Population 40,462 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Sanilac County
Household size in Sanilac County
| Period | Sanilac County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.56 | 2.58 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.61 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.35 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.32 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.23 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Sanilac County is a place of small households, averaging 2.32 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 2.56 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Households are largest in the southwest and smallest 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 Sanilac County
| Period | Sanilac County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.6 | 38.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 43.5 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 44.6 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 44.9 | 41.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.3 | +2.4 | +2.3 |
Sanilac County skews older: half of its residents are older than 44.9, 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 41.6 in 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Sanilac County
| Period | Sanilac County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.1% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.6% | 11.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.8% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.7% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.5 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in ten households in Sanilac County (9.7%), a little below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has edged up 0.5 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 Sanilac County
Renters in Sanilac County
| Period | Sanilac County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.8% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 19.4% | 28.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 21.3% | 28.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 17.4% | 26.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.6 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Sanilac County is largely a place of homeowners: only 17.4% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. About half of owners (50.1%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is up 0.6 points from 2006–10, as it has 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 Sanilac County
| Period | Sanilac County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.3% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 22.3% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 17.9% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 14.1% | 10.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −4.2 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 14.1% of the housing in Sanilac 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. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 4.2 points, in line with the national trend.
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 Sanilac County
| Period | Sanilac County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1968 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1969 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1971 | 1971 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1971 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +3 | +6 |
The housing in Sanilac County 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. The median year built has moved up from 1968 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the south, while the northwest 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 Sanilac County
| Period | Sanilac County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $651 | $833 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $723 | $886 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $712 | $978 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $803 | $1,228 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$152 | +$395 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Sanilac County costs $803 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $152 a month from 2006–10, a 23% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 28.9% 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 west; the most affordable are in the northeast.
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 Sanilac County
Bachelor's degrees in Sanilac County
| Period | Sanilac County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.9% | 26.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.5% | 27.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 13.8% | 29.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.2% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.3 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Sanilac County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 16.2%, against 35.6% nationally. The share with a degree is up 5.3 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Of Michigan's 83 counties, only seven have a lower share of college graduates.
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 Sanilac County
| Period | Sanilac County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 84.9% | 88.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 87.8% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 88.2% | 90.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.1% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.2 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Sanilac County have finished high school as nationally: 90.1%, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in Michigan as a whole (91.8%). Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 5.2 points, 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 Sanilac County
| Period | Sanilac County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.4% | 11.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 12.8% | 11.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.0% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.9% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −7.5 pts | −5.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 5.9%, unemployment in Sanilac County is close to the national rate of 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 7.5 points, as it has nationally. 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).
Sanilac 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sanilac County | 2.32 | 44.9 | 9.7% | 17.4% | 14.1% | 1971 | $803 | 16.2% | 90.1% | 5.9% |
| Tuscola County | 2.46 | 45.7 | 8.3% | 13.6% | 10.6% | 1968 | $920 | 16.6% | 92.7% | 6.0% |
| Saginaw County | 2.40 | 42.2 | 12.9% | 25.9% | 10.1% | 1969 | $1,004 | 24.3% | 91.7% | 6.7% |
| Gratiot County | 2.45 | 40.2 | 11.6% | 21.1% | 8.4% | 1966 | $891 | 20.3% | 92.6% | 4.1% |
| Montcalm County | 2.77 | 40.6 | 9.2% | 16.9% | 11.5% | 1977 | $909 | 15.7% | 88.2% | 4.8% |
| Newaygo County | 2.58 | 42.8 | 10.1% | 13.5% | 18.4% | 1978 | $929 | 17.7% | 89.3% | 4.4% |
| Muskegon County | 2.56 | 40.8 | 15.4% | 21.9% | 10.5% | 1969 | $1,093 | 21.1% | 92.1% | 7.2% |
| Orleans County | 2.35 | 44.8 | 11.8% | 22.8% | 10.5% | 1955 | $888 | 18.3% | 87.1% | 5.3% |
| Ozaukee County | 2.43 | 44.5 | 7.1% | 27.1% | 5.2% | 1978 | $1,567 | 51.4% | 97.8% | 2.7% |
| Washington County | 2.44 | 44.6 | 7.8% | 21.9% | 4.7% | 1984 | $1,278 | 35.4% | 95.8% | 2.6% |
| Dodge County | 2.39 | 43.6 | 8.4% | 28.7% | 7.5% | 1969 | $1,009 | 20.3% | 92.8% | 3.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Marshall County, IA · Osage County, OK · Oneida County, WI · Okeechobee County, FL · Montgomery County, NY · Mifflin County, PA · Mercer County, OH · Mecosta County, MI · McDowell County, NC · McClain County, OK
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 Sanilac 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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