Arenac County, Michigan Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Arenac County is located in Michigan with a total population of 15,077. It is the 68th most populous county out of 83 in Michigan. The county encompasses 6 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Arenac County is 50.2 years. This is 25% higher than the state median of 40.2 years. 10.2% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Arenac County is $58,811. This is 19% lower than the state median of $72,875. It is also 27% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 11.7%. This is 11% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 6.0%. This is 5% higher than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $150,600. Housing costs are 35% lower than the state median of $231,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.6x, Arenac County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 86.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 18% higher than the state average of 73.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Arenac County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 93.0% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.2%. The Black or African American population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 13.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.2%) is well below the state average of 5.9%. The Asian population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 3.4%.

Education

16.0% 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 51% lower than the state rate of 32.5%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 88.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Arenac County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Michigan and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.