Baraga County, Michigan Demographics 2026

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

Baraga County, Michigan has a population of 8,191, the 79th most populous county in Michigan. The median household income is $55,327 and the median home value is $138,100. The poverty rate is 15.2%.

Baraga County Quick Facts

Population 8,191

Median Household Income $55,32790% MOE ±$6,240

Median Home Value $138,10090% MOE ±$9,900

Poverty Rate 15.2%90% MOE ±2.3 pts

Unemployment Rate 5.1%90% MOE ±1.7 pts

Median Age 46.0 years90% MOE ±0.5 years

Homeownership Rate 78.5%90% MOE ±1.8 pts

Affordability Ratio 2.5x

Bachelor's Degree+ 14.8%90% MOE ±1.9 pts

Adults 25+ with high school education or higher 91.8%

Cities/Places 7

Population 8,191 79th of 83

Median Income $55,327 24% lower than state

Poverty Rate 15.2%

Unemployment 5.1%

How Baraga 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	8,421	8,191	-2.7%
Median household income	$56,693	$55,327	No clear change (-2.4%)
Median home value¹	$125,778	$138,100	No clear change (+9.8%)
Median gross rent	$650	$616	No clear change (-5.2%)

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

Median Household Income

Baraga

$55,327

$72,875

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Baraga

$138,100

$231,600

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 20.9%

$25K-$50K 22.1%

$50K-$100K 34.0%

$100K+ 22.9%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

5.7%

$10K-$15K

5.1%

$15K-$20K

3.9%

$20K-$25K

6.3%

$25K-$30K

5.4%

$30K-$35K

4.1%

$35K-$40K

4.8%

$40K-$45K

3.8%

$45K-$50K

4.1%

$50K-$60K

8.8%

$60K-$75K

13.1%

$75K-$100K

12.1%

$100K-$125K

9.4%

$125K-$150K

5.0%

$150K-$200K

6.1%

$200K+

2.4%

Employment

5.1% Unemployment Rate State: 5.7%|National: 5.2%

43.5% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 78.5%

Renter 21.5%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.5x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $616/mo 13.4% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

17.0%

18-34

20.5%

35-54

24.1%

55-74

29.2%

75+

9.3%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Moderate Diversity

Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.

State average: 45 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Baraga County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Baraga	1,939	$43,558	17.2%	$114,600
L'Anse	1,790	$52,317	10.8%	$104,100
Zeba	342	$55,000	26.3%	$105,400
Three Lakes	172	$103,542	5.8%	$285,700
Skanee	116	$62,031	2.6%	$231,900
Covington	112	$55,625	4.5%	$141,100
Pelkie	13	N/A	0.0%	N/A

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

Baraga County is located in Michigan with a total population of 8,191. It is the 79th most populous county out of 83 in Michigan. The county encompasses 7 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Baraga County is 46.0 years. This is 14% higher than the state median of 40.2 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Baraga County is $55,327. This is 24% lower than the state median of $72,875. It is also 31% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 15.2%. This is 15% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 5.1%. This is 10% lower than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $138,100. Housing costs are 40% lower than the state median of $231,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.5x, Baraga County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 78.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 7% higher than the state average of 73.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Baraga County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 72.0% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 6.3%. The Black or African American population (6.3%) is well below the state average of 13.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.8%) is well below the state average of 5.9%. The Asian population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 3.4%.

Education

14.8% 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 54% 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 91.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Baraga 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 Baraga County, Michigan?

Baraga County has a population of 8,191, making it the 79th most populous county in Michigan.

What is the median income in Baraga County?

The median household income in Baraga County is $55,327 with a poverty rate of 15.2%.

How many cities are in Baraga County, Michigan?

Baraga County contains 7 Census-designated places.