Benzie County, Michigan Demographics 2026

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

Benzie County, Michigan has a population of 18,310, the 65th most populous county in Michigan. The median household income is $74,834 and the median home value is $285,700. The poverty rate is 9.7%.

Benzie County Quick Facts

Population 18,310

Median Household Income $74,83490% MOE ±$3,104

Median Home Value $285,70090% MOE ±$12,025

Poverty Rate 9.7%90% MOE ±1.5 pts

Unemployment Rate 3.1%90% MOE ±0.8 pts

Median Age 50.8 years90% MOE ±0.4 years

Homeownership Rate 87.8%90% MOE ±1.5 pts

Affordability Ratio 3.8x

Bachelor's Degree+ 36.9%90% MOE ±2.3 pts

Adults 25+ with high school education or higher 94.1%

Cities/Places 14

Population 18,310 65th of 83

Median Income $74,834 3% higher than state

Poverty Rate 9.7%

Unemployment 3.1%

How Benzie 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	17,615	18,310	+3.9%
Median household income	$71,349	$74,834	No clear change (+4.9%)
Median home value¹	$228,296	$285,700	+25.1%
Median gross rent	$864	$1,026	+18.8%

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

Median Household Income

Benzie

$74,834

$72,875

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Benzie

$285,700

$231,600

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 13.9%

$25K-$50K 16.7%

$50K-$100K 34.8%

$100K+ 34.6%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

3.6%

$10K-$15K

3.6%

$15K-$20K

2.9%

$20K-$25K

3.8%

$25K-$30K

4.1%

$30K-$35K

3.1%

$35K-$40K

2.6%

$40K-$45K

3.6%

$45K-$50K

3.4%

$50K-$60K

8.6%

$60K-$75K

10.9%

$75K-$100K

15.3%

$100K-$125K

12.6%

$125K-$150K

6.8%

$150K-$200K

7.9%

$200K+

7.3%

Employment

3.1% Unemployment Rate State: 5.7%|National: 5.2%

54.2% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 87.8%

Renter 12.3%

Affordability Index Affordable

3.8x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $1,026/mo 16.5% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

16.9%

18-34

16.2%

35-54

21.9%

55-74

33.1%

75+

11.8%

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 Benzie County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Frankfort	1,225	$54,327	12.3%	$350,000
Benzonia	718	$61,875	14.1%	$209,100
Hardwood Acres	611	$109,196	3.4%	$276,700
Thompsonville	490	$66,250	18.3%	$115,800
Bendon	315	$69,750	15.0%	$196,200
Lake Ann	273	$70,625	3.7%	$338,900
Beulah	218	$71,000	13.9%	$485,700
Elberta	174	$114,375	0.0%	$267,600
Honor	172	$45,341	9.9%	$223,800
Crystal Mountain	166	$120,938	2.4%	$547,400
Nessen City	149	$62,222	31.5%	$160,400
Maple Grove	82	N/A	0.0%	$569,400
Crystal Downs Country Club	64	$243,333	0.0%	$1,750,000
Pilgrim	24	$161,563	0.0%	$656,300

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

Benzie County is located in Michigan with a total population of 18,310. It is the 65th most populous county out of 83 in Michigan. The county encompasses 14 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Benzie County is 50.8 years. This is 26% higher than the state median of 40.2 years. 11.8% 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 Benzie County is $74,834. This is 3% higher than the state median of $72,875. It is also 7% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 9.7%. This is 27% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 3.1%. This is 46% lower than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $285,700. Housing costs are 23% higher than the state median of $231,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.8x. 87.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 20% higher than the state average of 73.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Benzie County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 91.4% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.5%. The Black or African American population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 13.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.5%) is well below the state average of 5.9%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 3.4%.

Education

36.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 14% 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 94.1%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Benzie 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 Benzie County, Michigan?

Benzie County has a population of 18,310, making it the 65th most populous county in Michigan.

What is the median income in Benzie County?

The median household income in Benzie County is $74,834 with a poverty rate of 9.7%.

How many cities are in Benzie County, Michigan?

Benzie County contains 14 Census-designated places.