Arenac County, Michigan Demographics 2026

Demographic data: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. Sources and methodology

Arenac County, Michigan has a population of 15,077, the 68th most populous county in Michigan. The median household income is $58,811 and the median home value is $150,600. The poverty rate is 11.7%.

Arenac County Quick Facts

Population 15,077

Median Household Income $58,81190% MOE ±$1,914

Median Home Value $150,60090% MOE ±$7,468

Poverty Rate 11.7%90% MOE ±1.8 pts

Unemployment Rate 6.0%90% MOE ±1.4 pts

Median Age 50.2 years90% MOE ±0.2 years

Homeownership Rate 86.3%90% MOE ±1.4 pts

Affordability Ratio 2.6x

Bachelor's Degree+ 16.0%90% MOE ±1.4 pts

Adults 25+ with high school education or higher 88.2%

Cities/Places 6

Population 15,077 68th of 83

Median Income $58,811 19% lower than state

Poverty Rate 11.7%

Unemployment 6.0%

How Arenac County Changed

Change from the non-overlapping 2015–2019 ACS period to 2020–2024. Earlier dollar figures are adjusted to 2024 dollars; changes marked “no clear change” are within the combined 90% margins of error.

Metric	2015–2019	2020–2024	Change
Population	15,070	15,077	+0.0%
Median household income	$52,047	$58,811	+13.0%
Median home value¹	$116,179	$150,600	+29.6%
Median gross rent	$743	$761	No clear change (+2.4%)

¹ The Census Bureau changed its home-value inflation adjustment beginning with the 2022 ACS; interpret that comparison with additional caution.

Median Household Income

Arenac

$58,811

$72,875

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Arenac

$150,600

$231,600

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 17.9%

$25K-$50K 23.3%

$50K-$100K 35.9%

$100K+ 23.0%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

3.7%

$10K-$15K

3.4%

$15K-$20K

5.0%

$20K-$25K

5.8%

$25K-$30K

4.1%

$30K-$35K

6.1%

$35K-$40K

4.9%

$40K-$45K

4.4%

$45K-$50K

3.9%

$50K-$60K

10.3%

$60K-$75K

12.4%

$75K-$100K

13.2%

$100K-$125K

10.1%

$125K-$150K

5.0%

$150K-$200K

4.6%

$200K+

3.3%

Employment

6.0% Unemployment Rate State: 5.7%|National: 5.2%

52.4% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 86.3%

Renter 13.7%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.6x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $761/mo 15.5% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

18.4%

18-34

16.1%

35-54

21.4%

55-74

33.9%

75+

10.2%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 45 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Arenac County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Standish	1,554	$35,395	20.1%	$97,900
Au Gres	1,018	$67,115	13.2%	$159,000
Sterling	448	$61,563	11.0%	$89,200
Omer	283	$51,000	7.8%	$97,700
Twining	192	$44,271	27.6%	$85,000
Turner	86	N/A	20.9%	$95,600

Explore Michigan Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Arenac County, Michigan?

Arenac County has a population of 15,077, making it the 68th most populous county in Michigan.

What is the median income in Arenac County?

The median household income in Arenac County is $58,811 with a poverty rate of 11.7%.

How many cities are in Arenac County, Michigan?

Arenac County contains 6 Census-designated places.