Population 1,691 · 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 Free Soil: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Free Soil
Household size in Free Soil
| Period | Free Soil | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.40 | 2.58 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.31 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.38 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.18 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.22 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Households in Free Soil are small: just 2.18 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Household size has dropped from 2.40 in 2006–10, 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 Free Soil
| Period | Free Soil | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 45.4 | 38.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 49.4 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 51.8 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 51.6 | 41.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +6.2 | +2.4 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 51.6, Free Soil 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 Free Soil
| Period | Free Soil | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.3% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 4.3% | 11.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.2% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.7% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.4 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 5.7% of households in Free Soil, 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 Free Soil
Renters in Free Soil
| Period | Free Soil | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.3% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.0% | 28.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 6.2% | 28.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 5.6% | 26.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −5.7 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Free Soil is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 5.6% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 55.3% have no mortgage at all, 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 Free Soil
| Period | Free Soil | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 34.6% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 36.4% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 38.1% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 31.7% | 10.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.9 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 31.7% of the housing in Free Soil, 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 Free Soil
| Period | Free Soil | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1974 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1977 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1979 | 1971 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1979 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +3 | +6 |
The typical home in Free Soil was built around 1979, about the same vintage as the country's housing overall (1980). 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 Free Soil
| Period | Free Soil | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $693 | $833 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $761 | $886 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $845 | $978 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $843 | $1,228 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$150 | +$395 | +$606 |
Rent in Free Soil runs $843 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent takes 32.1% 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 Free Soil
Bachelor's degrees in Free Soil
| Period | Free Soil | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.0% | 26.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.1% | 27.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 18.2% | 29.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 22.0% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.0 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Free Soil have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 22.0%, 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 Free Soil
| Period | Free Soil | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 85.8% | 88.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 88.9% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.4% | 90.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.3% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +9.6 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Free Soil: 95.3% 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 Free Soil
| Period | Free Soil | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.4% | 11.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 11.5% | 11.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.8% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.9% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −8.4 pts | −5.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Free Soil has been strong: just 2.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 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).
Free Soil 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Soil | 2.18 | 51.6 | 5.7% | 5.6% | 31.7% | 1979 | $843 | 22.0% | 95.3% | 2.9% |
| Stronach | 2.27 | 47.9 | 5.1% | 5.9% | 27.7% | 1975 | $851 | 22.2% | 94.2% | 2.1% |
| Sugar Grove | 2.50 | 43.0 | 11.4% | 11.3% | 22.5% | 1967 | $943 | 20.6% | 93.2% | 5.7% |
| Oak Hill | 2.43 | 48.1 | 1.4% | 3.6% | 17.7% | 1980 | $838 | 40.8% | 95.3% | 2.0% |
| Harrison Beach | 2.42 | 47.1 | 3.6% | 3.9% | 39.8% | 1973 | $773 | 13.6% | 87.7% | 7.7% |
| Fountain | 2.28 | 49.3 | 7.6% | 10.8% | 43.7% | 1976 | $953 | 17.5% | 92.4% | 6.1% |
| Scottville | 2.51 | 40.4 | 12.4% | 20.8% | 11.4% | 1969 | $814 | 18.9% | 93.4% | 5.0% |
| Manistee | 2.23 | 48.7 | 7.6% | 19.0% | 23.5% | 1963 | $774 | 24.2% | 91.6% | 5.9% |
| Eastlake | 2.16 | 52.7 | 3.6% | 6.5% | 18.3% | 1969 | $849 | 14.7% | 91.7% | 4.3% |
| Tallman | 2.37 | 44.9 | 8.4% | 10.8% | 36.5% | 1975 | $861 | 15.1% | 91.6% | 10.6% |
| North Epworth | 2.20 | 53.2 | 5.8% | 17.1% | 32.4% | 1986 | $896 | 29.5% | 95.8% | 4.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Woodland Hills, UT · Mc Henry, MD · Seven Mile, OH · Slater, IA · Springridge, LA · Chesilhurst, NJ · Cherry Valley, AR · Chazy, NY · Charlestown, MD · Ceredo, WV
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 Free Soil. 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.