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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Benzie County

Michigan · 17,970 residents · 320 sq mi
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The short version

Benzie County is home to 17,970 people in Michigan. At a median age of 50.6, this is an older place than the country as a whole. Owners hold 87% of the housing stock. 2% of people here were born outside the United States. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $195,400. Median rent is $803 a month.

At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 50.6
US median: 38.8
Average education
32% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

17,970
+12%since 2000
from 15,998 in 2000
1990 – 2025
50.6
+24%since 2000
from 40.8 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
320 sq mi
Population, 19902024
12K13K15K17K19K19902000201020202024Benzie County
202418K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 54.2%(757)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 94.8%(865)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 145.2%(933)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 195.1%(921)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.2%(750)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 349.5%(1,702)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4410.7%(1,930)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5411.7%(2,104)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6417.4%(3,121)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7416.2%(2,905)
US avg: 10%
75 to 848.3%(1,489)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over2.7%(493)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$64,257
+14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $37,350 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
$31,452
+70%since 2000
from $18,524 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
41.4%
+20.5 ptssince 2009
from 21.0% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
10.2%
+3.2 ptssince 2000
from 7.0% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information11%
US avg: 11.1%
Retail trade10.4%
US avg: 10%
Wholesale trade8.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Other services5%
US avg: 6.6%
Finance & insurance4.2%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical3.9%
US avg: 4.7%
Public administration3.1%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing2.8%
US avg: 2.5%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.9%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction1.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.7%
US avg: 2%
Manufacturing0.2%
US avg: 0.5%
Education & health services0.2%
US avg: 0.8%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

$195,400
+24%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $104,700 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
$803
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $486 in 2000
US average: $1,124
86.7%
+0.9 ptssince 2000
from 85.7% in 2000
13.3% rent
2.50 people
+6%since 2009
from 2.36 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
3.0
−17%since 2009
from 3.7 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic95.4%(15,270)
Black0.3%(43)
Hispanic / Latino1.5%(233)
Asian0.2%(25)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic92.4%(16,597)
Black0.3%(56)
Hispanic / Latino2.2%(391)
Asian0.4%(71)
Other3.2%(569)
25
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
Mexican1.9%(336)
Puerto Rican0.1%(22)
Cuban0.1%(14)
Colombian0.1%(11)
Asian origin
Asian Indian0.3%(49)
Korean0.1%(18)
Chinese0%(4)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
German22.9%(4,049)
English15.4%(2,735)
Irish12.8%(2,270)
Polish7.5%(1,327)
American4.9%(868)
French4.4%(778)
Dutch3.8%(679)
Scottish2.8%(495)
Italian2.7%(470)
Norwegian2.6%(459)
Swedish1.7%(298)
+ 33 more ancestry groups with data
Finnish1.3%(229)
Czech1.2%(205)
Ukrainian1.1%(197)
Welsh1.1%(197)
Scotch-Irish1.1%(190)
Danish0.6%(112)
British0.5%(85)
Swiss0.4%(78)
Austrian0.4%(68)
Hungarian0.4%(68)
Russian0.3%(58)
Canadian0.3%(52)
Slovak0.2%(39)
Serbian0.2%(38)
Portuguese0.2%(37)
Lithuanian0.2%(34)
Belgian0.2%(29)
Croatian0.1%(25)
West Indian0.1%(24)
Greek0.1%(17)
Romanian0.1%(17)
Lebanese0.1%(11)
Latvian0%(7)
Syrian0%(5)
Iranian0%(5)
Kenyan0%(4)
Arab0%(3)
Slovene0%(3)
Section 05

Education

32.5%
+12.5 ptssince 2000
from 20.0% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
93.9%
+8.5 ptssince 2000
from 85.4% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
11.6%
+4.9 ptssince 2000
from 6.7% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

25.7 min
+50%since 2000
from 17.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
83.1%
+4.7 ptssince 2009
from 78.4% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
3.7%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 3.1% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

4.9%
−6.3 ptssince 2011
from 11.2% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
56.9%
−4.5 ptssince 2011
from 61.4% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
76.2%
US average: 73.3%
35.2%
+4.8 ptssince 2009
from 30.4% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

49.3%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 50.1% in 2009
50.7%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 49.9% in 2009
1.9%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
4.9%
−8.9 ptssince 2013
from 13.8% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
92.1%
US average: 91.9%
91.6%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
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
Section 09

Health coverage

4.9%
−8.9 ptssince 2013
from 13.8% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
57.0%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
20.1%
US average: 13.7%
28.8%
US average: 17.6%
17.4%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
3.4%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
73.5%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
43.3%
US average: 35.2%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later)12.3%(216)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)16.9%(296)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era40%(701)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War7.6%(134)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II5.5%(96)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 1,754 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Benzie County, Michigan?

Benzie County, Michigan has about 17,970 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Benzie County, Michigan earns about $64,257 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 $195,400, and the typical rent is about $803 a month.

How educated are people in Benzie County, Michigan?

About 32.5% 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 10.2% 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 5,770 residents, a change of about 47 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →