The Town Files

Benzie County, Michigan

18,310 people. The median home is worth $285,700 (typical Michigan town: $193,900) and the median household earns $74,834.

Towns in Benzie County

Towns in Benzie County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Almira3,873$284,600$90,27840.7
Benzonia2,734$327,000$72,50058.6

People and housing

Benzie CountyTypical Michigan town
Median home value$285,700$193,900
Median rent$1,026$955
Median household income$74,834$69,792
Median age50.843.7
Bachelor's degree or higher36.9%21.5%
Below the poverty line9.7%10.4%

Jobs and pay

4,882 jobs in 2024, average pay $45,619 a year.

Largest industries in Benzie CountyHotels & restaurants1,225 jobs · $30,276Retail600 jobs · $34,992Construction472 jobs · $62,547Health care & social assistan…453 jobs · $64,805Manufacturing301 jobs · $57,311Finance & insurance199 jobs · $70,823
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Benzie County0%4%8%12%2000200420082012201620202023 5%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 183 storm events in Benzie County from 1996 to 2026, with 1 deaths.

Storm events in Benzie County by type since 1996Hail16Blizzard5High Wind9Ice Storm4Heavy Snow35Rip Current2Winter Storm59Excessive Heat1Lakeshore Flood4Lake-Effect Snow12
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Benzie County has been included in 6 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
June 30, 2026FloodDR-4925: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding
March 27, 2020BiologicalDR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3455: Covid-19
September 7, 2005HurricaneEM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation
January 27, 1978SnowstormEM-3057: Blizzards & Snowstorms
March 2, 1977DroughtEM-3035: Drought
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).