Population 195 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Fern
Household size in Fern
| Period | Fern | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.46 | 2.58 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.39 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.47 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.53 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.07 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
The average household in Fern has 2.53 people, a bit under the U.S. average of 2.65. That is in line with the rest of Michigan.
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 Fern
| Period | Fern | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 43.9 | 38.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 45.8 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 43.9 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 48.2 | 41.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.2 | +2.4 | +2.3 |
Fern skews older: half of its residents are older than 48.2, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has climbed from 43.9 in 2006–10, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
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 Fern
| Period | Fern | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.2% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.1% | 11.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 13.2% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.0% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 7.0% of households in Fern, 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 Fern
Renters in Fern
| Period | Fern | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.6% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 16.0% | 28.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 18.4% | 28.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 7.0% | 26.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −9.6 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Fern is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 7.0% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. About six in ten owners (60.3%) 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 Fern
| Period | Fern | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 45.7% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 46.5% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 50.5% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 48.0% | 10.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | +2.3 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Fern: 48.0% 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 Fern
| Period | Fern | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1973 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1976 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1981 | 1971 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1979 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +3 | +6 |
The typical home in Fern was built around 1979, about the same vintage as the country's housing overall (1980). Homes here are newer than in Michigan overall, 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 Fern
| Period | Fern | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $656 | $833 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $643 | $886 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $706 | $978 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $769 | $1,228 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$113 | +$395 | +$606 |
Rent in Fern runs $769 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. The typical renter here spends 28.1% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
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 Fern
Bachelor's degrees in Fern
| Period | Fern | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.4% | 26.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.8% | 27.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 13.3% | 29.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 19.6% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +13.1 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Fern have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 19.6%, 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 Fern
| Period | Fern | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 72.5% | 88.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 81.1% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 87.7% | 90.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.4% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +17.9 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Fern is close to the national rate: 90.4% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 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 Fern
| Period | Fern | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.9% | 11.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 11.9% | 11.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.5% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.4% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.5 pts | −5.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been harder to find in Fern than nationally: unemployment was 7.4%, against 5.4%. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current 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).
Fern 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fern | 2.53 | 48.2 | 7.0% | 7.0% | 48.0% | 1979 | $769 | 19.6% | 90.4% | 7.4% |
| Custer | 2.47 | 45.1 | 9.0% | 7.9% | 36.8% | 1976 | $788 | 19.8% | 93.3% | 5.3% |
| Wiley | 2.52 | 44.4 | 10.4% | 18.3% | 19.5% | 1967 | $874 | 23.3% | 93.9% | 5.6% |
| Walhalla | 2.34 | 52.7 | 5.5% | 5.6% | 53.6% | 1978 | $923 | 15.8% | 89.4% | 8.1% |
| Walkerville | 2.79 | 44.6 | 11.2% | 9.5% | 30.2% | 1978 | $863 | 16.3% | 85.3% | 7.3% |
| Scottville | 2.51 | 40.4 | 12.4% | 20.8% | 11.4% | 1969 | $814 | 18.9% | 93.4% | 5.0% |
| Branch | 2.40 | 53.4 | 5.3% | 8.5% | 58.1% | 1980 | $826 | 16.0% | 88.8% | 10.6% |
| Pine Grove Beach | 2.45 | 53.4 | 5.7% | 6.5% | 68.5% | 1975 | $1,079 | 15.2% | 89.6% | 12.5% |
| Tallman | 2.37 | 44.9 | 8.4% | 10.8% | 36.5% | 1975 | $861 | 15.1% | 91.6% | 10.6% |
| Pentwater | 2.23 | 58.1 | 6.3% | 10.7% | 45.9% | 1977 | $882 | 42.2% | 94.7% | 5.6% |
| Hart | 2.42 | 45.6 | 8.9% | 22.6% | 16.8% | 1965 | $782 | 19.6% | 90.0% | 6.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Pinkston, NC · Panco, KY · Paradise Valley, NV · Park, KS · Parker Dam, CA · Parkersburg, IN · Personville, TX · Petran, MN · Pickettville, NY · Pilot Knob, TN
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 Fern. 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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