Population 929 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Bell
Household size in Bell
| Period | Bell | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.19 | 2.58 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.16 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.12 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.07 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.13 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Bell is a place of small households, averaging 2.07 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.19, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Bell
| Period | Bell | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 52.8 | 38.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 53.8 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 57.5 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 58.5 | 41.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +5.7 | +2.4 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 58.5, Bell is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Bell
| Period | Bell | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.9% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.1% | 11.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 3.4% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.4% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.4 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 4.4% of households in Bell, well below the national share of 11.6%.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Bell
Renters in Bell
| Period | Bell | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.6% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.0% | 28.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 7.1% | 28.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 4.9% | 26.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −2.7 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Bell is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 4.9% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Nearly six in ten owners (57.2%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Bell
| Period | Bell | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.7% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 44.2% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 47.4% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 34.0% | 10.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.7 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Bell: 34.0% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Bell
| Period | Bell | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1976 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1971 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1976 | 1971 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1977 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +1 | +3 | +6 |
Homes in Bell are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1977, versus 1980 nationally. Homes here are newer than in Michigan as a whole, where the median home dates to 1972.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Bell
| Period | Bell | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $720 | $833 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $958 | $886 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $637 | $978 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $683 | $1,228 | $1,571 |
| Change | −$37 | +$395 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Bell costs $683 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. The typical renter here spends 35.9% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Bell
Bachelor's degrees in Bell
| Period | Bell | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.9% | 26.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.7% | 27.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 29.0% | 29.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 37.7% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +19.8 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are about as common in Bell as nationally: 37.7% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share is higher than in Michigan as a whole (32.7%).
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Bell
| Period | Bell | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 90.8% | 88.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 92.5% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.6% | 90.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 97.3% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +6.5 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Bell: 97.3% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Bell
| Period | Bell | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.0% | 11.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.6% | 11.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.8% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.6% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −5.4 pts | −5.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been easier to find in Bell than nationally: unemployment was 3.6%, against 5.4%. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Bell compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bell | 2.07 | 58.5 | 4.4% | 4.9% | 34.0% | 1977 | $683 | 37.7% | 97.3% | 3.6% |
| Presque Isle | 1.84 | 62.7 | 1.4% | 5.2% | 43.1% | 1985 | $932 | 34.6% | 97.6% | 5.1% |
| Cathro | 2.32 | 47.8 | 10.4% | 13.0% | 22.8% | 1973 | $705 | 14.1% | 93.1% | 8.1% |
| Alpena Junction | 2.41 | 47.9 | 14.8% | 17.6% | 19.0% | 1979 | $673 | 19.0% | 95.2% | 8.2% |
| Alpena | 2.10 | 48.1 | 10.8% | 24.9% | 12.2% | 1962 | $709 | 18.4% | 92.5% | 5.8% |
| Posen | 2.24 | 46.6 | 5.3% | 10.0% | 23.3% | 1970 | $618 | 10.4% | 88.6% | 4.2% |
| Liske | 2.39 | 47.3 | 1.8% | 2.6% | 9.4% | 1974 | $607 | 6.5% | 81.4% | 4.3% |
| Herron | 2.42 | 48.8 | 10.5% | 6.2% | 19.9% | 1977 | $899 | 11.5% | 92.2% | 6.0% |
| Metz | 2.17 | 48.6 | 4.7% | 8.4% | 23.2% | 1968 | $736 | 10.0% | 88.7% | 3.8% |
| Lachine | 2.24 | 55.2 | 7.6% | 7.4% | 33.9% | 1978 | $849 | 16.9% | 89.2% | 6.3% |
| Hagensville | 2.05 | 51.4 | 4.3% | 4.9% | 20.5% | 1964 | $950 | 8.8% | 88.2% | 3.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Weir, TX · Wilsall, MT · Hillister, TX · Waukena, CA · Hallsville, OH · Kingfield, TN · Kings Station, NY · Fitzpatrick, AL · Benham, KY · Bailey, TX
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Bell. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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