Population 1,571 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Ruth
Household size in Ruth
| Period | Ruth | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.42 | 2.58 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.30 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.33 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.29 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.13 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Ruth is a place of small households, averaging 2.29 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 2.42, but in a place this small, survey estimates can swing a lot from one release to the next.
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 Ruth
| Period | Ruth | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 43.7 | 38.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 47.9 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 50.1 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 47.8 | 41.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.1 | +2.4 | +2.3 |
Ruth skews older: half of its residents are older than 47.8, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families.
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 Ruth
| Period | Ruth | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.5% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.2% | 11.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 3.9% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.2% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.3 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Ruth: 3.2% of households, against 11.6% nationally.
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 Ruth
Renters in Ruth
| Period | Ruth | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.8% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 16.5% | 28.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 18.6% | 28.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 15.7% | 26.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.9 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 15.7% of households in Ruth rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Nearly two-thirds of owners (63.4%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%.
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 Ruth
| Period | Ruth | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.9% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 29.4% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 25.4% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 24.6% | 10.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.3 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 24.6% of the housing in Ruth, 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.
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 Ruth
| Period | Ruth | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1965 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1967 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1974 | 1971 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1971 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +3 | +6 |
The housing in Ruth is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1971, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. Michigan as a whole looks much the same.
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 Ruth
| Period | Ruth | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $526 | $833 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $522 | $886 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $532 | $978 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $817 | $1,228 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$291 | +$395 | +$606 |
The median renter in Ruth pays $817 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent takes 34.0% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
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 Ruth
Bachelor's degrees in Ruth
| Period | Ruth | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.2% | 26.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.7% | 27.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 12.7% | 29.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 14.2% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.9 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Ruth: 14.2% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%.
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 Ruth
| Period | Ruth | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 82.2% | 88.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 84.8% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 87.6% | 90.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.0% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +9.9 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Ruth is a bit above the national rate: 92.0% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. Michigan as a whole looks much the same.
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 Ruth
| Period | Ruth | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.8% | 11.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.3% | 11.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.2% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.6% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.2 pts | −5.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 5.6%, unemployment in Ruth is close to the national rate of 5.4%. 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).
Ruth 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ruth | 2.29 | 47.8 | 3.2% | 15.7% | 24.6% | 1971 | $817 | 14.2% | 92.0% | 5.6% |
| Harbor Beach | 2.32 | 46.0 | 6.4% | 16.8% | 20.7% | 1961 | $733 | 18.5% | 90.6% | 3.8% |
| Minden City | 2.23 | 49.7 | 5.6% | 13.6% | 26.1% | 1967 | $738 | 15.9% | 91.6% | 4.8% |
| Forestville | 2.14 | 52.9 | 3.5% | 16.2% | 37.0% | 1970 | $726 | 14.2% | 90.0% | 4.3% |
| Verona | 2.31 | 51.4 | 2.3% | 5.8% | 18.6% | 1978 | $799 | 15.5% | 92.1% | 1.3% |
| Tyre | 2.25 | 50.6 | 6.0% | 9.8% | 12.5% | 1962 | $765 | 20.5% | 93.6% | 5.0% |
| Palms | 2.18 | 52.1 | 6.7% | 11.5% | 32.8% | 1974 | $702 | 15.7% | 93.3% | 3.8% |
| Rapson | 2.16 | 53.1 | 2.9% | 9.6% | 29.1% | 1974 | $772 | 15.1% | 92.4% | 3.1% |
| Ubly | 2.31 | 44.8 | 6.5% | 16.0% | 9.4% | 1966 | $756 | 16.7% | 92.3% | 6.6% |
| Freidberger | 2.30 | 47.0 | 7.5% | 9.9% | 13.9% | 1963 | $772 | 18.3% | 93.2% | 5.6% |
| Redman | 2.23 | 53.8 | 2.9% | 6.3% | 33.7% | 1970 | $758 | 15.9% | 92.1% | 3.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Heppner, OR · Smoaks, SC · Slater, IA · Alderson, WV · Lake Como, NJ · Kenwood, CA · Keno, OR · Hurleyville, NY · Hopewell, NC · South Floral Park, NY
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 Ruth. 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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