Population 29,207 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Mason County
Household size in Mason County
| Period | Mason County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.34 | 2.58 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.34 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.36 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.29 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.05 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Households in Mason County are small: just 2.29 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. Household size has edged down from 2.34 in 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Mason County
| Period | Mason County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 44.6 | 38.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 46.1 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 47.2 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 47.7 | 41.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.1 | +2.4 | +2.3 |
Mason County skews older: half of its residents are older than 47.7, 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 44.6, as it has nationally.
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 Mason County
| Period | Mason County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.0% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.3% | 11.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.9% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.9% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.2 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are less common in Mason County than nationally: 8.9%, against 11.6%. The single-parent share is little changed from 2006–10, while 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 Mason County
Renters in Mason County
| Period | Mason County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.4% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 25.0% | 28.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 23.1% | 28.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 21.7% | 26.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.7 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 21.7% of households in Mason County rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 50.2% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the west and least common in the north. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged down 0.7 points, 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 Mason County
| Period | Mason County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.0% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 26.0% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 27.8% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 23.5% | 10.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.5 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Mason County: 23.5% 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 edged down 1.5 points, in line with the national trend.
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 Mason County
| Period | Mason County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1967 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1970 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1972 | 1971 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1973 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +3 | +6 |
Homes in Mason County run older than the national norm, with a median build year of 1973 against 1980. The median year built has moved up from 1967 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northwest, 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 Mason County
| Period | Mason County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $686 | $833 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $652 | $886 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $827 | $978 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $892 | $1,228 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$206 | +$395 | +$606 |
Rent in Mason County runs $892 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $206 a month from 2006–10, a 30% rise, 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.
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 Mason County
Bachelor's degrees in Mason County
| Period | Mason County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.5% | 26.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 20.2% | 27.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 22.8% | 29.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 26.1% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.6 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
Just over a quarter of adults 25 and older in Mason County (26.1%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 6.6 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the southwest and least in the east.
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 Mason County
| Period | Mason County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 88.2% | 88.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.8% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.0% | 90.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.1% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.9 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Mason County is above the national rate: 94.1% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 5.9 points, mirroring the country.
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 Mason County
| Period | Mason County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.0% | 11.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 11.0% | 11.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.3% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.6% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −5.4 pts | −5.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Mason County runs below the national rate: 4.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 5.4 points, as it has nationally. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's 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).
Mason 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mason County | 2.29 | 47.7 | 8.9% | 21.7% | 23.5% | 1973 | $892 | 26.1% | 94.1% | 4.6% |
| 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% |
| 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% |
| 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% |
| Huron County | 2.19 | 48.9 | 6.7% | 18.2% | 23.4% | 1966 | $787 | 18.5% | 92.6% | 4.1% |
| 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: Monroe County, GA · Miami County, KS · Milam County, TX · Mille Lacs County, MN · Miller County, MO · Mineral County, WV · Mingo County, WV · Minidoka County, ID · Mitchell County, GA · Moca Municipio, PR
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 Mason 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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