Population 26,915 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Oceana County
Household size in Oceana County
| Period | Oceana County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.59 | 2.58 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.66 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.54 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.55 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.04 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
The average household in Oceana County has 2.55 people, a bit under the U.S. average of 2.65. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.59, in line with the national trend. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the northeast.
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 Oceana County
| Period | Oceana County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.4 | 38.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.4 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 43.6 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 44.5 | 41.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.0 | +2.4 | +2.3 |
Oceana County skews older: half of its residents are older than 44.5, 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 40.4, 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 Oceana County
| Period | Oceana County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.9% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.7% | 11.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.9% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.8% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.9 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in ten households in Oceana County (10.8%), close to the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has edged up 0.9 points since 2006–10, even as the national share fell. Oceana County has a higher share of single-parent households than at least four in five 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 Oceana County
Renters in Oceana County
| Period | Oceana County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.8% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 19.5% | 28.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 17.4% | 28.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 15.5% | 26.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 15.5% of households in Oceana County rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 50.4% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the northeast. The renter share is down 1.2 points from 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 Oceana County
| Period | Oceana County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 28.6% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 29.9% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 28.2% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 24.8% | 10.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.7 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Oceana County: 24.8% 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 fallen 3.7 points, 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 Oceana County
| Period | Oceana County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1971 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1973 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1975 | 1971 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1975 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +3 | +6 |
Housing in Oceana County leans a little older: the median home dates to 1975, against 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1971 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the east, while the center 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 Oceana County
| Period | Oceana County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $610 | $833 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $682 | $886 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $760 | $978 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $827 | $1,228 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$218 | +$395 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Oceana County costs $827 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $218 a month since 2006–10, up 36%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 27.2% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. The priciest rents are in the southwest; the most affordable are in the center.
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 Oceana County
Bachelor's degrees in Oceana County
| Period | Oceana County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.6% | 26.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 16.1% | 27.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.0% | 29.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 20.6% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.0 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Oceana County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 20.6%, against 35.6% nationally. The share with a degree has risen 6.0 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the northwest and least in the southeast.
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 Oceana County
| Period | Oceana County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 83.8% | 88.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 84.7% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 87.0% | 90.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.2% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +6.4 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Oceana County have finished high school as nationally: 90.2%, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in Michigan overall (91.8%). The share with a diploma has risen 6.4 points since 2006–10, 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 Oceana County
| Period | Oceana County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.2% | 11.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.5% | 11.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.9% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.4% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.8 pts | −5.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little harder to find in Oceana County than nationally: unemployment was 6.4%, against 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 2.8 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).
Oceana 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oceana County | 2.55 | 44.5 | 10.8% | 15.5% | 24.8% | 1975 | $827 | 20.6% | 90.2% | 6.4% |
| Mecosta County | 2.41 | 42.6 | 10.1% | 23.1% | 18.1% | 1979 | $903 | 22.6% | 90.9% | 3.8% |
| Isabella County | 2.44 | 35.8 | 9.2% | 38.2% | 13.3% | 1982 | $955 | 34.4% | 92.0% | 6.2% |
| Sheboygan County | 2.36 | 42.4 | 8.6% | 28.5% | 6.6% | 1968 | $1,009 | 27.5% | 93.4% | 2.8% |
| Midland County | 2.42 | 42.5 | 7.7% | 21.9% | 6.5% | 1977 | $1,057 | 36.8% | 95.6% | 4.4% |
| Fond du Lac County | 2.37 | 42.1 | 8.0% | 29.3% | 6.8% | 1969 | $975 | 22.4% | 92.9% | 3.2% |
| Bay County | 2.30 | 45.2 | 10.7% | 23.0% | 8.5% | 1963 | $916 | 22.3% | 91.8% | 4.4% |
| Vernon County | 2.55 | 41.2 | 6.4% | 19.7% | 11.7% | 1975 | $844 | 24.6% | 89.3% | 2.3% |
| Houston County | 2.28 | 45.7 | 7.6% | 16.6% | 7.4% | 1969 | $868 | 30.2% | 95.4% | 1.7% |
| Fillmore County | 2.44 | 43.5 | 6.6% | 17.4% | 9.8% | 1966 | $846 | 24.1% | 93.2% | 2.7% |
| Mower County | 2.59 | 39.3 | 11.4% | 22.4% | 7.5% | 1959 | $953 | 22.3% | 85.4% | 3.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Trempealeau County, WI · Ashe County, NC · Taos County, NM · Audrain County, MO · Austin County, TX · Baker County, FL · Teller County, CO · Texas County, MO · Barry County, MO · Titus 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 Oceana 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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