Population 12,563 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Lake County
Household size in Lake County
| Period | Lake County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.76 | 2.58 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.58 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.60 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.33 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.44 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Lake County is a place of small households, averaging 2.33 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 2.76 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Households are largest in the south and smallest in the center.
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 Lake County
| Period | Lake County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 47.0 | 38.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 50.9 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 51.8 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 49.0 | 41.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.9 | +2.4 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 49.0, Lake 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 47.0 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. The youngest areas are in the south, the oldest in the northwest.
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 Lake County
| Period | Lake County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.4% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.9% | 11.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.7% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.9% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +3.5 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit less common in Lake County than nationally: 9.9%, against 11.6%. The picture is much the same across Michigan. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has risen 3.5 points, 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 Lake County
Renters in Lake County
| Period | Lake County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.5% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 19.3% | 28.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 15.8% | 28.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 18.0% | 26.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.5 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 18.0% of households in Lake County rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 57.5% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the center; owners are most common in the northwest. The renter share has risen 2.5 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Lake County
| Period | Lake County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 65.7% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 64.1% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 63.5% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 52.4% | 10.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −13.3 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Lake County: 52.4% 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. Lake County has the highest vacancy rate of any Michigan county.
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 Lake County
| Period | Lake County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1977 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1979 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1980 | 1971 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1976 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | −1 | +3 | +6 |
Homes in Lake County are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1976, versus 1980 nationally. Newer construction is concentrated in the northwest, while the south has the oldest housing.
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 Lake County
| Period | Lake County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $507 | $833 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $669 | $886 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $699 | $978 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $913 | $1,228 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$406 | +$395 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Lake County costs $913 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $406 a month since 2006–10, up 80%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 37.1% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the northwest; the highest are in the southwest.
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 Lake County
Bachelor's degrees in Lake County
| Period | Lake County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.0% | 26.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.2% | 27.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 12.1% | 29.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 12.3% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.4 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Lake County: 12.3% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 4.4 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. No other Michigan county has a lower share of college graduates.
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 Lake County
| Period | Lake County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 79.8% | 88.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 81.7% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 81.1% | 90.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 84.7% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.9 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
Just over one in seven adults in Lake County never finished high school, more than nationally: 84.7% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. The share with a diploma is up 4.9 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. No other Michigan county has a lower share of high school graduates.
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 Lake County
| Period | Lake County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.2% | 11.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 14.3% | 11.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.5% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.6% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −8.6 pts | −5.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment runs a little high in Lake County: 6.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 8.6 points, 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).
Lake 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake County | 2.33 | 49.0 | 9.9% | 18.0% | 52.4% | 1976 | $913 | 12.3% | 84.7% | 6.6% |
| Osceola County | 2.44 | 43.9 | 10.0% | 16.3% | 23.8% | 1976 | $853 | 16.5% | 89.8% | 6.1% |
| Mason County | 2.29 | 47.7 | 8.9% | 21.7% | 23.5% | 1973 | $892 | 26.1% | 94.1% | 4.6% |
| Clare County | 2.55 | 47.1 | 9.0% | 13.1% | 36.4% | 1976 | $757 | 13.3% | 88.1% | 9.1% |
| Gladwin County | 2.31 | 50.5 | 4.9% | 13.9% | 28.5% | 1980 | $817 | 17.1% | 88.8% | 6.7% |
| Arenac County | 2.29 | 49.5 | 7.9% | 13.8% | 27.3% | 1977 | $750 | 16.1% | 88.3% | 6.3% |
| Huron County | 2.19 | 48.9 | 6.7% | 18.2% | 23.4% | 1966 | $787 | 18.5% | 92.6% | 4.1% |
| Green Lake County | 2.33 | 46.0 | 9.3% | 25.5% | 18.7% | 1969 | $797 | 22.6% | 91.4% | 2.7% |
| Marquette County | 2.25 | 50.2 | 7.3% | 18.8% | 26.2% | 1976 | $826 | 16.3% | 92.1% | 2.7% |
| Adams County | 2.17 | 54.4 | 5.7% | 13.8% | 39.9% | 1983 | $1,073 | 17.5% | 89.6% | 5.2% |
| Juneau County | 2.28 | 46.2 | 8.8% | 21.9% | 21.2% | 1977 | $913 | 16.6% | 90.4% | 4.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Pennington County, MN · Pershing County, NV · Perry County, TN · Perry County, MO · Perry County, IN · Perry County, IL · Perry County, AL · Perquimans County, NC · Penuelas Municipio, PR · Petersburg Census Area, AK
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 Lake 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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