Population 24,847 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Norton Shores
Household size in Norton Shores
| Period | Norton Shores | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.43 | 2.58 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.39 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.47 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.56 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.12 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Households in Norton Shores run a little small, averaging 2.56 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. The picture is much the same across Michigan. Household size has climbed from 2.43 in 2006–10, 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 Norton Shores
| Period | Norton Shores | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.1 | 38.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 44.5 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 43.0 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.2 | 41.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.0 | +2.4 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Norton Shores is 43.2 years old, older than the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 41.1, in line with the national trend. The youngest areas are in the east, the oldest in the west.
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 Norton Shores
| Period | Norton Shores | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.8% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.4% | 11.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.8% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.2% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.3 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in ten households in Norton Shores (11.2%), close to the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has edged up 1.3 points since 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 Norton Shores
Renters in Norton Shores
| Period | Norton Shores | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.7% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 14.8% | 28.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 18.7% | 28.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 15.4% | 26.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.7 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 15.4% of households in Norton Shores rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. About four in ten owners (40.6%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. Rentals cluster in the southeast; owners are most common in the west. The renter share has risen 1.7 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 Norton Shores
| Period | Norton Shores | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.1% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.7% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.8% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.7% | 10.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.6 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Norton Shores is close to the national rate: 8.7% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. Vacancy is up 0.6 points from 2006–10, 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 Norton Shores
| Period | Norton Shores | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1973 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1972 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1974 | 1971 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1975 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +2 | +3 | +6 |
Housing in Norton Shores leans a little older: the median home dates to 1975, against 1980 nationally. The picture is much the same across Michigan. Newer construction is concentrated in the south, while the east 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 Norton Shores
| Period | Norton Shores | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $872 | $833 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $760 | $886 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $986 | $978 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,382 | $1,228 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$509 | +$395 | +$606 |
The median renter in Norton Shores pays $1,382 a month for rent and utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Still, rents here are higher than in Michigan overall ($1,228). Rents are up $509 a month from 2006–10, a 58% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 32.8% of household income on rent, 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 Norton Shores
Bachelor's degrees in Norton Shores
| Period | Norton Shores | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 30.3% | 26.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 28.9% | 27.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 31.6% | 29.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 33.6% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.2 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are about as common in Norton Shores as nationally: 33.6% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 3.2 points, 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 Norton Shores
| Period | Norton Shores | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 91.7% | 88.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.8% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.8% | 90.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.5% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.9 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Norton Shores: 95.5% 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 3.9 points from 2006–10, 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 Norton Shores
| Period | Norton Shores | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.5% | 11.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.6% | 11.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.7% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.7% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −6.8 pts | −5.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 4.7%, unemployment in Norton Shores is close to the national rate of 5.4%. The rate is lower than in Michigan as a whole (5.9%). Unemployment has fallen 6.8 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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).
Norton Shores compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norton Shores | 2.56 | 43.2 | 11.2% | 15.4% | 8.7% | 1975 | $1,382 | 33.6% | 95.5% | 4.7% |
| Roosevelt Park | 2.38 | 35.3 | 17.8% | 34.4% | 11.3% | 1962 | $1,107 | 17.6% | 97.0% | 3.7% |
| Muskegon Heights | 2.58 | 34.3 | 33.8% | 55.2% | 18.1% | 1948 | $838 | 10.0% | 89.0% | 17.4% |
| Muskegon | 2.53 | 39.9 | 17.7% | 25.6% | 10.3% | 1966 | $1,069 | 16.6% | 89.7% | 8.6% |
| North Muskegon | 2.58 | 44.5 | 15.2% | 19.7% | 9.3% | 1960 | $1,291 | 48.3% | 97.4% | 2.3% |
| Ferrysburg | 2.05 | 50.7 | 4.7% | 20.0% | 13.8% | 1985 | $1,364 | 51.7% | 98.1% | 0.7% |
| Fruitport | 2.51 | 42.9 | 7.9% | 11.0% | 5.9% | 1981 | $1,245 | 24.5% | 94.3% | 5.0% |
| Spring Lake | 2.40 | 44.3 | 5.4% | 16.4% | 8.4% | 1984 | $1,319 | 47.9% | 97.7% | 2.7% |
| Wolf Lake | 2.45 | 44.9 | 14.3% | 5.3% | 6.2% | 1977 | $1,047 | 17.6% | 96.1% | 6.4% |
| Nunica | 2.69 | 39.6 | 8.5% | 12.0% | 5.6% | 1985 | $840 | 32.8% | 94.2% | 3.7% |
| Sullivan | 2.61 | 40.4 | 7.3% | 6.4% | 2.8% | 1973 | $1,053 | 18.4% | 94.3% | 3.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Clarksburg, MD · Bridgewater, MA · Bronxville, NY · Brookings, SD · Burlington, KY · Byron Center, MI · Calabasas, CA · Caledonia, WI · Camp Lejeune, NC · Camuy, 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 Norton Shores. 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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