Population 5,995 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Buena Vista
Household size in Buena Vista
| Period | Buena Vista | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.29 | 2.58 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.48 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.03 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.51 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.23 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
The average household in Buena Vista has 2.51 people, a bit under the U.S. average of 2.65. Household size has climbed from 2.29 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. Households are largest in the west and smallest in the south.
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 Buena Vista
| Period | Buena Vista | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.5 | 38.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 37.9 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 39.3 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.8 | 41.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.3 | +2.4 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Buena Vista are younger than 39.8 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. The population here is younger than in Michigan overall, where the median age is 41.3. The median age has climbed from 37.5 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Buena Vista
| Period | Buena Vista | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.0% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 23.0% | 11.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 22.8% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 23.9% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +5.9 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are common in Buena Vista: 23.9% of all households, against 11.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has risen 5.9 points, even as the national share fell. Only three of the 331 Michigan cities with 5,000+ people have a higher share of single-parent households.
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 Buena Vista
Renters in Buena Vista
| Period | Buena Vista | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.3% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 42.0% | 28.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 47.1% | 28.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 27.3% | 26.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −11.0 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Buena Vista own their homes; 27.3% rent, below the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 66.4% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the southwest; owners are most common in the north. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 11.0 points, even as the national share rose.
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 Buena Vista
| Period | Buena Vista | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.7% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 22.1% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 18.0% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 18.4% | 10.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 18.4% of the housing in Buena Vista, 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. Buena Vista has a higher vacancy rate than at least four in five Michigan cities.
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 Buena Vista
| Period | Buena Vista | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1964 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1962 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1963 | 1971 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1968 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +3 | +6 |
Buena Vista is a place of older homes: half were built before 1968, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The median year built has moved up from 1964 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building.
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 Buena Vista
| Period | Buena Vista | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $732 | $833 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $705 | $886 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $771 | $978 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $932 | $1,228 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$200 | +$395 | +$606 |
Rent in Buena Vista runs $932 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $200 a month since 2006–10, up 27%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 42.6% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. The priciest rents are in the north; the most affordable are in the southwest.
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 Buena Vista
Bachelor's degrees in Buena Vista
| Period | Buena Vista | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.7% | 26.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.3% | 27.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 6.8% | 29.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 12.5% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.8 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Buena Vista: 12.5% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 4.8 points, as it has nationally. Only ten of the 331 Michigan cities with 5,000+ people have a lower share of college graduates.
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 Buena Vista
| Period | Buena Vista | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 73.6% | 88.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 78.2% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 80.8% | 90.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 87.8% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +14.2 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Buena Vista have finished high school as nationally: 87.8%, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in Michigan overall (91.8%). Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 14.2 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Buena Vista
| Period | Buena Vista | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.6% | 11.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 20.4% | 11.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 21.5% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.7% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −18.0 pts | −5.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in Buena Vista: 8.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 5.4%. Only 23 of the 331 Michigan cities with 5,000+ people have higher unemployment. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 18.0 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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).
Buena Vista 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buena Vista | 2.51 | 39.8 | 23.9% | 27.3% | 18.4% | 1968 | $932 | 12.5% | 87.8% | 8.7% |
| Carrollton | 2.86 | 28.7 | 60.8% | 59.1% | 8.5% | 1955 | $1,096 | 22.8% | 82.5% | 1.4% |
| Saginaw | 2.36 | 40.1 | 15.8% | 32.9% | 11.8% | 1965 | $1,024 | 23.9% | 90.7% | 7.6% |
| Zilwaukee | 2.11 | 46.4 | 8.1% | 18.2% | 4.2% | 1961 | $1,211 | 17.5% | 94.3% | 5.3% |
| Bridgeport | 2.42 | 46.6 | 9.1% | 3.9% | 5.2% | 1967 | $1,040 | 19.6% | 92.0% | 6.4% |
| Indiantown | 2.28 | 45.9 | 11.9% | 10.8% | 12.4% | 1960 | $939 | 12.3% | 90.0% | 4.9% |
| Fosters | 2.24 | 53.5 | 3.7% | 2.5% | 7.1% | 1965 | $854 | 14.6% | 92.5% | 2.1% |
| Gera | 2.60 | 41.4 | 4.6% | 6.5% | 4.7% | 1971 | $888 | 43.4% | 97.9% | 2.0% |
| Frankenmuth | 2.27 | 49.6 | 2.4% | 23.4% | 11.7% | 1977 | $1,027 | 48.7% | 98.0% | 3.5% |
| Munger | 2.56 | 46.2 | 6.5% | 5.6% | 6.9% | 1957 | $1,023 | 25.5% | 94.4% | 3.5% |
| Burt | 2.55 | 46.4 | 3.6% | 8.8% | 4.2% | 1975 | $859 | 9.7% | 90.1% | 6.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Calverton, NY · Highland Falls, NY · Carmi, IL · Carlyss, LA · Carlstadt, NJ · Carlisle, OH · Highlands, NJ · Highwood, IL · Carlinville, IL · Higginsville, MO
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 Buena Vista. 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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