Population 11,667 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Iron County
Household size in Iron County
| Period | Iron County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.15 | 2.58 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.06 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.06 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.07 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.08 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Iron County is a place of small households, averaging 2.07 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.15, in line with the national trend. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the south.
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 Iron County
| Period | Iron County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 50.8 | 38.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 52.2 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 54.0 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 52.5 | 41.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.7 | +2.4 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 52.5, Iron County is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. The median age has climbed from 50.8 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. Residents skew youngest in the southwest and oldest in the southeast.
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 Iron County
| Period | Iron County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.8% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.4% | 11.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.0% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.2% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +2.4 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in twelve households in Iron County (9.2%), below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is up 2.4 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 Iron County
Renters in Iron County
| Period | Iron County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.1% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 15.1% | 28.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.2% | 28.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 15.5% | 26.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.4 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 15.5% of households in Iron County rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 59.3% 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 Iron County
| Period | Iron County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.1% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 36.2% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 39.2% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 35.5% | 10.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 35.5% of the housing in Iron 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 0.6 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 Iron County
| Period | Iron County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1956 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1957 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1959 | 1971 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1963 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +3 | +6 |
Iron County is a place of older homes: half were built before 1963, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The median year built has moved up from 1956 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Only six of Michigan's 83 counties have older homes.
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 Iron County
| Period | Iron County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $507 | $833 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $576 | $886 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $553 | $978 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $789 | $1,228 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$282 | +$395 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Iron County costs $789 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $282 a month from 2006–10, a 56% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 30.1% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the southeast; the most affordable are in the west.
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 Iron County
Bachelor's degrees in Iron County
| Period | Iron County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.2% | 26.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 20.0% | 27.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 18.7% | 29.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 22.7% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.6 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Iron County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 22.7%, against 35.6% nationally. The share with a degree has risen 7.6 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Iron County
| Period | Iron County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 88.4% | 88.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.1% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.1% | 90.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.6% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +6.2 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Iron County: 94.6% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 6.2 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Iron County has a higher share of high school graduates than at least four in five Michigan counties.
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 Iron County
| Period | Iron County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.4% | 11.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.5% | 11.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.3% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.5% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.9 pts | −5.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 5.5%, unemployment in Iron County is close to the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 1.9 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. 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).
Iron 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iron County | 2.07 | 52.5 | 9.2% | 15.5% | 35.5% | 1963 | $789 | 22.7% | 94.6% | 5.5% |
| Florence County | 2.10 | 55.4 | 8.2% | 9.1% | 46.7% | 1977 | $780 | 25.8% | 92.8% | 4.4% |
| Dickinson County | 2.16 | 46.7 | 7.9% | 17.6% | 11.9% | 1966 | $884 | 25.7% | 96.2% | 3.6% |
| Forest County | 2.31 | 48.5 | 10.8% | 18.0% | 47.3% | 1979 | $592 | 16.2% | 90.5% | 2.8% |
| Vilas County | 2.14 | 53.4 | 6.4% | 16.0% | 52.5% | 1981 | $862 | 31.0% | 96.7% | 4.0% |
| Oneida County | 2.18 | 51.4 | 6.0% | 17.7% | 37.0% | 1979 | $868 | 28.5% | 95.8% | 2.0% |
| Marquette County | 2.26 | 40.5 | 6.9% | 30.4% | 13.2% | 1967 | $1,022 | 37.2% | 95.7% | 4.7% |
| Gogebic County | 2.04 | 49.4 | 8.1% | 19.0% | 29.4% | 1953 | $652 | 22.2% | 95.8% | 6.8% |
| Delta County | 2.30 | 48.4 | 6.6% | 18.0% | 17.0% | 1967 | $780 | 20.7% | 93.2% | 4.1% |
| Iron County | 1.97 | 54.1 | 7.9% | 11.5% | 38.7% | 1968 | $673 | 25.9% | 95.1% | 2.4% |
| Alger County | 2.20 | 49.8 | 5.7% | 13.7% | 41.9% | 1973 | $625 | 20.9% | 93.8% | 5.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Harper County, OK · Hancock County, IL · Hancock County, TN · Hand County, SD · Hansford County, TX · Hanson County, SD · Hardeman County, TX · Hardin County, IA · Hardin County, IL · Harmon County, OK
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 Iron 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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