Population 685 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Black River
Household size in Black River
| Period | Black River | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.36 | 2.58 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.13 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.18 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.99 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.38 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Black River is a place of small households, averaging 1.99 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 2.36, 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 Black River
| Period | Black River | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 53.9 | 38.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 56.9 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 56.6 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 56.3 | 41.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.4 | +2.4 | +2.3 |
Black River skews older: half of its residents are older than 56.3, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families.
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 Black River
| Period | Black River | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.6% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 4.3% | 11.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 3.4% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.1% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +3.5 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 8.1% of households in Black River, 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 Black River
Renters in Black River
| Period | Black River | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.8% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.9% | 28.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 6.9% | 28.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 8.8% | 26.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.9 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Black River is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 8.8% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 48.5% have no mortgage at all, 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 Black River
| Period | Black River | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 54.1% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 49.5% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 44.6% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 37.1% | 10.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −17.0 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Black River: 37.1% 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 Black River
| Period | Black River | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1976 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1977 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1977 | 1971 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1980 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +3 | +6 |
The typical home in Black River was built around 1980, the same vintage as the country's housing overall. 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 Black River
| Period | Black River | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $934 | $833 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $603 | $886 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $719 | $978 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $875 | $1,228 | $1,571 |
| Change | −$59 | +$395 | +$606 |
Rent in Black River runs $875 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent takes 31.5% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
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 Black River
Bachelor's degrees in Black River
| Period | Black River | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.0% | 26.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 16.7% | 27.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 18.4% | 29.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 24.8% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.8 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Black River have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 24.8%, against 35.6% nationally.
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 Black River
| Period | Black River | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 85.0% | 88.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.2% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 90.8% | 90.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.9% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +9.9 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Black River: 94.9% 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 Black River
| Period | Black River | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.1% | 11.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.5% | 11.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.9% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.3% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −6.8 pts | −5.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little harder to find in Black River than nationally: unemployment was 6.3%, against 5.4%. The picture is much the same across Michigan. 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).
Black River 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black River | 1.99 | 56.3 | 8.1% | 8.8% | 37.1% | 1980 | $875 | 24.8% | 94.9% | 6.3% |
| Lincoln | 1.98 | 59.5 | 5.8% | 11.0% | 36.2% | 1976 | $741 | 20.9% | 92.8% | 5.0% |
| Spruce | 2.10 | 56.9 | 5.2% | 3.9% | 48.7% | 1975 | $1,014 | 30.1% | 94.9% | 4.0% |
| Harrisville | 1.97 | 58.7 | 7.6% | 14.8% | 30.6% | 1974 | $773 | 21.0% | 91.9% | 4.5% |
| Ossineke | 2.49 | 46.8 | 4.5% | 9.6% | 13.1% | 1973 | $892 | 18.4% | 94.0% | 8.3% |
| Killmaster | 2.12 | 56.5 | 6.8% | 7.8% | 33.3% | 1976 | $727 | 13.3% | 91.8% | 5.8% |
| Hubbard Lake | 2.50 | 42.5 | 4.5% | 6.1% | 31.3% | 1972 | $1,101 | 19.9% | 92.2% | 2.8% |
| Barton City | 1.96 | 57.1 | 3.7% | 4.8% | 58.1% | 1977 | $910 | 13.7% | 94.9% | 5.0% |
| Mikado | 2.15 | 54.2 | 8.3% | 8.3% | 37.9% | 1976 | $830 | 13.2% | 91.4% | 5.0% |
| Greenbush | 2.04 | 56.6 | 9.9% | 11.3% | 46.8% | 1973 | $998 | 20.9% | 94.3% | 4.7% |
| Alpena | 2.10 | 48.1 | 10.8% | 24.9% | 12.2% | 1962 | $709 | 18.4% | 92.5% | 5.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Millville, MN · Neier, MO · Mowrystown, OH · Movella, MS · Mount Joy, TN · Mora, MO · Moorland, MI · Monteview, ID · Moddersville, MI · Neponset, IL
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 Black River. 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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