Skip to main content

Charlevoix County, Michigan Demographics 2026

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%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Charlevoix County Quick Facts

Population 26,108
Median Household Income $76,531
Median Home Value $276,800
Poverty Rate 8.7%
Unemployment Rate 3.4%
Median Age 50.4 years
Homeownership Rate 83.5%
Affordability Ratio 3.6x
Bachelor's Degree+ 35.2%
High School Graduation 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 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population26,14326,108-0.1%
Median household income$76,495$76,531+0.0%
Median home value$242,800$276,800+14.0%

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

Diversity Index

15out of 100
Very Low Diversity

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

State average: 45 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Charlevoix County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Boyne City3,825$64,8557.8%$249,000
Charlevoix2,392$47,91724.8%$331,500
East Jordan2,023$60,10410.5%$148,000
Advance377$110,4173.5%$563,800
Horton Bay374$69,92610.2%$345,500
Boyne Falls361$62,1597.5%$167,700
Walloon Lake294$87,3034.4%$285,400
St. James269$62,91710.2%$325,000
Ironton173$93,7506.9%$246,400
Norwood126$68,12518.3%$353,800

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.