Petoskey city, Michigan Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Petoskey city is a small city located in Michigan, within Emmet County. The total population is 5,851. It ranks as the 162nd most populous out of 745 cities and towns in Michigan.

Age Demographics

The median age in Petoskey city is 42.9 years. This is 7% higher than the state median of 40.1 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 Petoskey city is $71,783. This is about average than the state median of $71,149. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 9% lower. The poverty rate stands at 8.4%. This is 36% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.1%. The unemployment rate is 1.5%. This is 73% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $319,300. Housing costs are 47% higher than the state median of $217,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.4x. 60.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 17% lower than the state average of 72.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Petoskey city has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 86.7% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.5%. The Black or African American population (1.1%) is well below the state average of 13.2%. The Asian population (1.2%) is well below the state average of 3.3%.

Education

52.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Petoskey city in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 66% higher 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 97.1%. Notably, 27.7% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Petoskey city, Michigan is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. 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. For official data, visit data.census.gov.