Mackinac County, Michigan Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Mackinac County is located in Michigan with a total population of 10,957. It is the 74th most populous county out of 83 in Michigan. The county encompasses 3 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Mackinac County is 53.0 years. This is 32% higher than the state median of 40.2 years. Only 15.0% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 11.8% 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 Mackinac County is $63,909. This is 12% lower than the state median of $72,875. It is also 21% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 16.1%. This is 21% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 8.0%. This is 40% higher than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $174,500. Housing costs are 25% lower than the state median of $231,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.7x, Mackinac County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 77.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 6% higher than the state average of 73.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Mackinac County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 71.1% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 4.8%. The Black or African American population (4.8%) is well below the state average of 13.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.3%) is well below the state average of 5.9%. The Asian population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 3.4%.

Education

25.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 23% 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 92.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Mackinac 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.