Elberta, Michigan Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 174, Elberta'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

Elberta is a small community located in Michigan, within Benzie County. The total population is 174. It ranks as the 695th most populous out of 745 Census-designated places in Michigan.

Age Demographics

The median age in Elberta is 53.0 years. This is 32% higher than the state median of 40.2 years. Only 4.0% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 23.0% 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 Elberta is $114,375. This is 57% higher than the state median of $72,875. It is also 42% higher than the national median of $80,734. The ACS records no residents below the poverty line in Elberta. In a community this small the estimate rests on very few survey responses, so it should be read as an absence of measurement rather than a measured absence of poverty. The unemployment rate is 5.1%. This is 10% lower than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $267,600. Housing costs are 16% higher than the state median of $231,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.3x, Elberta is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 95.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 31% higher than the state average of 73.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Elberta has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 87.4% of all residents.

Education

35.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 10% 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 98.2%. Notably, 20.4% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Elberta, 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.