County population in 2016: 17,494 (all rural); it was 15,998 in 2000County owner-occupied with a mortgage or a loan houses and condos in 2010: 4,048 County owner-occupied free and clear houses and condos in 2010: 2,175 County owner-occupied houses and condos in 2000: 5,574 Renter-occupied apartments: 1,075 (it was 926 in 2000)
% of renters here:
14%
State:
28%
Land area: 321 sq. mi.
Water area: 538.3 sq. mi.
Population density: 54 people per square mile (average).
Mar. 2016 cost of living index in Benzie County: 83.5 (less than average, U.S. average is 100)
Estimated median household income in 2016: $50,312 ($37,350 in 1999)
This county:
$50,312
Michigan:
$52,492
Median contract rent in 2016 for apartments: $558 (lower quartile is $433, upper quartile is $688)
This county:
$558
State:
$676
Estimated median house or condo value in 2016: $181,976 (it was $104,700 in 2000)
Benzie:
$181,976
Michigan:
$147,100
Lower value quartile - upper value quartile: $113,769 - $273,579 Median monthly housing costs for homes and condos with a mortgage: $1,140 Median monthly housing costs for units without a mortgage: $407
Institutionalized population: 146
Crime in 2005 (reported by the sheriff's office or county police, not the county total):
Murders: 0
Rapes: 8
Robberies: 0
Assaults: 12
Burglaries: 63
Thefts: 131
Auto thefts: 13
Crime in 2004 (reported by the sheriff's office or county police, not the county total):
Murders: 0
Rapes: 5
Robberies: 0
Assaults: 18
Burglaries: 63
Thefts: 141
Auto thefts: 12
Single-family new house construction building permits:
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with mortgages in 2016: $1,548 (0.9%) Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with no mortgage in 2016: $1,567 (0.9%)
Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2016: 10.3%
Benzie County:
10.3%
Michigan:
15.0%
(9.9% for White Non-Hispanic residents, 66.7% for Black residents, 4.5% for Hispanic or Latino residents, 14.6% for American Indian residents, 4.7% for other race residents, 33.3% for two or more races residents)
Median age of residents in 2016: 48.8 years old
(Males: 47.5 years old, Females: 50.2 years old)
(Median age for: White residents: 50.2 years old, Black residents: 28.0 years old, American Indian residents: 29.6 years old, Asian residents: 56.6 years old, Hispanic or Latino residents: 28.5 years old, Other race residents: 43.8 years old)
Fair market rent in 2006 for a 1-bedroom apartment in Benzie County is $545 a month. Fair market rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $660 a month. Fair market rent for a 3-bedroom apartment is $824 a month.
Current college students: 435 People 25 years of age or older with a high school degree or higher: 91.9% People 25 years of age or older with a bachelor's degree or higher: 26.4%
Number of foreign born residents: 273 (51.4% naturalized citizens)
Benzie County:
1.6%
Whole state:
6.7%
Year of entry for the foreign-born population
2010 or later: 30
2000 to 2009: 123
1990 to 1999: 42
1980 to 1989: 17
1970 to 1979: 36
Before 1970: 119
Note: State values scaled to Benzie County population
Mean travel time to work (commute): 25.4 minutes
Percentage of county residents living and working in this county: 51.8%
Housing units in structures:
One, detached: 10,743
One, attached: 150
Two: 193
3 or 4: 115
5 to 9: 118
10 to 19: 50
20 to 49: 61
50 or more: 45
Mobile homes: 801
Boats, RVs, vans, etc.: 3
Housing units in Benzie County with a mortgage: 3,559 (48 second mortgage, 405 home equity loan, 6 both second mortgage and home equity loan) Houses without a mortgage: 2,645
Here:
60.0% with mortgage
State:
60.7% with mortgage
Religion statistics for Benzie County
Religion
Adherents
Congregations
Mainline Protestant
2,154
11
Evangelical Protestant
801
16
Catholic
465
1
Other
3
2
None
14,102
-
Benzie County Religion Details
Source: Clifford Grammich, Kirk Hadaway, Richard Houseal, Dale E.Jones, Alexei Krindatch, Richie Stanley and Richard H.Taylor. 2012. 2010 U.S.Religion Census: Religious Congregations & Membership Study. Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies. Jones, Dale E., et al. 2002. Congregations and Membership in the United States 2000. Nashville, TN: Glenmary Research Center.
Food Environment Statistics:
Number of grocery stores: 5
Benzie County:
2.86 / 10,000 pop.
State:
2.34 / 10,000 pop.
Number of convenience stores (no gas): 2
This county:
1.14 / 10,000 pop.
Michigan:
1.52 / 10,000 pop.
Number of convenience stores (with gas): 8
Benzie County:
4.58 / 10,000 pop.
Michigan:
2.99 / 10,000 pop.
Number of full-service restaurants: 21
This county:
12.01 / 10,000 pop.
State:
6.80 / 10,000 pop.
Adult diabetes rate:
Benzie County:
9.8%
Michigan:
9.7%
Adult obesity rate:
Benzie County:
28.8%
State:
29.7%
Low-income preschool obesity rate:
Here:
14.1%
State:
13.4%
Agriculture in Benzie County:
Average size of farms: 127 acres Average value of agricultural products sold per farm: $23,324 Average value of crops sold per acre for harvested cropland: $427.37 The value of nursery, greenhouse, floriculture, and sod as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 10.52% The value of livestock, poultry, and their products as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 20.82% Average total farm production expenses per farm: $24,288 Harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 33.92% Irrigated harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 5.89% Average market value of all machinery and equipment per farm: $73,625 The percentage of farms operated by a family or individual: 93.37% Average age of principal farm operators: 56 years Average number of cattle and calves per 100 acres of all land in farms: 5.56 Corn for grain: 819 harvested acres All wheat for grain: 24 harvested acres Vegetables: 177 harvested acres Land in orchards: 2,941 acres
Earthquake activity:
Benzie County-area historical earthquake activity is significantly below Michigan state average. It is 96% smaller than the overall U.S. average.
On 1/31/1986 at 16:46:43, a magnitude 5.0 (5.0 MB, Class: Moderate, Intensity: VI - VII) earthquake occurred 324.0 miles away from Benzie County center On 9/25/1998 at 19:52:52, a magnitude 5.2 (4.8 MB, 4.3 MS, 5.2 LG, 4.5 MW, Depth: 3.1 mi) earthquake occurred 359.0 miles away from the county center On 7/12/1986 at 08:19:37, a magnitude 4.5 (4.5 MB, Class: Light, Intensity: IV - V) earthquake occurred 296.5 miles away from the county center On 6/28/2004 at 06:10:52, a magnitude 4.2 (4.0 MB, 4.2 MW, Depth: 6.2 mi) earthquake occurred 263.3 miles away from the county center On 9/2/1994 at 21:23:06, a magnitude 3.5 (3.4 LG, 3.5 LG, Depth: 3.1 mi, Class: Light, Intensity: II - III) earthquake occurred 146.5 miles away from Benzie County center On 1/26/2001 at 03:03:20, a magnitude 4.4 (3.9 MB, 4.4 LG, 4.3 LG, Depth: 3.1 mi) earthquake occurred 323.2 miles away from the county center Magnitude types: regional Lg-wave magnitude (LG), body-wave magnitude (MB), surface-wave magnitude (MS), moment magnitude (MW)
Most recent natural disasters:
Michigan Hurricane Katrina Evacuation, Incident Period: August 29, 2005 to October 01, 2005, Emergency Declared EM-3225: September 07, 2005, FEMA Id: 3225, Natural disaster type: Hurricane
Michigan Blizzards and Snowstorms, Incident Period: January 27, 1978, Emergency Declared EM-3057: January 27, 1978, FEMA Id: 3057, Natural disaster type: Snowstorm, Blizzard
Michigan Drought, Incident Period: March 02, 1977, Emergency Declared EM-3035: March 02, 1977, FEMA Id: 3035, Natural disaster type: Drought
The number of natural disasters in Benzie County (3) is a lot smaller than the US average (13). Emergencies Declared: 3
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations (9%)
Production occupations (8%)
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations (7%)
Food preparation and serving related occupations (6%)
Office and administrative support occupations (18%)
Sales and related occupations (13%)
Health diagnosing and treating practitioners and other technical occupations (10%)
Food preparation and serving related occupations (7%)
Management occupations (7%)
Healthcare support occupations (6%)
Education, training, and library occupations (6%)
Most common places of birth for the foreign-born residents (%):
India (19%)
Mexico (16%)
Ukraine (15%)
Germany (14%)
Canada (10%)
Colombia (4%)
Russia (4%)
Most common first ancestries reported in Benzie County (%):
German (17%)
American (11%)
English (9%)
Irish (8%)
Polish (5%)
Dutch (5%)
Norwegian (4%)
Means of transportation to work:
Drove a car alone: 3,946 (74.6%)
Carpooled: 674 (12.7%)
Bus or trolley bus: 66 (1.2%)
Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 44 (0.8%)
Bicycle: 18 (0.3%)
Walked: 132 (2.5%)
Worked at home: 424 (8.0%)
Owners and renters by unit type in %
Breakdown of mean house values by ages of householders ($)
People in group quarters in Benzie County, Michigan in 2000:
99 people in nursing homes
39 people in local jails and other confinement facilities (including police lockups)
39 people in homes for the mentally retarded
38 people in other noninstitutional group quarters
26 people in unknown juvenile institutions
15 people in other group homes
7 people in agriculture workers' dormitories on farms
People in group quarters in Benzie County, Michigan in 2010:
91 people in nursing facilities/skilled-nursing facilities
69 people in group homes intended for adults
50 people in local jails and other municipal confinement facilities
25 people in workers' group living quarters and job corps centers
8 people in military barracks and dormitories (nondisciplinary)
5 people in correctional facilities intended for juveniles
4 people in other noninstitutional facilities
Average gross adjusted income of non-migrant taxpayers in this county in 2010 was $45,434.
6.57% of this county's 2011 resident taxpayers lived in other counties in 2010 ($38,901 average adjusted gross income)
Here:
6.57%
Michigan average:
5.09%
10 or fewer of this county's residents moved from foreign countries.
4.97% relocated from other counties in Michigan ($24,585 average AGI)
1.60% relocated from other states ($14,316 average AGI)
Benzie County:
1.60%
Michigan average:
1.52%
Percentage of residents relocating from other counties or countries
Top counties from which taxpayers relocated into this county between 2010 and 2011:
6.77% of this county's 2010 resident taxpayers moved to other counties in 2011 ($30,827 average adjusted gross income)
Here:
6.77%
Michigan average:
5.58%
10 or fewer of this county's residents moved to foreign countries.
4.91% relocated to other counties in Michigan ($21,671 average AGI)
1.86% relocated to other states ($9,156 average AGI)
Benzie County:
1.86%
Michigan average:
2.00%
Percentage of residents relocating to other counties or countries
Top counties to which taxpayers relocated from this county between 2010 and 2011:
Births per 1000 population from 1990 to 1999: 12.4 Births per 1000 population from 2000 to 2006: 11.7
Births per 1000 population in Benzie County
Deaths per 1000 population from 1990 to 1999: 10.7 Deaths per 1000 population from 2000 to 2006: 10.0 Deaths per 1000 population from 2007 to 2014: 11.3
Deaths per 1000 population in Benzie County
Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 1990 to 1999: 7.0 Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 2000 to 2006: 6.1
Infant deaths per 1000 live births in Benzie County
Population without health insurance coverage in 2013: 15.8% Persons under 19 years old without health insurance coverage in 2013: 7.0%
Percentage of population without health insurance coverage in Benzie County
Percentage of population without health insurance coverage in Benzie County
Persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare) in July 1, 2007: 3,831 (3,288 aged, 543 disabled) Children under 18 without health insurance coverage in 2007: 236 (6%)
Persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare)
Aged persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare)
Disabled persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare)
Most common underlying causes of death in Benzie County, Michigan in 1999 - 2014:
Bronchus or lung, unspecified - Malignant neoplasms (224)
Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, so described (75)
Stroke, not specified as haemorrhage or infarction (75)
Unspecified diabetes mellitus, without complications (73)
Congestive heart failure (58)
Population without health insurance coverage in 2000: 11% Children under 18 without health insurance coverage in 2000: 8%
Short term general hospitals per 100,000 population in 2004: 5.73 Short term general hospital admissions per 100,000 population in 2004: 979 Short term general hospital beds per 100,000 population in 2004: 275 Emergency room visits per 100,000 population in 2004: 30,442
General practice office based MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 964 Medical specialist MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 895 Dentists per 100,000 population in 1998: 6
Total births per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006 : 27 Total deaths per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006: 91
Limited-service eating places per 100,000 population in 2005 : 28 Beer, wine & liquor stores per 100,000 population in 2005: 1
Household type by relationship:
Households: 17,494
In family households: 14,057 (2,466 male householders, 2,161 female householders)
3,801 spouses, 4,213 children (3,873 natural, 85 adopted, 258 stepchildren), 379 grandchildren, 87 brothers or sisters, 152 parents, 247 other relatives, 551 non-relatives
In nonfamily households: 3,109 (1,081 male householders (872 living alone)), 1,496 female householders (1,320 living alone)), 526 nonrelatives
In group quarters: 325
Size of family households: 2,730 2-persons, 786 3-persons, 613 4-persons, 314 5-persons, 171 6-persons, 29 7-or-more-persons.
1,990 married couples with children.
876 single-parent households (289 men, 587 women).
95.9% of residents of Benzie speak English at home.
2.1% of residents speak Spanish at home (80% speak English very well, 11% speak English well, 9% speak English not well).
2.0% of residents speak other Indo-European language at home (79% speak English very well, 11% speak English well, 10% speak English not well).
0.1% of residents speak Asian or Pacific Island language at home (52% speak English very well, 48% speak English well).
0.1% of residents speak other language at home (82% speak English very well, 18% speak English not well).
In fiscal year 2004:
Federal Government expenditure: $87,947,000 ($5,035 per capita) Department of Defense expenditure: $1,807,000 Federal direct payments to individuals for retirement and disability: $49,906,000 Federal other direct payments to individuals: $15,877,000 Federal direct payments not to individuals: $69,000 Federal grants: $15,909,000 Federal procurement contracts: $2,799,000 ($100,000 Department of Defense) Federal salaries and wages: $3,387,000 ($0,000 Department of Defense) Federal Government direct loans: $670,000 Federal guaranteed/insured loans: $7,203,000 Federal Government insurance: $681,000
Population change from April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2005:
Births: 1,053
Here:
60 per 1000 residents
State:
68 per 1000 residents
Deaths: 912
Here:
52 per 1000 residents
State:
45 per 1000 residents
Net international migration: +31
Here:
+2 per 1000 residents
State:
+12 per 1000 residents
Net internal migration: +1,505
Here:
+85 per 1000 residents
State:
-16 per 1000 residents
Population growth in Benzie County
Total withdrawal of fresh water for public supply: 0.72 millions of gallons per day (all from ground)
Median number of rooms in houses and condos:
Here:
6.0
State:
6.4
Median number of rooms in apartments:
Here:
4.8
State:
4.4
Year house built
2014 or later: 47
2010 to 2013: 294
2000 to 2009: 2,449
1990 to 1999: 2,603
1980 to 1989: 1,415
1970 to 1979: 1,617
1960 to 1969: 935
1950 to 1959: 862
1940 to 1949: 502
1939 or earlier: 1,656
Note: State values scaled to Benzie population
Rooms in houses/apartments in Benzie County, Michigan
Note: State values scaled to Benzie County population
no vehicle: 153
1 vehicle: 1,842
2 vehicles: 2,708
3 vehicles: 970
4 vehicles: 311
5+ vehicles: 221
no vehicle: 115
1 vehicle: 489
2 vehicles: 275
3 vehicles: 94
4 vehicles: 6
5+ vehicles: 16
89% of Benzie County residents lived in the same house 1 years ago. Out of people who lived in different houses, 32% lived in this county. Out of people who lived in different counties, 68% lived in Michigan.
Benzie County:
88.7%
State average:
85.2%
Place of birth for U.S.-born residents:
This state: 14,088
Other state: 3,010
Northeast: 318
Midwest: 1,736
South: 577
West: 396
Year Householders Moved Into Unit
Most commonly used house heating fuel in Benzie County
Click here to upload your Benzie County photos (outside city limits)
48.8 years
39.7 years
(49.9%)
(50.1%)
, Clinton County, New York 
, Hamlin County, South Dakota 
