Mason County, Michigan Demographics 2026

Demographic data: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. Sources and methodology

Mason County, Michigan has a population of 29,207, the 49th most populous county in Michigan. The median household income is $64,748 and the median home value is $219,600. The poverty rate is 14.1%.

Mason County Quick Facts

Population 29,207

Median Household Income $64,74890% MOE ±$3,281

Median Home Value $219,60090% MOE ±$8,156

Poverty Rate 14.1%90% MOE ±1.8 pts

Unemployment Rate 4.5%90% MOE ±0.9 pts

Median Age 47.3 years90% MOE ±0.4 years

Homeownership Rate 78.3%90% MOE ±2.1 pts

Affordability Ratio 3.4x

Bachelor's Degree+ 26.6%90% MOE ±1.9 pts

Adults 25+ with high school education or higher 94.2%

Cities/Places 5

Population 29,207 49th of 83

Median Income $64,748 11% lower than state

Poverty Rate 14.1%

Unemployment 4.5%

How Mason County Changed

Change from the non-overlapping 2015–2019 ACS period to 2020–2024. Earlier dollar figures are adjusted to 2024 dollars; changes marked “no clear change” are within the combined 90% margins of error.

Metric	2015–2019	2020–2024	Change
Population	28,954	29,207	+0.9%
Median household income	$63,658	$64,748	No clear change (+1.7%)
Median home value¹	$174,022	$219,600	+26.2%
Median gross rent	$859	$896	No clear change (+4.3%)

¹ The Census Bureau changed its home-value inflation adjustment beginning with the 2022 ACS; interpret that comparison with additional caution.

Median Household Income

Mason

$64,748

$72,875

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Mason

$219,600

$231,600

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 16.4%

$25K-$50K 22.3%

$50K-$100K 31.6%

$100K+ 29.8%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

5.0%

$10K-$15K

4.0%

$15K-$20K

3.9%

$20K-$25K

3.5%

$25K-$30K

4.5%

$30K-$35K

3.9%

$35K-$40K

5.4%

$40K-$45K

5.3%

$45K-$50K

3.2%

$50K-$60K

7.0%

$60K-$75K

10.3%

$75K-$100K

14.2%

$100K-$125K

9.8%

$125K-$150K

7.1%

$150K-$200K

6.6%

$200K+

6.3%

Employment

4.5% Unemployment Rate State: 5.7%|National: 5.2%

54.5% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 78.3%

Renter 21.7%

Affordability Index Affordable

3.4x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $896/mo 16.6% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

19.6%

18-34

17.3%

35-54

21.7%

55-74

31.1%

75+

10.3%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very Low Diversity

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

State average: 45 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Mason County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Ludington	7,676	$46,411	22.5%	$201,100
Scottville	1,474	$51,953	27.5%	$134,300
Custer	275	$63,125	13.1%	$131,300
Fountain	204	$58,750	46.8%	$102,300
Free Soil	112	$58,750	8.0%	$115,600

Explore Michigan Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Mason County is located in Michigan with a total population of 29,207. It is the 49th most populous county out of 83 in Michigan. The county encompasses 5 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Mason County is 47.3 years. This is 18% higher than the state median of 40.2 years. 10.3% 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 Mason County is $64,748. This is 11% lower than the state median of $72,875. It is also 20% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 14.1%. This is 7% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 4.5%. This is 20% lower than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $219,600. Housing costs are 5% lower than the state median of $231,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.4x. 78.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 7% higher than the state average of 73.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Mason County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 89.3% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 4.9%. The Black or African American population (1.0%) is well below the state average of 13.1%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 3.4%.

Education

26.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 18% 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 94.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Mason 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 Mason County, Michigan?

Mason County has a population of 29,207, making it the 49th most populous county in Michigan.

What is the median income in Mason County?

The median household income in Mason County is $64,748 with a poverty rate of 14.1%.

How many cities are in Mason County, Michigan?

Mason County contains 5 Census-designated places.