Arenac County, Michigan Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Arenac County is located in Michigan with a total population of 15,054. It is the 68th most populous county out of 83 in Michigan. The county encompasses 3 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Arenac County is 50.1 years. This is 25% higher than the state median of 40.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Arenac County is $56,989. This is 20% lower than the state median of $71,149. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 27% lower. The poverty rate stands at 13.4%. This is 3% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.1%. The unemployment rate is 6.3%. This is 8% higher than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $129,000. Housing costs are 41% lower than the state median of $217,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.3x, Arenac County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 85.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 18% higher than the state average of 72.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Arenac County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 93.2% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.1%. The Black or African American population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 13.2%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.1%) is well below the state average of 5.7%. The Asian population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 3.3%.

Education

15.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 50% lower than the state rate of 31.8%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 88.6%.