Population 25,350 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Manistee County
Household size in Manistee County
| Period | Manistee County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.20 | 2.58 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.23 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.46 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.28 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.08 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Households in Manistee County are small: just 2.28 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. Since 2006–10, household size has crept up from 2.20, even as the national average fell.
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 Manistee County
| Period | Manistee County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 46.2 | 38.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 47.6 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 48.5 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 49.9 | 41.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.6 | +2.4 | +2.3 |
Manistee County skews older: half of its residents are older than 49.9, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has climbed from 46.2 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Manistee County
| Period | Manistee County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.9% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.1% | 11.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.2% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.2% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.7 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 7.2% of households in Manistee County, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has fallen 1.7 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Manistee County has a lower share of single-parent households than the great majority of Michigan counties.
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 Manistee County
Renters in Manistee County
| Period | Manistee County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.6% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 20.8% | 28.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 16.6% | 28.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 14.2% | 26.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −5.4 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Manistee County is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 14.2% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 49.1% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has fallen 5.4 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
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 Manistee County
| Period | Manistee County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 28.1% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 29.9% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 37.0% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 30.4% | 10.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | +2.2 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Manistee County: 30.4% 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. Since 2006–10, vacancy has risen 2.2 points, even as the national rate fell.
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 Manistee County
| Period | Manistee County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1967 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1969 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1969 | 1971 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1971 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +3 | +6 |
The housing in Manistee County is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1971, 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 1967 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northeast, while the southwest 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 Manistee County
| Period | Manistee County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $612 | $833 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $682 | $886 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $745 | $978 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $894 | $1,228 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$282 | +$395 | +$606 |
Rent in Manistee County runs $894 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $282 a month since 2006–10, up 46%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 31.8% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the east and lowest 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 Manistee County
Bachelor's degrees in Manistee County
| Period | Manistee County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.5% | 26.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 18.9% | 27.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 20.8% | 29.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 23.8% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.3 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Manistee County: 23.8% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 7.3 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the west and least in the northeast.
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 Manistee County
| Period | Manistee County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 86.7% | 88.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.4% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 89.6% | 90.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 91.9% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.1 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
About nine in ten adults in Manistee County have finished high school (91.9%), a bit above the national rate of 89.3%. That is in line with the rest of Michigan. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 5.1 points, as it has nationally.
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 Manistee County
| Period | Manistee County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.8% | 11.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 12.2% | 11.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.5% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.3% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −5.6 pts | −5.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little harder to find in Manistee County than nationally: unemployment was 6.3%, against 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 5.6 points, as it has 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).
Manistee 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manistee County | 2.28 | 49.9 | 7.2% | 14.2% | 30.4% | 1971 | $894 | 23.8% | 91.9% | 6.3% |
| Wexford County | 2.47 | 42.9 | 11.1% | 19.1% | 15.1% | 1979 | $1,054 | 21.0% | 89.9% | 5.7% |
| Missaukee County | 2.57 | 43.5 | 6.5% | 15.1% | 27.7% | 1981 | $930 | 18.4% | 90.8% | 6.6% |
| Roscommon County | 2.07 | 55.0 | 7.0% | 14.6% | 43.5% | 1977 | $811 | 20.0% | 91.7% | 4.8% |
| Brown County | 2.45 | 38.9 | 10.3% | 34.0% | 5.1% | 1982 | $1,091 | 33.6% | 93.6% | 2.6% |
| Ogemaw County | 2.22 | 49.8 | 9.8% | 16.3% | 33.5% | 1976 | $819 | 17.2% | 90.8% | 6.7% |
| Outagamie County | 2.47 | 39.9 | 8.5% | 28.5% | 4.2% | 1979 | $1,098 | 33.3% | 94.9% | 2.7% |
| Iosco County | 2.19 | 51.9 | 8.7% | 17.9% | 36.3% | 1972 | $791 | 19.5% | 90.5% | 6.7% |
| Waupaca County | 2.24 | 45.2 | 9.6% | 24.7% | 11.8% | 1975 | $956 | 20.4% | 92.1% | 2.8% |
| Portage County | 2.30 | 40.2 | 8.2% | 30.3% | 6.5% | 1979 | $969 | 33.6% | 94.3% | 3.1% |
| Wood County | 2.31 | 43.8 | 10.0% | 27.4% | 8.0% | 1971 | $884 | 21.2% | 94.6% | 3.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Blaine County, ID · Westmoreland County, VA · White County, IN · Bureau County, IL · Brown County, MN · Brown County, IN · Brooke County, WV · Bradford County, FL · Bourbon County, KY · Bosque County, TX
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 Manistee 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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