Lake County, Michigan Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Lake County is located in Michigan with a total population of 12,393. It is the 72nd most populous county out of 83 in Michigan.

Age Demographics

The median age in Lake County is 50.3 years. This is 25% higher than the state median of 40.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Lake County is $49,680. This is 30% lower than the state median of $71,149. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 37% lower. The poverty rate stands at 20.6%. This is 58% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.1%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 7.5%. This is 30% higher than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $122,900. Housing costs are 44% lower than the state median of $217,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.5x, Lake County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 81.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 11% higher than the state average of 72.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Lake County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 75.8% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 9.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (9.3% vs 5.7%). The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 3.3%.

Education

12.5% 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 61% lower than the state rate of 31.8%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 82.6%.