Barnes Lake, Michigan Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 952, Barnes Lake's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Barnes Lake is a small community located in Michigan, within Lapeer County. The total population is 952. It ranks as the 448th most populous out of 745 Census-designated places in Michigan.

Age Demographics

The median age in Barnes Lake is 20.0 years. This is 50% lower than the state median of 40.2 years. With 43.5% of the population under 18, Barnes Lake has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Barnes Lake is $79,400. This is 9% higher than the state median of $72,875. It is also 2% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 3.5%. This is 74% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The unemployment rate is 3.7%. This is 35% lower than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $225,900. Housing costs are 2% lower than the state median of $231,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.8x, Barnes Lake is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 64.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 12% lower than the state average of 73.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Barnes Lake has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 97.6% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.4%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.4%) is well below the state average of 5.9%.

Education

49.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 51% higher 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 demographic data for Barnes Lake, Michigan is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Michigan state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 745 Census-designated places in Michigan. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.