Population 8,514 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Grayling
Household size in Grayling
| Period | Grayling | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.29 | 2.58 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.38 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.28 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.15 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.13 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Grayling is a place of small households, averaging 2.15 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has dropped from 2.29 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Of the 331 Michigan cities with 5,000+ people, only 21 have smaller households.
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 Grayling
| Period | Grayling | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 46.4 | 38.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 48.2 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 47.3 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 48.9 | 41.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.4 | +2.4 | +2.3 |
Grayling skews older: half of its residents are older than 48.9, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 46.4, in line with the national trend. Only 23 of the 331 Michigan cities with 5,000+ people are older.
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 Grayling
| Period | Grayling | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.8% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.1% | 11.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.2% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.3% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.5 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in ten households in Grayling (10.3%), a little below the national share of 11.6%. The picture is much the same across Michigan. The single-parent share has edged down 1.5 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Grayling
Renters in Grayling
| Period | Grayling | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.9% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 21.9% | 28.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 23.7% | 28.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 25.5% | 26.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +6.6 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Grayling own their homes; 25.5% rent, below the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 49.0% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is up 6.6 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Grayling
| Period | Grayling | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.4% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 38.8% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 34.4% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 25.7% | 10.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −14.7 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Grayling: 25.7% 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. Vacancy is down 14.7 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Grayling
| Period | Grayling | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1974 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1974 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1974 | 1971 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1978 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +3 | +6 |
The typical home in Grayling was built around 1978, 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. The median year built has moved up from 1974 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 Grayling
| Period | Grayling | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $697 | $833 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $738 | $886 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $751 | $978 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $888 | $1,228 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$191 | +$395 | +$606 |
The median renter in Grayling pays $888 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $191 a month from 2006–10, a 27% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 28.0% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Rents run highest in the center and lowest in the south.
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 Grayling
Bachelor's degrees in Grayling
| Period | Grayling | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.3% | 26.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.7% | 27.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 20.3% | 29.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 19.9% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.5 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Grayling have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 19.9%, against 35.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 5.5 points, in line with the national trend.
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 Grayling
| Period | Grayling | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 85.0% | 88.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 84.4% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 90.3% | 90.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 91.9% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +6.9 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
About nine in ten adults in Grayling have finished high school (91.9%), a bit above the national rate of 89.3%. The picture is much the same across Michigan. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 6.9 points, in line with the national trend.
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 Grayling
| Period | Grayling | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.1% | 11.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 14.8% | 11.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.7% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.8% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −8.3 pts | −5.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in Grayling: 7.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment is down 8.3 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. 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).
Grayling 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grayling | 2.15 | 48.9 | 10.3% | 25.5% | 25.7% | 1978 | $888 | 19.9% | 91.9% | 7.8% |
| Lake Margrethe | 2.02 | 45.9 | 13.1% | 31.5% | 36.4% | 1981 | $801 | 16.5% | 89.2% | 6.7% |
| McIntyre Landing | 2.11 | 52.9 | 7.1% | 13.0% | 37.1% | 1978 | $924 | 22.0% | 90.7% | 7.9% |
| Frederic | 2.23 | 52.0 | 6.8% | 12.6% | 43.6% | 1983 | $915 | 21.2% | 92.0% | 9.9% |
| Roscommon | 2.04 | 55.4 | 5.9% | 9.6% | 43.6% | 1977 | $809 | 28.3% | 93.7% | 4.3% |
| Higgins Lake | 1.88 | 55.9 | 6.3% | 5.0% | 54.2% | 1978 | $843 | 25.5% | 92.6% | 6.5% |
| Waters | 2.17 | 54.1 | 5.1% | 13.3% | 46.2% | 1982 | $1,183 | 20.2% | 95.6% | 7.6% |
| Lovells | 1.92 | 61.4 | 3.8% | 3.7% | 59.7% | 1980 | $884 | 20.4% | 90.9% | 14.4% |
| Otsego Lake | 2.24 | 50.0 | 4.1% | 11.3% | 34.2% | 1983 | $1,337 | 24.5% | 98.8% | 3.6% |
| Lodi | 2.16 | 49.8 | 4.8% | 7.5% | 46.8% | 1981 | $853 | 15.3% | 89.7% | 8.7% |
| O'neil | 2.09 | 49.9 | 4.6% | 6.5% | 44.9% | 1976 | $1,149 | 15.6% | 87.7% | 5.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Homer, AK · Southampton, NY · South Hamilton, MA · Sound Beach, NY · Skaneateles, NY · Silver Springs, FL · Indian Head, MD · Independence, OH · Independence, IA · Southgate, FL
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 Grayling. 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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