Population 45,654 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Hillsdale County
Household size in Hillsdale County
| Period | Hillsdale County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.62 | 2.58 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.56 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.46 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.48 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.14 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Households in Hillsdale County run small, averaging 2.48 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. That is in line with the rest of Michigan. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.62, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Hillsdale County
| Period | Hillsdale County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.7 | 38.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.1 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.3 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.9 | 41.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.2 | +2.4 | +2.3 |
Hillsdale County skews older than the country: its median age is 43.9, against 40.1 nationally. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 39.7, mirroring the country. Residents skew youngest in the north and oldest in the south.
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 Hillsdale County
| Period | Hillsdale County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.8% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.1% | 11.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.1% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.1% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.2 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit less common in Hillsdale County than nationally: 10.1%, against 11.6%. Michigan as a whole looks much the same. The single-parent share is up 1.2 points from 2006–10, even as the national share fell.
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 Hillsdale County
Renters in Hillsdale County
| Period | Hillsdale County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.1% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 22.2% | 28.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 23.5% | 28.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 18.0% | 26.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.1 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Hillsdale County is largely a place of homeowners: only 18.0% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 42.8% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Rentals cluster in the center; owners are most common in the northeast.
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 Hillsdale County
| Period | Hillsdale County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.9% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.0% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 16.4% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.0% | 10.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.9 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 16.0% of the housing in Hillsdale County, 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 2.9 points from 2006–10, as it has 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 Hillsdale County
| Period | Hillsdale County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1963 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1964 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1965 | 1971 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1967 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +3 | +6 |
The housing in Hillsdale County is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1967, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1963 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northeast, the oldest in the southwest.
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 Hillsdale County
| Period | Hillsdale County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $699 | $833 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $703 | $886 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $746 | $978 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $884 | $1,228 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$185 | +$395 | +$606 |
Rent in Hillsdale County runs $884 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $185 a month from 2006–10, a 26% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 26.1% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. The priciest rents are in the northeast; the most affordable are in the center.
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 Hillsdale County
Bachelor's degrees in Hillsdale County
| Period | Hillsdale County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.3% | 26.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.7% | 27.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 17.5% | 29.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 21.3% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.0 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Hillsdale County: 21.3% 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 7.0 points, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the center and least in the south.
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 Hillsdale County
| Period | Hillsdale County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 86.3% | 88.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 87.4% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 88.1% | 90.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.9% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.6 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
About nine in ten adults in Hillsdale County have finished high school (90.9%), a bit above the national rate of 89.3%. The picture is much the same across Michigan. The share with a diploma is up 4.6 points from 2006–10, 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 Hillsdale County
| Period | Hillsdale County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.3% | 11.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.6% | 11.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.3% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.5% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −6.8 pts | −5.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little easier to find in Hillsdale County than nationally: unemployment was 4.5%, against 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 6.8 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. 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).
Hillsdale County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hillsdale County | 2.48 | 43.9 | 10.1% | 18.0% | 16.0% | 1967 | $884 | 21.3% | 90.9% | 4.5% |
| Branch County | 2.66 | 41.3 | 11.0% | 22.3% | 16.2% | 1965 | $971 | 16.8% | 88.0% | 5.7% |
| Lenawee County | 2.45 | 42.9 | 11.1% | 20.4% | 10.3% | 1966 | $1,014 | 22.8% | 91.3% | 4.6% |
| St. Joseph County | 2.59 | 40.0 | 9.5% | 23.9% | 12.0% | 1969 | $867 | 16.6% | 86.5% | 5.8% |
| Monroe County | 2.51 | 43.6 | 10.3% | 18.3% | 6.7% | 1975 | $1,076 | 23.5% | 91.8% | 5.1% |
| Cass County | 2.41 | 45.2 | 9.8% | 18.4% | 14.6% | 1971 | $959 | 21.1% | 89.4% | 5.2% |
| Berrien County | 2.41 | 43.3 | 12.2% | 27.2% | 13.1% | 1967 | $1,052 | 30.8% | 92.3% | 6.2% |
| Cook County | 2.58 | 39.4 | 12.3% | 42.3% | 8.4% | 1961 | $1,567 | 41.7% | 88.1% | 7.4% |
| DuPage County | 2.69 | 41.3 | 8.0% | 26.9% | 5.6% | 1978 | $1,826 | 52.0% | 92.9% | 4.9% |
| Kane County | 2.88 | 39.6 | 11.3% | 24.0% | 4.4% | 1981 | $1,711 | 37.9% | 87.3% | 4.7% |
| DeKalb County | 2.52 | 35.4 | 12.9% | 38.6% | 6.0% | 1978 | $1,183 | 33.1% | 91.6% | 7.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Lawrence County, IN · Logan County, OH · Livingston County, IL · Lincoln Parish, LA · Lincoln County, OR · Levy County, FL · Lenoir County, NC · Le Flore County, OK · Lawrence County, TN · Lawrence County, 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 Hillsdale County. 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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