Population 25,584 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Otsego County
Household size in Otsego County
| Period | Otsego County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.48 | 2.58 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.44 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.42 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.28 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.20 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Otsego County is a place of small households, averaging 2.28 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.48, a much bigger shift than nationally. Households are largest in the east and smallest in the southwest.
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 Otsego County
| Period | Otsego County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.4 | 38.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 44.1 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 44.7 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 44.7 | 41.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.3 | +2.4 | +2.3 |
Otsego County skews older: half of its residents are older than 44.7, 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 42.4 in 2006–10, 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 Otsego County
| Period | Otsego County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.7% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.2% | 11.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.8% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.3% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.6 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in ten households in Otsego County (10.3%), a little below the national share of 11.6%. Michigan as a whole looks much the same. The single-parent share is up 1.6 points from 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 Otsego County
Renters in Otsego County
| Period | Otsego County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.2% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 21.2% | 28.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 21.1% | 28.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 22.8% | 26.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +4.6 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Otsego County is largely a place of homeowners: only 22.8% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. More than a third of owners (36.9%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. The renter share is up 4.6 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Otsego County
| Period | Otsego County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.9% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 27.2% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 27.5% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 20.7% | 10.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −7.2 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 20.7% of the housing in Otsego 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. Vacancy is down 7.2 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than 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 Otsego County
| Period | Otsego County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1980 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1979 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1980 | 1971 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1983 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +3 | +6 |
Homes in Otsego County are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1983, versus 1980 nationally. Homes here are newer than in Michigan overall, where the median home dates to 1972. Newer construction is concentrated in the northwest, while the east has the oldest housing. Few Michigan counties have newer homes: only five of 83.
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 Otsego County
| Period | Otsego County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $724 | $833 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $771 | $886 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $850 | $978 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,083 | $1,228 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$359 | +$395 | +$606 |
The median renter in Otsego County pays $1,083 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $359 a month from 2006–10, a 50% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 31.5% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the southwest; the most affordable are in the north.
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 Otsego County
Bachelor's degrees in Otsego County
| Period | Otsego County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.6% | 26.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 20.8% | 27.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 23.4% | 29.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 26.4% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.7 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are less common in Otsego County than nationally: 26.4% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 6.7 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Compared with other Michigan counties, though, Otsego County has a higher share of college graduates than most.
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 Otsego County
| Period | Otsego County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 89.5% | 88.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 92.0% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.1% | 90.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.1% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.6 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Otsego County is above the national rate: 94.1% of adults have a diploma, against 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 4.6 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 Otsego County
| Period | Otsego County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.3% | 11.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 11.1% | 11.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.7% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.1% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −7.3 pts | −5.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little easier to find in Otsego County than nationally: unemployment was 4.1%, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 7.3 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. 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).
Otsego 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Otsego County | 2.28 | 44.7 | 10.3% | 22.8% | 20.7% | 1983 | $1,083 | 26.4% | 94.1% | 4.1% |
| Antrim County | 2.18 | 50.9 | 7.6% | 13.6% | 33.1% | 1979 | $958 | 33.0% | 94.4% | 3.9% |
| Montmorency County | 1.94 | 55.0 | 7.0% | 12.1% | 43.4% | 1975 | $709 | 15.3% | 90.7% | 5.4% |
| Leelanau County | 2.33 | 54.1 | 6.0% | 8.4% | 30.6% | 1987 | $1,249 | 51.9% | 97.1% | 3.4% |
| Alpena County | 2.21 | 47.9 | 9.9% | 20.0% | 15.7% | 1967 | $766 | 17.8% | 92.5% | 6.2% |
| Door County | 2.04 | 53.5 | 5.0% | 21.8% | 32.0% | 1981 | $1,084 | 37.4% | 96.2% | 2.4% |
| Menominee County | 3.01 | 37.4 | 30.2% | 24.5% | 32.5% | 1984 | $629 | 18.6% | 95.3% | 9.3% |
| Langlade County | 2.19 | 48.7 | 8.8% | 23.1% | 21.8% | 1969 | $751 | 17.4% | 91.2% | 3.3% |
| Marathon County | 2.42 | 42.2 | 9.0% | 26.7% | 5.8% | 1978 | $1,010 | 28.5% | 93.3% | 2.8% |
| Taylor County | 2.49 | 44.5 | 6.3% | 20.3% | 15.0% | 1978 | $871 | 17.2% | 91.3% | 2.5% |
| Chippewa County | 2.40 | 42.7 | 7.7% | 25.8% | 7.1% | 1976 | $994 | 23.9% | 93.8% | 3.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Panola County, MS · Marshall County, TN · Marshall County, WV · Martin County, MN · Martin County, NC · Mason County, KY · Mason County, MI · Mason County, WV · Meade County, SD · Mecklenburg County, VA
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 Otsego 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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