Population 5,692 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Saranac
Household size in Saranac
| Period | Saranac | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.85 | 2.69 | 2.58 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.83 | 2.70 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.67 | 2.69 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.81 | 2.66 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.04 | −0.03 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Households in Saranac average 2.81 people, a bit above the national 2.65, so families with children are somewhat more common here. Household size has edged down from 2.85 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. Of the 331 Michigan cities with 5,000+ people, only 21 have larger households.
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 Saranac
| Period | Saranac | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.0 | 36.0 | 38.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 37.1 | 37.2 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.3 | 37.9 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 38.6 | 38.3 | 41.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.6 | +2.3 | +2.4 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Saranac is 38.6 years old, a few years younger than the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 35.0, in line with the national trend. Residents skew youngest in the south and oldest in the west.
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 Saranac
| Period | Saranac | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.5% | 11.0% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.0% | 10.9% | 11.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.0% | 10.5% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.0% | 9.7% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.5 pts | −1.3 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are less common in Saranac than nationally: 9.0%, against 11.6%. The Grand Rapids area as a whole looks much the same.
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 Saranac
Renters in Saranac
| Period | Saranac | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.9% | 24.7% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 17.6% | 26.9% | 28.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 12.6% | 26.6% | 28.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 18.6% | 25.4% | 26.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.7 pts | +0.7 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Saranac is largely a place of homeowners: only 18.6% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 32.5% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is up 2.7 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Saranac
| Period | Saranac | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.9% | 9.6% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.1% | 8.8% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.1% | 7.1% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 2.9% | 6.6% | 10.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −4.0 pts | −3.0 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Empty homes are scarce in Saranac: just 2.9% sit vacant, compared with 9.6% nationally, a sign of a tight housing market. Vacancy has fallen 4.0 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Only seven of the 331 Michigan cities with 5,000+ people have a lower vacancy rate.
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 Saranac
| Period | Saranac | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1976 | 1974 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1976 | 1974 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1979 | 1976 | 1971 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1981 | 1978 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +5 | +3 | +6 |
The typical home in Saranac was built around 1981, about the same vintage as the country's housing overall (1980). The median year built has moved up from 1976 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the west, 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 Saranac
| Period | Saranac | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $674 | $800 | $833 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $651 | $848 | $886 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $657 | $950 | $978 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $841 | $1,285 | $1,228 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$166 | +$485 | +$395 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Saranac costs $841 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $166 a month from 2006–10, a 25% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 26.8% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the southwest; the highest are in the northwest.
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 Saranac
Bachelor's degrees in Saranac
| Period | Saranac | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.8% | 27.1% | 26.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.8% | 29.1% | 27.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 22.7% | 31.9% | 29.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 25.5% | 36.9% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +10.7 pts | +9.8 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Saranac have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 25.5%, against 35.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 10.7 points, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the west and least in the northeast.
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 Saranac
| Period | Saranac | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 90.4% | 88.5% | 88.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.1% | 89.4% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.7% | 91.0% | 90.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.2% | 92.2% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.8 pts | +3.7 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Saranac: 95.2% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 4.8 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 Saranac
| Period | Saranac | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.8% | 9.2% | 11.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.9% | 9.0% | 11.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.2% | 4.2% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.5% | 3.9% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −5.3 pts | −5.3 pts | −5.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Saranac runs below the national rate: 4.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 5.3 points, as it has nationally. 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).
Saranac 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saranac | 2.81 | 38.6 | 9.0% | 18.6% | 2.9% | 1981 | $841 | 25.5% | 95.2% | 4.5% |
| Elmdale | 2.76 | 38.4 | 6.4% | 8.7% | 5.2% | 1985 | $1,905 | 32.0% | 96.9% | 4.7% |
| Clarksville | 2.75 | 40.8 | 6.6% | 12.4% | 16.3% | 1987 | $1,336 | 26.1% | 96.7% | 1.3% |
| Smyrna | 2.57 | 38.1 | 16.6% | 34.8% | 4.4% | 1991 | $1,380 | 14.8% | 94.2% | 3.7% |
| Tremaine Corners | 2.69 | 38.2 | 13.2% | 31.5% | 3.9% | 1987 | $1,357 | 18.4% | 95.0% | 2.7% |
| Lowell | 2.52 | 42.8 | 8.4% | 17.7% | 4.5% | 1984 | $1,602 | 40.0% | 94.7% | 1.3% |
| Ionia | 2.59 | 41.3 | 12.5% | 30.3% | 5.9% | 1962 | $876 | 12.1% | 85.5% | 4.2% |
| Lake Odessa | 2.96 | 37.6 | 10.0% | 17.4% | 12.1% | 1962 | $950 | 18.9% | 92.7% | 4.9% |
| West Sebewa | 3.10 | 35.0 | 7.7% | 15.8% | 7.0% | 1971 | $1,212 | 16.7% | 94.6% | 3.5% |
| Cooks Corners | 2.59 | 45.4 | 8.7% | 16.1% | 10.5% | 1974 | $1,177 | 18.3% | 95.1% | 2.9% |
| Bowne Center | 3.10 | 39.7 | 4.8% | 2.1% | 4.8% | 1985 | $2,950 | 35.5% | 97.6% | 1.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Kemah, TX · La Blanca, TX · Kouts, IN · Kimberly, AL · Kettle Falls, WA · Keswick, VA · Kentfield, CA · Kent City, MI · Kenova, WV · Kenneth City, FL
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 Saranac. 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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