Population 745 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Ford River: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Ford River
Household size in Ford River
| Period | Ford River | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.22 | 2.58 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.49 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.06 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.21 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.01 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Ford River is a place of small households, averaging 2.21 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children.
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 Ford River
| Period | Ford River | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 49.6 | 38.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 46.7 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 54.9 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 57.5 | 41.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +7.9 | +2.4 | +2.3 |
Ford River skews older: half of its residents are older than 57.5, 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 49.6 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 Ford River
| Period | Ford River | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.0% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 4.3% | 11.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 3.2% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.1% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.9 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 3.1% of households in Ford 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 Ford River
Renters in Ford River
| Period | Ford River | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.5% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.5% | 28.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 13.5% | 28.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 11.6% | 26.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.2 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 11.6% of households in Ford River rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 43.5% 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 Ford River
| Period | Ford River | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.7% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 25.2% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 17.8% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 20.8% | 10.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.9 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Ford River: 20.8% 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 Ford River
| Period | Ford River | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1974 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1973 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1973 | 1971 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1979 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +3 | +6 |
The typical home in Ford River 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 Ford River
| Period | Ford River | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $702 | $833 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $639 | $886 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $647 | $978 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $795 | $1,228 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$92 | +$395 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Ford River costs $795 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. The typical renter here spends 24.9% of household income on rent, comfortably 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 Ford River
Bachelor's degrees in Ford River
| Period | Ford River | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.2% | 26.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 21.4% | 27.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 28.6% | 29.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 24.8% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.6 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Ford River: 24.8% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%.
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 Ford River
| Period | Ford River | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 89.3% | 88.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.8% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.7% | 90.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.7% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +7.4 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Ford River: 96.7% 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 Ford River
| Period | Ford River | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.8% | 11.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.0% | 11.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.1% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.2% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | −5.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little harder to find in Ford River than nationally: unemployment was 6.2%, against 5.4%. Michigan as a whole looks much the same. 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).
Ford 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford River | 2.21 | 57.5 | 3.1% | 11.6% | 20.8% | 1979 | $795 | 24.8% | 96.7% | 6.2% |
| Escanaba | 2.19 | 46.1 | 7.7% | 30.4% | 11.9% | 1958 | $734 | 18.7% | 91.3% | 4.7% |
| Wells | 2.59 | 43.7 | 6.7% | 8.5% | 9.5% | 1971 | $916 | 20.6% | 95.4% | 2.3% |
| Bark River | 2.36 | 51.1 | 4.5% | 9.6% | 19.4% | 1975 | $783 | 23.1% | 96.0% | 5.0% |
| Island View | 2.25 | 53.1 | 4.2% | 11.4% | 14.1% | 1976 | $941 | 26.9% | 98.0% | 5.7% |
| Tesch | 2.52 | 46.8 | 5.3% | 8.0% | 20.6% | 1970 | $622 | 18.5% | 93.6% | 3.9% |
| Riverland | 2.37 | 52.5 | 4.0% | 3.9% | 24.7% | 1977 | $576 | 16.9% | 92.9% | 2.7% |
| Groos | 2.23 | 51.7 | 5.3% | 10.0% | 10.8% | 1976 | $875 | 23.2% | 87.8% | 2.4% |
| Schaffer | 2.55 | 48.1 | 4.6% | 5.3% | 29.9% | 1976 | $549 | 16.6% | 93.5% | 4.4% |
| Harris | 2.63 | 46.5 | 9.6% | 20.0% | 33.3% | 1986 | $581 | 18.4% | 90.7% | 7.4% |
| Stonington | 2.13 | 59.5 | 1.8% | 8.8% | 51.7% | 1979 | $816 | 18.7% | 94.7% | 1.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Cranfills Gap, TX · Vida, MO · Verdi, TX · Upper Wheatfields, AZ · Unadilla, NE · Duncombe, IA · Dublin, NC · Dialville, TX · DeValls Bluff, AR · Detroit Beach, MI
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 Ford 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.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.