Charlevoix County, Michigan Demographics 2026

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

Charlevoix County, Michigan has a population of 26,108, the 52nd most populous county in Michigan. The median household income is $76,531 and the median home value is $276,800. The poverty rate is 8.7%.

Charlevoix County Quick Facts

Population 26,108

Median Household Income $76,53190% MOE ±$3,028

Median Home Value $276,80090% MOE ±$11,188

Poverty Rate 8.7%90% MOE ±1.3 pts

Unemployment Rate 3.4%90% MOE ±1.1 pts

Median Age 50.4 years90% MOE ±0.3 years

Homeownership Rate 83.5%90% MOE ±1.1 pts

Affordability Ratio 3.6x

Bachelor's Degree+ 35.2%90% MOE ±1.7 pts

Adults 25+ with high school education or higher 95.1%

Cities/Places 10

Population 26,108 52nd of 83

Median Income $76,531 5% higher than state

Poverty Rate 8.7%

Unemployment 3.4%

How Charlevoix 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	26,188	26,108	-0.3%
Median household income	$68,624	$76,531	+11.5%
Median home value¹	$204,667	$276,800	+35.2%
Median gross rent	$854	$949	+11.1%

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

Median Household Income

Charlevoix

$76,531

$72,875

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Charlevoix

$276,800

$231,600

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 13.1%

$25K-$50K 18.2%

$50K-$100K 32.9%

$100K+ 35.9%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

3.1%

$10K-$15K

3.3%

$15K-$20K

3.1%

$20K-$25K

3.5%

$25K-$30K

3.1%

$30K-$35K

3.1%

$35K-$40K

3.8%

$40K-$45K

3.6%

$45K-$50K

4.6%

$50K-$60K

6.8%

$60K-$75K

10.8%

$75K-$100K

15.3%

$100K-$125K

10.0%

$125K-$150K

7.1%

$150K-$200K

8.7%

$200K+

10.0%

Employment

3.4% Unemployment Rate State: 5.7%|National: 5.2%

57.8% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 83.5%

Renter 16.5%

Affordability Index Affordable

3.6x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $949/mo 14.9% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

17.6%

18-34

16.4%

35-54

22.0%

55-74

33.3%

75+

10.7%

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 Charlevoix County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Boyne City	3,825	$64,855	7.8%	$249,000
Charlevoix	2,392	$47,917	24.8%	$331,500
East Jordan	2,023	$60,104	10.5%	$148,000
Advance	377	$110,417	3.5%	$563,800
Horton Bay	374	$69,926	10.2%	$345,500
Boyne Falls	361	$62,159	7.5%	$167,700
Walloon Lake	294	$87,303	4.4%	$285,400
St. James	269	$62,917	10.2%	$325,000
Ironton	173	$93,750	6.9%	$246,400
Norwood	126	$68,125	18.3%	$353,800

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

Charlevoix County is located in Michigan with a total population of 26,108. It is the 52nd most populous county out of 83 in Michigan. The county encompasses 10 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Charlevoix County is 50.4 years. This is 25% higher than the state median of 40.2 years. 10.7% 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 Charlevoix County is $76,531. This is 5% higher than the state median of $72,875. It is also 5% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 8.7%. This is 34% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 3.4%. This is 41% lower than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $276,800. Housing costs are 20% higher than the state median of $231,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.6x. 83.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 14% higher than the state average of 73.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Charlevoix County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 92.3% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.0%. The Black or African American population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 13.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.0%) is well below the state average of 5.9%. The Asian population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 3.4%.

Education

35.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 9% 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 95.1%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Charlevoix 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 Charlevoix County, Michigan?

Charlevoix County has a population of 26,108, making it the 52nd most populous county in Michigan.

What is the median income in Charlevoix County?

The median household income in Charlevoix County is $76,531 with a poverty rate of 8.7%.

How many cities are in Charlevoix County, Michigan?

Charlevoix County contains 10 Census-designated places.