Three Lakes, Michigan Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 172, Three Lakes'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

Three Lakes is a small community located in Michigan, within Baraga County. The total population is 172. It ranks as the 698th most populous out of 745 Census-designated places in Michigan.

Age Demographics

The median age in Three Lakes is 62.3 years. This is 55% higher than the state median of 40.2 years. Only 4.7% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 17.4% 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 Three Lakes is $103,542. This is 42% higher than the state median of $72,875. It is also 28% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 5.8%. This is 56% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 1.6%. This is 72% lower than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $285,700. Housing costs are 23% higher than the state median of $231,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.8x, Three Lakes is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 94.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 29% higher than the state average of 73.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Three Lakes has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 97.1% of all residents.

Education

43.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 33% 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 98.7%. Notably, 19.0% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Three Lakes, 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.