Free Soil, Michigan Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 112, Free Soil'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

Free Soil is a small community located in Michigan, within Mason County. The total population is 112. It ranks as the 724th most populous out of 745 Census-designated places in Michigan.

Age Demographics

The median age in Free Soil is 55.0 years. This is 37% higher than the state median of 40.2 years. Only 13.4% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 15.2% 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 Free Soil is $58,750. This is 19% lower than the state median of $72,875. It is also 27% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 8.0%. This is 39% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 2.1%. This is 64% lower than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $115,600. Housing costs are 50% lower than the state median of $231,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.0x, Free Soil is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 87.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 20% higher than the state average of 73.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Free Soil is White (non-Hispanic), making up 84.8% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 5.4%. The Black or African American population (5.4%) is well below the state average of 13.1%.

Education

6.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 79% lower 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 83.3%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Free Soil, 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.