County · Michigan

Benzie County, Michigan

Benzie County, Michigan. Benzie County had 18,568 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 3.3% since 2020, faster than Michigan (+0.5%). It holds 26 places (7 cities, villages and boroughs, 12 towns and townships and 7 census-designated) and 7 census tracts. GEOID 26019.

Benzie County is one of the 4 counties of the Traverse City, MI metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).

Residents, July 2025 estimate

18,568

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 17,970 · ACS 2020-2024: 18,310

Median household income

$74,834

±$3,104 (90% margin)
Michigan: $72,875

Median home value

$285,700

±$12,025 (90% margin)
Michigan: $231,600

Median gross rent

$1,026

±$77 (90% margin)
Michigan: $1,129

How many people live in Benzie County, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 17,970 residents in Benzie County. The Census Bureau estimates 18,568 for July 1, 2025, up 3.3% since 2020, faster than Michigan (+0.5%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 18,310 over 320 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 +243 (18,245)
2021→2022 +95 (18,340)
2022→2023 +112 (18,452)
2023→2024 +40 (18,492)
2024→2025 +76 (18,568)

Benzie County in Michigan. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Benzie County	Michigan	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	18,310	10,077,761	+695
Households	7,708±237	4,076,369	+916
Average household size	2.34±0.07	2.42	−0.21
Housing units	12,326±36	4,622,236	−198

Benzie County's population since 2000

From 15,998 in 2000 to 18,568 in 2025: up 16.1%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.

2000 Census 15,998
2005 (estimate) 17,697
2010 Census 17,525
2015 (estimate) 17,386
2020 Census 17,970
2025 (estimate) 18,568

Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov

What cities and towns are in Benzie County?

Benzie County holds 26 places: 7 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places), 12 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government) and 7 census-designated places. The largest is Almira Township with 3,989 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.

Places in Benzie County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Almira Township	township	3,873	3,933±29	$90,278	$284,600	3.4%	100%
Benzonia Township	township	2,734	2,791±30	$72,500	$327,000	15.5%	100%
Inland Township	township	2,386	2,602±352	$80,759	$263,800	6.3%	100%
Homestead Township	township	2,329	2,383±295	$62,061	$226,200	12.8%	100%
Frankfort	city	1,252	1,225±140	$54,327	$350,000	12.3%	100%
Crystal Lake Township	township	1,065	900±162	$69,913	$348,800	11.4%	100%
Gilmore Township, Benzie County	township	791	728±162	$103,438	$301,100	3.3%	100%
Joyfield Township	township	763	632±115	$51,250	$220,800	17.9%	100%
Lake Township, Benzie County	township	694	794±124	$98,125	$650,000	5.3%	100%
Colfax Township, Benzie County	township	677	723±158	$60,250	$166,300	18.0%	100%
Weldon Township	township	579	716±147	$63,500	$237,000	11.8%	100%
Benzonia	village	551	718±139	$61,875	$209,100	14.1%	100%
Blaine Township	township	484	523±106	$75,313	$248,500	10.7%	100%
Thompsonville	village	451	490±103	$66,250	$115,800	18.3%	100%
Hardwood AcresGEOID 2636585	CDP	393	611±269	$109,196	$276,700	3.4%	100%
Platte Township	township	343	360±84	$91,250	$242,200	10.3%	100%
HonorGEOID 2639080	village	337	172±50	$45,341	$223,800	9.9%	100%
ElbertaGEOID 2625180	village	329	174±81	$114,375	$267,600	0.0%	100%
Beulah	village	313	218±59	$71,000	$485,700	13.9%	100%
Lake Ann	village	273	273±87	$70,625	$338,900	3.7%	100%
BendonGEOID 2607220	CDP	210	315±92	$69,750	$196,200	15.0%	100%
Maple GroveGEOID 2650970	CDP	139	82±61	not published	$569,400	0.0%	100%
Nessen CityGEOID 2656960	CDP	81	149±74	$62,222	$160,400	31.5%	100%
Crystal MountainGEOID 2619195	CDP	73	166±77	$120,938	$547,400	2.4%	100%
Crystal Downs Country ClubGEOID 2619135	CDP	55	64±43	$243,333	$1,750,000	0.0%	100%
PilgrimGEOID 2664100	CDP	44	24±20	$161,563	$656,300	0.0%	100%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Benzie County?

The median resident of Benzie County is 50.8 years old; 16.9% are under 18 and 28.7% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 91.4%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 3.2%. 1.4% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure	Benzie County	Michigan	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	50.8±0.4	40.2	+0.6
Under 18 years	16.9%±0.1 pts	21.2%	–
65 years and over	28.7%±0.2 pts	18.6%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	2.5%	5.9%	no clear change
White alone, not Hispanic	91.4%±0.9 pts	72.4%	−2.4 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	0.6%±0.3 pts	13.1%	+0.4 pts
Asian alone, not Hispanic	0.5%±0.2 pts	3.4%	no clear change
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	0.9%±0.2 pts	0.3%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.2 pts	0.0%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	3.2%±0.8 pts	4.5%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.9%±0.6 pts	0.5%	–
Born outside the United States	1.4%±0.3 pts	7.2%	no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	2.0%±0.5 pts	10.4%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	9.7%±0.9 pts	5.8%	–
With a disability	17.6%±1.5 pts	14.3%	–
No health insurance coverage	5.6%±1.2 pts	4.9%	no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	94.1%±1.0 pts	92.1%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	36.9%±2.1 pts	32.4%	+6.6 pts
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	14.1%±1.4 pts	12.7%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	1.2%±0.4 pts	1.4%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov

What do households in Benzie County earn?

Half of Benzie County's 7,708 households earn less than $74,834 a year (±$3,104), against $72,875 in Michigan. In 2015-2019 it was $71,348 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 9.7% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Benzie County	Michigan	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$74,834±$3,104	$72,875	no clear change
Mean household income	$98,649±$4,998	$98,700	–
Per capita income	$42,600±$2,026	$40,735	+$6,387
People below the poverty line	9.7%±1.5 pts	13.2%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	9.3%±3.2 pts	17.6%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	7.8%±1.5 pts	13.5%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	93.0%±1.2 pts	90.5%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What does housing cost in Benzie County?

Owners occupy 87.8% of Benzie County's occupied homes and renters 12.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $285,700 by its owner (±$12,025). The median renter pays $1,026 a month including utilities, and 38.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Benzie County	Michigan	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$285,700±$12,025	$231,600	+$57,406
Median gross rent	$1,026±$77	$1,129	+$162
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	38.1%±8.6 pts	41.4%	no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,437±$48	$1,569	–
Owner-occupied homes	87.8%±2.0 pts	73.2%	no clear change
Housing units	12,326±36	4,622,236	−198
Homeowner vacancy rate	0.7%±0.6 pts	0.8%	–
Rental vacancy rate	9.7%±7.1 pts	5.1%	–
Single-family detached homes	86.3%±1.3 pts	72.0%	–
Mobile homes	7.0%±1.0 pts	5.0%	–
Built 2020 or later	0.6%±0.3 pts	1.0%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	11.4%±1.2 pts	14.6%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov

How many new homes is Benzie County building?

Builders took permits for 136 new housing units across Benzie County in 2025 (136 single-family), 7.3 per 1,000 residents.

2019 71 units
2020 88 units
2021 107 units
2022 145 units
2023 131 units
2024 110 units
2025 136 units

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Benzie County get to work?

76.6% of Benzie County's workers drive alone and 11.1% work from home. The average trip to work takes 24.6 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.1%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Benzie County	Michigan	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	54.2%±1.5 pts	61.3%	–
Unemployment rate	3.1%±0.8 pts	5.7%	no clear change
Drove alone to work	76.6%±2.1 pts	74.3%	–
Carpooled	9.0%±1.5 pts	7.9%	–
Public transportation	0.8%±0.4 pts	0.9%	–
Walked	1.2%±0.5 pts	2.0%	–
Worked from home	11.1%±1.5 pts	13.5%	+5.7 pts
Mean travel time to work	24.6 min±1.3	24.2 min	no clear change

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What are Benzie County's census tracts?

Benzie County is divided into 7 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $63,621 (Tract 1.02) to $88,333 (Tract 1.01).

Census tracts of Benzie County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; sort by any column

Tract 1.0126019000101	Lake Ann (19%)	4,796	4,853±296	$88,333	$279,800	$1,204	3.5%
Tract 1.0226019000102	Thompsonville (18%)	3,104	3,462±292	$63,621	$209,400	$831	13.0%
Tract 226019000200	Honor (7%)	3,160	3,132±256	$77,443	$319,000	$954	10.8%
Tract 326019000300	Beulah (20%)	1,812	2,022±183	$86,875	$373,500	$988	10.5%
Tract 426019000400	Frankfort (66%)	2,119	1,939±214	$67,500	$348,100	$923	9.7%
Tract 526019000500	Elberta (13%)	2,979	2,902±192	$65,529	$268,500	$1,095	14.2%
Tract 990026019990000	–	0	0±11	not published	not published	not published	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov

How does Benzie County compare with Michigan's other counties?

Benzie County's rank among Michigan's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	65th of 83
Growth 2020-2025	15th of 83
Residents per square mile	45th of 83
Median household income	19th of 83
Median home value	9th of 83
Median gross rent	19th of 83
Poverty rate	70th of 83
Bachelor's degree or higher	13th of 83
Median age	18th of 83

Every county in Michigan

Source: PlainCities ranks from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed

How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections

Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Benzie County are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.