(273)
Finnish1.3%(240)
+ 33 more ancestry groups with data
Swedish1.2%(227)
Scotch-Irish1.1%(198)
Danish0.7%(134)
Welsh0.7%(129)
Hungarian0.7%(124)
Arab0.6%(117)
British0.6%(102)
Ukrainian0.5%(88)
Lebanese0.4%(82)
Russian0.4%(78)
Portuguese0.4%(71)
West Indian0.3%(59)
Belgian0.3%(51)
Slovak0.3%(51)
Canadian0.3%(48)
Swiss0.2%(33)
Greek0.1%(26)
Croatian0.1%(19)
Austrian0.1%(17)
Lithuanian0.1%(15)
Jamaican0.1%(14)
Romanian0.1%(11)
Kenyan0%(9)
Latvian0%(8)
Serbian0%(8)
Slovene0%(6)
Syrian0%(4)
Iranian0%(3)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest Polish population · Largest American population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
36.9%
+16.9 ptssince 2000
from 20.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
94.1%
+8.8 ptssince 2000
from 85.4% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
14.1%
+7.3 ptssince 2000
from 6.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
24.6 min
+43%since 2000
from 17.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
76.6%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 78.4% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.0%
−2.4 ptssince 2009
from 11.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.8%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
11.1%
+4.8 ptssince 2009
from 6.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.2%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 3.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.2%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
2.5%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 3.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.1%
−8.1 ptssince 2011
from 11.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
54.2%
−7.2 ptssince 2011
from 61.4% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
14.6%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 12.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
39.6%
−23.6 ptssince 2009
from 63.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.2%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 50.1% in 2009
Female
49.8%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 49.9% in 2009
Foreign born
1.4%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
9.7%
−39.8 ptssince 2009
from 49.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
17.6%
+0.6 ptssince 2012
from 17.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.6%
−80.6 ptssince 2013
from 86.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
93.0%
+15.8 ptssince 2017
from 77.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
98.0%
+2.5 ptssince 2016
from 95.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.9%
−1.2 ptssince 2016
from 2.1% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married25.6%(2,008)
Married59.1%(4,640)
Widowed3.5%(275)
Divorced11.8%(923)
Women 15+
Never married20.7%(1,641)
Married57%(4,530)
Widowed9.7%(772)
Divorced12.6%(1,003)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Benzie County to nearby counties

BENZIE COUNTY VS
Manistee County
Income$63,516−15%
Home value$182,200−36%
Population25,656+38%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BENZIE COUNTY VS
Grand Traverse County
Income$81,647+9%
Home value$339,400+19%
Population96,729+421%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BENZIE COUNTY VS
Leelanau County
Income$99,422+33%
Home value$458,400+60%
Population22,982+24%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BENZIE COUNTY VS
Wexford County
Income$61,085−18%
Home value$170,400−40%
Population34,445+86%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Benzie County, Michigan?

Benzie County, Michigan has about 18,310 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Benzie County, Michigan earns about $74,834 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Benzie County, Michigan expensive?

In Benzie County, Michigan, the median home is worth about $285,700, and the typical rent is about $1,026 a month.

How educated are people in Benzie County, Michigan?

About 36.9% of adults age 25 and over in Benzie County, Michigan hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Benzie County, Michigan?

About 9.7% of people in Benzie County, Michigan live below the federal poverty line.

Has Benzie County, Michigan grown since 1990?

Yes, Benzie County, Michigan has grown since 1990. The population has added about 6,110 residents, a change of about 50 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

7 census tracts
Census Tract 1.01Census Tract 1.02Census Tract 2Census Tract 5Census Tract 3Census Tract 4Census Tract 9900
8 ZIP codes
ZIP 49643ZIP 49617ZIP 49650ZIP 49635ZIP 49683ZIP 49616ZIP 49640ZIP 49628
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →

Benzie County, Michigan: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy