Oscoda County, Michigan Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Oscoda County is located in Michigan with a total population of 8,425. It is the 78th most populous county out of 83 in Michigan. The county encompasses 1 Census-designated place.

Age Demographics

The median age in Oscoda County is 52.5 years. This is 31% higher than the state median of 40.2 years. 10.9% 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 Oscoda County is $49,515. This is 32% lower than the state median of $72,875. It is also 39% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 17.2%. This is 30% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 8.1%. This is 41% higher than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $125,500. Housing costs are 46% lower than the state median of $231,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.5x, Oscoda County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 87.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 19% higher than the state average of 73.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Oscoda County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 93.1% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.1%. The Black or African American population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 13.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.1%) is well below the state average of 5.9%. The Asian population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 3.4%.

Education

15.6% 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 52% 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 85.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Oscoda 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.