Sanilac County, Michigan Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Sanilac County is located in Michigan with a total population of 40,574. It is the 40th most populous county out of 83 in Michigan. The county encompasses 4 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Sanilac County is 45.3 years. This is 13% higher than the state median of 40.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Sanilac County is $59,074. This is 17% lower than the state median of $71,149. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 25% lower. The poverty rate stands at 14.0%. This is 7% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.1%. The unemployment rate is 6.1%. This is 5% higher than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $162,200. Housing costs are 25% lower than the state median of $217,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.7x, Sanilac County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 81.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 12% higher than the state average of 72.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Sanilac County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 92.3% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 4.2%. The Black or African American population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 13.2%. The Asian population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 3.3%.

Education

16.0% 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 50% lower 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 90.7%.