Benzie County, Michigan Income Statistics
Benzie County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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C
Benzie County Below averageWealthier than 77% of counties in Michigan
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Benzie County | Michigan Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $74,821 | $72,977 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $52,079 | $59,920 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.5% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 8.8% | 11.4% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 7.3% | 9.5% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Benzie County is about 3% higher than in Michigan. Income has been growing faster in Benzie County (5.5%/yr) than in Michigan (4.6%/yr).
About 9% of adults in Benzie County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Michigan average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Benzie County, Michigan grew by 68.8% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $74,821 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.5% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Benzie County
| Metric | Benzie County | Michigan Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.497 | 0.539 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $64,839 | $69,354 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $49,144 | $54,749 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 24.2% | 21.1% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Benzie County, it is 0.497, lower than Michigan's 0.539, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 32% more than women's income in Benzie County, Michigan. Over a 35-year career, a 32% wage gap accumulates to roughly $549,325 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Benzie County, Michigan has widened from about 18% to 24% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 24% in 2023, and was narrowest at 13% in 2018. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $8,801 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in Benzie County widened by 6.3 points while Michigan's narrowed by 7.0 points.
Employment
| Metric | Benzie County | Michigan Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.1% | 5.7% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 11.1% | 13.5% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 22 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 260 people are unemployed in Benzie County, Michigan.
The average commute time in Benzie County is 22 minutes, longer than the 21 minutes in Michigan.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Benzie County, Michigan has fallen from 11.2% to 3.1% in 2024.
Benzie County, MI Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Benzie County, MI is the smallest of the 6 counties compared here, 18,310 residents against a local median of 29,204. Where Benzie County, MI breaks from the counties next to it is unemployment, sitting 32% below the local median of 4.5% at 3.1%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 2.9% on unemployment, so Benzie County, MI sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Benzie County, MI has the lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benzie County, MI | 18,310 | $74,821 #3/6 | 5.5%/yr #2/6 | 3.1% #1/6 | 0.497 #1/6 |
| Manistee County, MI | 25,350 | $64,478 | 5.3%/yr | 6.4% | 0.517 |
| Leelanau County, MI | 22,734 | $99,683 | 6.8%/yr | 3.4% | 0.517 |
| Mason County, MI | 29,204 | $66,292 | 5.5%/yr | 4.5% | 0.510 |
| Grand Traverse County, MI | 96,166 | $82,482 | 4.9%/yr | 3.8% | 0.500 |
| Wexford County, MI | 34,076 | $61,341 | 5.4%/yr | 5.3% | 0.513 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Benzie County, Michigan has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it somewhat better than Michigan, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Benzie County, Michigan.
How Rich Is Benzie County, Michigan?
Benzie County has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $74,821, about 3% higher than the Michigan average of $72,977.
How has median household income changed in Benzie County, Michigan?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Benzie County, Michigan rose 69%, from $44,336 to $74,821. Over the same years, income here outpaced Michigan as a whole: +69% against +50%.
What was the median household income in Benzie County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Benzie County, Michigan was $72,444, about the same as in 2022. The Michigan median that year was $71,362.
What was the median household income in Benzie County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Benzie County, Michigan was $63,880. By 2024 it had risen 17% to $74,821.
How strong is the job market in Benzie County, Michigan?
Unemployment in Benzie County, Michigan is only 3.1%, well below the Michigan rate of 5.7%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Benzie County, Michigan?
The Gini coefficient in Benzie County is 0.497. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Benzie County, Michigan?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Benzie County, Michigan has widened from about 18% to 24% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 24% in 2023, and was narrowest at 13% in 2018. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $8,801 since 2009.
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