Pentwater, Michigan Demographics & Population 2026
Demographic data: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. Sources and methodology
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Pentwater, Michigan had a total population of 872, the 463rd largest village in Michigan, with a median household income of $80,750, which is 11% higher than the state average. The poverty rate is 10.3%.
Key Takeaways
- 54.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher — top 10% in Michigan.
Pentwater Quick Facts
How Pentwater 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 | 717 | 872 | No clear change (+21.6%) |
| Median household income | $62,342 | $80,750 | +29.5% |
| Median home value¹ | $304,477 | $344,300 | No clear change (+13.1%) |
| Median gross rent | $730 | $556 | No clear change (-23.8%) |
How Pentwater Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
- White: 95.8%
- Black: 0.0%
- Hispanic: 1.3%
- Asian: 0.0%
- Other: 0.0%
Diversity Index
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+)
- < High School: 8.3%
- HS Diploma: 17.8%
- Some College: 14.9%
- Associate's: 5.0%
- Bachelor's: 34.1%
- Graduate+: 19.9%
Pentwater Rankings in Michigan
Explore Michigan Rankings
Other Cities in Oceana County
Cities Similar to Pentwater
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Village of Clarkston | 874 | $93,452 | $457,800 | 55.7% | 2.2% |
| Mendon | 815 | $82,292 | $142,900 | 12.6% | 8.5% |
| Deerfield | 860 | $70,556 | $167,600 | 14.9% | 5.8% |
| Barnes Lake | 952 | $79,400 | $225,900 | 49.0% | 3.5% |
| Lyons | 896 | $68,603 | $121,500 | 9.8% | 12.2% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 872, Pentwater'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
Pentwater is a small community located in Michigan, within Oceana County. The total population is 872. It ranks as the 463rd most populous out of 745 Census-designated places in Michigan.
Age Demographics
The median age in Pentwater is 64.1 years. This is 59% higher than the state median of 40.2 years. Only 9.6% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 21.9% 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 Pentwater is $80,750. This is 11% higher than the state median of $72,875. It is also about the same as the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 10.3%. This is 22% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 5.5%. This is 3% lower than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $344,300. Housing costs are 49% higher than the state median of $231,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.3x. 84.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 16% higher than the state average of 73.2%.
Race & Ethnicity
Pentwater has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 95.8% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.3%) is well below the state average of 5.9%.
Education
54.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Pentwater in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 66% higher 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 91.7%. Notably, 19.9% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Pentwater, 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Pentwater, Michigan?
Pentwater, Michigan has a population of 872 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Pentwater, MI?
The median household income in Pentwater is $80,750, which is about the same as the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Pentwater, MI?
The poverty rate in Pentwater is 10.3%. This means approximately 90 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Pentwater, Michigan?
Pentwater's population is 95.8% White, 0.0% Black, 1.3% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Pentwater, MI?
The median home value in Pentwater is $344,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.3x.
How educated is Pentwater, Michigan?
54.0% of adults (25+) in Pentwater hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 19.9% hold a graduate or professional degree.