County · Michigan

Manistee County, Michigan

Manistee County, Michigan. Manistee County had 25,656 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 2.5% since 2020, faster than Michigan (+0.5%). It holds 27 places (6 cities, villages and boroughs, 14 towns and townships and 7 census-designated) and 10 census tracts. GEOID 26101.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

25,656

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 25,032 · ACS 2020-2024: 25,350

Median household income

$63,516

±$2,576 (90% margin)
Michigan: $72,875

Median home value

$182,200

±$10,645 (90% margin)
Michigan: $231,600

Median gross rent

$842

±$48 (90% margin)
Michigan: $1,129

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

The 2020 Census counted 25,032 residents in Manistee County. The Census Bureau estimates 25,656 for July 1, 2025, up 2.5% since 2020, faster than Michigan (+0.5%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 25,350 over 542 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 +274 (25,344)
2021→2022 −13 (25,331)
2022→2023 +185 (25,516)
2023→2024 +59 (25,575)
2024→2025 +81 (25,656)

Manistee County in Michigan. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Manistee County	Michigan	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	25,350	10,077,761	+893
Households	10,561±280	4,076,369	+1,135
Average household size	2.26±0.06	2.42	−0.18
Housing units	15,713±42	4,622,236	−135

Manistee County's population since 2000

From 24,527 in 2000 to 25,656 in 2025: up 4.6%. 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 24,527
2005 (estimate) 25,178
2010 Census 24,733
2015 (estimate) 24,462
2020 Census 25,032
2025 (estimate) 25,656

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 Manistee County?

Manistee County holds 27 places: 6 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places), 14 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government) and 7 census-designated places. The largest is Manistee with 6,157 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 Manistee County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Manistee	city	6,259	6,275±19	$60,541	$164,100	16.8%	100%
Manistee Township	township	4,022	4,053±35	$65,461	$193,900	10.2%	100%
Filer Charter Township	charter township	2,318	2,606±337	$74,675	$247,200	3.8%	100%
Bear Lake Township, Manistee County	township	1,831	1,660±219	$72,958	$224,700	4.5%	100%
Norman Township	township	1,567	1,704±271	$63,634	$156,900	10.4%	100%
Maple Grove Township, Manistee County	township	1,342	1,555±208	$58,452	$116,800	23.8%	100%
Onekama Township	township	1,338	1,365±236	$70,380	$282,200	4.0%	100%
Cleon Township	township	1,063	1,124±227	$51,625	$188,000	27.1%	100%
Dickson Township	township	980	922±152	$55,781	$157,400	21.8%	100%
Pleasanton Township	township	870	794±124	$68,750	$232,900	9.6%	100%
Springdale Township	township	849	794±128	$53,295	$171,600	19.4%	100%
Stronach Township	township	834	957±177	$80,417	$165,600	5.9%	100%
Brown Township	township	704	580±94	$60,938	$238,700	12.3%	100%
Arcadia Township, Manistee County	township	657	479±98	$81,818	$239,600	5.0%	100%
ParkdaleGEOID 2662500	CDP	607	573±151	$45,000	$122,100	27.1%	100%
Oak HillGEOID 2659740	CDP	545	519±142	$59,115	$126,900	2.1%	100%
Kaleva	village	507	542±142	$43,125	$94,200	34.6%	100%
Eastlake	village	415	318±79	$50,139	$122,400	7.5%	100%
OnekamaGEOID 2660740	village	399	305±106	$32,969	$185,300	3.6%	100%
Marilla Township	township	398	482±132	$63,654	$223,900	10.2%	100%
Bear Lake, Manistee County	village	342	264±69	$63,281	$155,400	5.0%	100%
Brethren	CDP	331	318±100	$52,083	$152,200	18.2%	100%
ArcadiaGEOID 2603300	CDP	309	120±39	$85,694	$262,500	2.5%	100%
WellstonGEOID 2685300	CDP	254	353±165	$53,333	$108,200	7.4%	100%
CopemishGEOID 2618040	village	195	255±86	$46,250	$77,400	10.2%	100%
StronachGEOID 2676820	CDP	170	155±57	$66,719	$109,400	3.9%	100%
Filer CityGEOID 2628060	CDP	136	178±67	$47,083	$96,100	2.8%	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 Manistee County?

The median resident of Manistee County is 50.3 years old; 16.6% are under 18 and 28.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 87.4%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 4.0%. 1.6% 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	Manistee County	Michigan	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	50.3±0.3	40.2	+1.0
Under 18 years	16.6%±0.1 pts	21.2%	–
65 years and over	28.0%±0.1 pts	18.6%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	3.6%	5.9%	+0.4 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	87.4%±0.3 pts	72.4%	−1.6 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	3.2%±0.4 pts	13.1%	no clear change
Asian alone, not Hispanic	0.4%±0.1 pts	3.4%	no clear change
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	1.2%±0.3 pts	0.3%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.1%±0.1 pts	0.0%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	4.0%±0.6 pts	4.5%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.2%±0.1 pts	0.5%	–
Born outside the United States	1.6%±0.4 pts	7.2%	no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	3.4%±0.7 pts	10.4%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	8.2%±0.8 pts	5.8%	–
With a disability	18.8%±1.2 pts	14.3%	–
No health insurance coverage	4.8%±0.6 pts	4.9%	−1.0 pts
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	92.2%±1.0 pts	92.1%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	24.9%±1.8 pts	32.4%	+4.6 pts
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	8.3%±0.9 pts	12.7%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	1.4%±0.5 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 Manistee County earn?

Half of Manistee County's 10,561 households earn less than $63,516 a year (±$2,576), against $72,875 in Michigan. In 2015-2019 it was $61,602 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 12.7% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Manistee County	Michigan	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$63,516±$2,576	$72,875	no clear change
Mean household income	$84,176±$4,728	$98,700	–
Per capita income	$36,023±$1,885	$40,735	+$3,203
People below the poverty line	12.7%±1.6 pts	13.2%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	22.1%±5.1 pts	17.6%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	12.1%±1.8 pts	13.5%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	86.1%±1.7 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 Manistee County?

Owners occupy 85.8% of Manistee County's occupied homes and renters 14.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $182,200 by its owner (±$10,645). The median renter pays $842 a month including utilities, and 45.8% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Manistee County	Michigan	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$182,200±$10,645	$231,600	+$27,871
Median gross rent	$842±$48	$1,129	no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	45.8%±8.1 pts	41.4%	no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,218±$43	$1,569	–
Owner-occupied homes	85.8%±1.6 pts	73.2%	no clear change
Housing units	15,713±42	4,622,236	−135
Homeowner vacancy rate	2.1%±1.3 pts	0.8%	–
Rental vacancy rate	5.9%±4.3 pts	5.1%	–
Single-family detached homes	83.8%±1.5 pts	72.0%	–
Mobile homes	7.5%±0.9 pts	5.0%	–
Built 2020 or later	1.0%±0.4 pts	1.0%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	16.9%±1.5 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 Manistee County building?

Builders took permits for 132 new housing units across Manistee County in 2025 (132 single-family), 5.1 per 1,000 residents.

2019 12 units
2020 96 units
2021 108 units
2022 97 units
2023 99 units
2024 248 units
2025 132 units

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

How do people in Manistee County get to work?

77.0% of Manistee County's workers drive alone and 10.8% work from home. The average trip to work takes 21.7 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 6.4%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Manistee County	Michigan	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	49.8%±1.3 pts	61.3%	–
Unemployment rate	6.4%±1.2 pts	5.7%	no clear change
Drove alone to work	77.0%±2.4 pts	74.3%	–
Carpooled	8.4%±1.4 pts	7.9%	–
Public transportation	0.1%±0.1 pts	0.9%	–
Walked	1.8%±0.6 pts	2.0%	–
Worked from home	10.8%±1.7 pts	13.5%	+6.8 pts
Mean travel time to work	21.7 min±0.9	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 Manistee County's census tracts?

Manistee County is divided into 10 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $55,739 (Tract 9) to $72,931 (Tract 3).

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

Tract 126101000100	Kaleva (13%)	3,795	3,940±287	$57,854	$161,300	$968	20.4%
Tract 226101000200	Arcadia (19%)	1,983	1,743±159	$67,625	$211,500	$892	7.4%
Tract 326101000300	Onekama (22%)	1,984	1,948±255	$72,931	$269,900	$863	3.6%
Tract 426101000400	Parkdale (16%)	2,441	2,353±183	$67,778	$197,000	$920	11.8%
Tract 526101000500	Brethren (9%)	3,728	3,865±190	$59,087	$191,200	$1,096	15.2%
Tract 626101000600	Wellston (15%)	1,643	1,703±232	$63,372	$152,900	$859	10.8%
Tract 726101000700	Manistee (18%)	4,006	3,976±344	$72,529	$179,000	$862	7.2%
Tract 826101000800	Manistee (93%)	3,238	3,579±301	$66,125	$187,300	$919	12.5%
Tract 926101000900	Manistee (91%)	2,214	2,243±299	$55,739	$155,600	$442	20.1%
Tract 990026101990000	–	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 Manistee County compare with Michigan's other counties?

Manistee County's rank among Michigan's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	57th of 83
Growth 2020-2025	22nd of 83
Residents per square mile	52nd of 83
Median household income	44th of 83
Median home value	39th of 83
Median gross rent	51st of 83
Poverty rate	44th of 83
Bachelor's degree or higher	29th of 83
Median age	22nd 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 Manistee 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.