Port Austin, Michigan Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 699, Port Austin'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

Port Austin is a small community located in Michigan, within Huron County. The total population is 699. It ranks as the 499th most populous out of 745 Census-designated places in Michigan.

Age Demographics

The median age in Port Austin is 54.9 years. This is 37% higher than the state median of 40.2 years. Only 7.4% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 12.2% 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 Port Austin is $60,288. This is 17% lower than the state median of $72,875. It is also 25% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 20.8%. This is 57% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 1.1%. This is 81% lower than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $159,100. Housing costs are 31% lower than the state median of $231,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.6x, Port Austin is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 63.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 14% lower than the state average of 73.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Port Austin is White (non-Hispanic), making up 75.1% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 12.0%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (12.0% vs 5.9%).

Education

33.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 4% 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%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Port Austin, 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.