County · Michigan

Mason County, Michigan

Mason County, Michigan. Mason County had 29,040 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 0.1% since 2020, while Michigan grew 0.5%. It holds 20 places (5 cities, villages and boroughs and 15 towns and townships) and 9 census tracts. GEOID 26105.

Mason County is the county of the Ludington, MI micropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).

Residents, July 2025 estimate

29,040

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 29,052 · ACS 2020-2024: 29,207

Median household income

$64,748

±$3,281 (90% margin)
Michigan: $72,875

Median home value

$219,600

±$8,156 (90% margin)
Michigan: $231,600

Median gross rent

$896

±$62 (90% margin)
Michigan: $1,129

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

The 2020 Census counted 29,052 residents in Mason County. The Census Bureau estimates 29,040 for July 1, 2025, down 0.1% since 2020, while Michigan grew 0.5%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 29,207 over 495 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 +311 (29,344)
2021→2022 −3 (29,341)
2022→2023 −197 (29,144)
2023→2024 −81 (29,063)
2024→2025 −23 (29,040)

Mason County in Michigan. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Mason County	Michigan	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	29,207	10,077,761	+253
Households	12,801±336	4,076,369	+615
Average household size	2.25±0.06	2.42	−0.09
Housing units	17,596±59	4,622,236	no clear change

Mason County's population since 2000

From 28,274 in 2000 to 29,040 in 2025: up 2.7%. 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 28,274
2005 (estimate) 28,748
2010 Census 28,705
2015 (estimate) 28,754
2020 Census 29,052
2025 (estimate) 29,040

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 Mason County?

Mason County holds 20 places: 5 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 15 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government). The largest is Ludington with 7,634 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 Mason County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Ludington	city	7,655	7,676±18	$46,411	$201,100	22.5%	100%
Hamlin Township, Mason County	township	3,711	3,750±20	$80,919	$281,400	7.3%	100%
Amber Township	township	2,529	2,566±27	$70,515	$228,700	9.0%	100%
Pere Marquette Charter Township	charter township	2,416	2,883±439	$84,531	$297,400	5.9%	100%
Victory Township	township	1,406	1,434±216	$65,938	$300,000	9.4%	100%
Branch Township	township	1,405	1,311±195	$61,886	$159,500	14.4%	100%
Scottville	city	1,356	1,474±294	$51,953	$134,300	27.5%	100%
Custer Township, Mason County	township	1,321	1,327±233	$56,172	$184,000	4.5%	100%
Riverton Township	township	1,232	1,120±211	$63,250	$186,200	17.6%	100%
Sherman Township, Mason County	township	1,127	871±112	$75,500	$177,100	22.1%	100%
Sheridan Township, Mason County	township	1,044	1,036±196	$61,563	$172,600	12.3%	100%
Summit Township, Mason County	township	995	977±172	$94,141	$275,700	1.5%	100%
Grant Township, Mason County	township	925	927±166	$74,063	$252,100	11.7%	100%
Free Soil Township	township	842	921±171	$62,344	$220,900	10.5%	100%
Eden Township, Mason County	township	580	525±97	$58,750	$184,600	25.5%	100%
Logan Township, Mason County	township	329	287±60	$58,125	$150,000	23.0%	100%
Custer	village	272	275±70	$63,125	$131,300	13.1%	100%
Meade Township, Mason CountyGEOID 2610552640	township	179	122±30	$61,333	$241,200	14.2%	100%
Fountain	village	170	204±70	$58,750	$102,300	46.8%	100%
Free SoilGEOID 2630600	village	158	112±31	$58,750	$115,600	8.0%	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 Mason County?

The median resident of Mason County is 47.3 years old; 19.6% are under 18 and 26.3% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 89.4%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 4.9%. 1.7% 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	Mason County	Michigan	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	47.3±0.4	40.2	+1.1
Under 18 years	19.6%	21.2%	–
65 years and over	26.3%±0.2 pts	18.6%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	4.9%	5.9%	+0.3 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	89.4%±0.3 pts	72.4%	−2.1 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	1.0%±0.3 pts	13.1%	no clear change
Asian alone, not Hispanic	0.5%±0.2 pts	3.4%	no clear change
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	0.4%±0.1 pts	0.3%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.1 pts	0.0%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	3.7%±0.5 pts	4.5%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.3%±0.2 pts	0.5%	–
Born outside the United States	1.7%±0.4 pts	7.2%	no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	3.3%±0.7 pts	10.4%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	8.2%±0.8 pts	5.8%	–
With a disability	17.0%±1.5 pts	14.3%	–
No health insurance coverage	5.2%±1.0 pts	4.9%	no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	94.1%±0.9 pts	92.1%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	26.6%±2.0 pts	32.4%	+3.5 pts
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	10.3%±1.3 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 Mason County earn?

Half of Mason County's 12,801 households earn less than $64,748 a year (±$3,281), against $72,875 in Michigan. In 2015-2019 it was $63,658 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 14.1% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Mason County	Michigan	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$64,748±$3,281	$72,875	no clear change
Mean household income	$85,702±$4,533	$98,700	–
Per capita income	$37,554±$1,636	$40,735	no clear change
People below the poverty line	14.1%±1.8 pts	13.2%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	24.4%±5.4 pts	17.6%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	12.9%±2.2 pts	13.5%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	86.5%±1.8 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 Mason County?

Owners occupy 78.3% of Mason County's occupied homes and renters 21.7%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $219,600 by its owner (±$8,156). The median renter pays $896 a month including utilities, and 37.3% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Mason County	Michigan	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$219,600±$8,156	$231,600	+$45,580
Median gross rent	$896±$62	$1,129	no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	37.3%±6.8 pts	41.4%	no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,380±$56	$1,569	–
Owner-occupied homes	78.3%±2.4 pts	73.2%	no clear change
Housing units	17,596±59	4,622,236	no clear change
Homeowner vacancy rate	1.0%±0.7 pts	0.8%	–
Rental vacancy rate	3.5%±3.1 pts	5.1%	–
Single-family detached homes	75.3%±1.9 pts	72.0%	–
Mobile homes	10.4%±1.3 pts	5.0%	–
Built 2020 or later	0.9%±0.6 pts	1.0%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	19.5%±1.7 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 Mason County building?

Builders took permits for 66 new housing units across Mason County in 2025 (66 single-family), 2.3 per 1,000 residents.

2019 70 units
2020 88 units
2021 101 units
2022 68 units
2023 80 units
2024 177 units
2025 66 units

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

How do people in Mason County get to work?

72.6% of Mason County's workers drive alone and 11.0% work from home. The average trip to work takes 19.5 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.5%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Mason County	Michigan	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	54.5%±1.3 pts	61.3%	–
Unemployment rate	4.5%±0.9 pts	5.7%	no clear change
Drove alone to work	72.6%±2.4 pts	74.3%	–
Carpooled	11.4%±2.0 pts	7.9%	–
Public transportation	1.0%±0.6 pts	0.9%	–
Walked	3.0%±1.1 pts	2.0%	–
Worked from home	11.0%±1.5 pts	13.5%	+7.8 pts
Mean travel time to work	19.5 min±1.0	24.2 min	+1.9 min

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 Mason County's census tracts?

Mason County is divided into 9 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $41,860 (Tract 9504) to $100,481 (Tract 9503).

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

Tract 950126105950100	Fountain (5%)	2,529	2,440±207	$61,492	$198,100	$988	13.8%
Tract 950226105950200	–	3,659	3,667±263	$67,206	$248,800	$721	8.9%
Tract 950326105950300	Ludington (10%)	3,693	3,811±288	$100,481	$325,600	$1,071	7.2%
Tract 950426105950400	Ludington (97%)	4,328	4,439±408	$41,860	$198,500	$844	21.7%
Tract 950526105950500	Ludington (91%)	3,463	3,534±358	$53,281	$196,100	$911	23.0%
Tract 950626105950600	Scottville (22%)	5,143	5,408±341	$61,182	$178,300	$1,021	13.9%
Tract 950726105950700	Custer (2%)	3,278	3,003±230	$62,246	$163,200	$875	15.6%
Tract 950826105950800	Ludington (3%)	2,959	2,905±272	$81,403	$246,400	$804	7.3%
Tract 990026105990000	–	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 Mason County compare with Michigan's other counties?

Mason County's rank among Michigan's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	49th of 83
Growth 2020-2025	58th of 83
Residents per square mile	44th of 83
Median household income	38th of 83
Median home value	22nd of 83
Median gross rent	40th of 83
Poverty rate	31st of 83
Bachelor's degree or higher	25th of 83
Median age	30th 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 Mason 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.