Population 5,850 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Ontonagon County
Household size in Ontonagon County
| Period | Ontonagon County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.06 | 2.58 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 1.99 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.08 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.84 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.23 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Ontonagon County is a place of small households, averaging 1.84 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 2.06 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Ontonagon County has the smallest households of any Michigan county.
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 Ontonagon County
| Period | Ontonagon County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 51.4 | 38.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 54.4 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 58.5 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 58.6 | 41.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +7.2 | +2.4 | +2.3 |
Ontonagon County skews older: half of its residents are older than 58.6, 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 51.4 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only one other Michigan county is older.
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 Ontonagon County
| Period | Ontonagon County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.6% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 5.4% | 11.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 4.3% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.2% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.4 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Ontonagon County: 4.2% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share is down 2.4 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. No other Michigan county has a lower share of single-parent households.
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 Ontonagon County
Renters in Ontonagon County
| Period | Ontonagon County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.6% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.9% | 28.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 11.8% | 28.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 12.9% | 26.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.7 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 12.9% of households in Ontonagon County rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 64.8% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the north and least common in the west. The renter share has fallen 1.7 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 Ontonagon County
| Period | Ontonagon County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.0% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 40.7% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 48.6% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 37.0% | 10.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.1 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 37.0% of the housing in Ontonagon County, 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. Ontonagon County has a higher vacancy rate than at least four in five Michigan counties.
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 Ontonagon County
| Period | Ontonagon County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1958 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1957 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1959 | 1971 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1961 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +3 | +6 |
The housing in Ontonagon County is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1961, 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 1958 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the southwest, the oldest in the north. Only three of Michigan's 83 counties have older homes.
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 Ontonagon County
| Period | Ontonagon County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $469 | $833 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $403 | $886 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $548 | $978 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $555 | $1,228 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$86 | +$395 | +$606 |
The median renter in Ontonagon County pays $555 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $86 a month from 2006–10, an 18% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 29.1% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. No other Michigan county has lower rents.
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 Ontonagon County
Bachelor's degrees in Ontonagon County
| Period | Ontonagon County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.4% | 26.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.9% | 27.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 16.8% | 29.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 18.4% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +2.0 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Ontonagon County: 18.4% 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 2.0 points from 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally.
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 Ontonagon County
| Period | Ontonagon County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 90.4% | 88.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.8% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.7% | 90.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.5% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.0 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Ontonagon County: 94.5% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 4.0 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Ontonagon County has a higher share of high school graduates than at least four in five Michigan counties.
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 Ontonagon County
| Period | Ontonagon County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.8% | 11.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 15.5% | 11.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.6% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.3% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −5.5 pts | −5.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 5.3%, unemployment in Ontonagon County is close to the national rate of 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 5.5 points, mirroring the country. 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).
Ontonagon 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ontonagon County | 1.84 | 58.6 | 4.2% | 12.9% | 37.0% | 1961 | $555 | 18.4% | 94.5% | 5.3% |
| Gogebic County | 2.04 | 49.4 | 8.1% | 19.0% | 29.4% | 1953 | $652 | 22.2% | 95.8% | 6.8% |
| Baraga County | 2.10 | 47.2 | 7.7% | 21.5% | 27.2% | 1971 | $617 | 15.3% | 92.0% | 5.0% |
| Houghton County | 2.39 | 36.4 | 7.1% | 28.2% | 21.0% | 1962 | $995 | 41.4% | 94.1% | 5.9% |
| Iron County | 1.97 | 54.1 | 7.9% | 11.5% | 38.7% | 1968 | $673 | 25.9% | 95.1% | 2.4% |
| Ashland County | 2.31 | 43.3 | 8.0% | 26.6% | 22.4% | 1969 | $742 | 25.4% | 95.7% | 3.8% |
| Bayfield County | 2.23 | 53.1 | 6.0% | 16.1% | 38.0% | 1980 | $871 | 34.5% | 95.9% | 3.6% |
| Marquette County | 2.26 | 40.5 | 6.9% | 30.4% | 13.2% | 1967 | $1,022 | 37.2% | 95.7% | 4.7% |
| Lake County | 2.21 | 49.4 | 8.0% | 16.5% | 25.2% | 1965 | $1,098 | 25.9% | 94.7% | 2.4% |
| Alger County | 2.20 | 49.8 | 5.7% | 13.7% | 41.9% | 1973 | $625 | 20.9% | 93.8% | 5.9% |
| Douglas County | 2.27 | 44.0 | 8.2% | 28.1% | 14.5% | 1966 | $1,021 | 28.7% | 94.4% | 3.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Monroe County, KY · Nottoway County, VA · Norton City, VA · Northampton County, VA · Nolan County, TX · Murray County, OK · Moultrie County, IL · Morrow County, OR · Morris County, TX · Noxubee County, MS
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 Ontonagon 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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