Mason County, Michigan Housing Market Prices
Mason County Home Prices and Rent at a Glance
The median home price (often called the average home price), rent costs, affordability metrics, and housing stock characteristics for this housing market.
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Median home price 84% above the Michigan median More expensive than 85% of counties in Michigan$254,688
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Median rent 21% below the Michigan median$895
Median Home Price Map: Nearby Counties
Housing Market Overview
| Metric | Mason County | Michigan Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $254,688 | $138,713 | $248,835 |
| Price Trend (Annual %) | 18.9% | 8.6% | 7.5% |
| Median Gross Rent | $895 | $1,129 | $1,407 |
| Rent Trend (Annual %) | 3.6% | 4.5% | 5.1% |
| Household Income Trend (Annual %) | — | — | — |
The median home price in Mason County is about 84% higher than in Michigan. Rent is about 21% lower than the Michigan average.
Median Home and Rent Price Trends
Median Home Prices, 2015-2024
Median Rent Prices, 2015-2024
Both home prices and rent are rising in Mason County, up about 18.9% and 3.6% a year respectively. Home prices are changing faster.
Median rent in Mason County rose about 31.9% between 2015 and 2024, from $679 to $895. Over the same span, rent in Michigan rose about 44.2%.
Affordability
On average, housing unit costs 3.8 yearly household incomes in Mason County.
Buying the median-priced home in Mason County costs roughly 23.7 years of rent at the median monthly rate. That is a relatively high price-to-rent ratio, which tends to favor renting over buying in Mason County. The price-to-rent ratio in Michigan is about 10.2.
| Metric | Mason County | Michigan Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $254,688 | $138,713 | $248,835 |
| Median Household Income | $66,292 | $72,977 | $80,455 |
| Price-to-Income Ratio | 3.8 | 1.9 | 3.1 |
Home Prices vs Income Over Time
Between 2015 and 2024, the median home price in Mason County rose about 205.9%, while median household income rose about 51.2% between 2009 and 2025 — the home price grew faster than income.
Income Growth vs Housing Cost Growth (Year-over-Year %)
Compare income and housing cost trends.
Occupancy & Tenure
| Metric | Mason County | Michigan Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homeownership Rate | 57.0% | 64.6% | 58.5% |
| Rental Rate | 15.8% | 23.6% | 31.2% |
| Vacancy Rate | 27.3% | 11.8% | 10.2% |
| Median Tenure (years) | 16.0 | 16.0 | 15.0 |
| Median Year Moved In | 2010 | 2010 | 2011 |
Mason County has a homeownership rate of 57.0%, lower than the Michigan average of 64.6%. Its housing vacancy rate is 27.3%, compared with 11.8% in Michigan.
Housing Stock
| Metric | Mason County | Michigan Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Household Size | 2.25 people | 2.42 people | 2.53 people |
| Median Structure Built Year | 1974 | 1972 | 1978 |
| Median Number of Rooms | 5.6 | 5.9 | 5.5 |
The typical housing unit in Mason County was built around 1974. On average, 2.3 people live in a home with about 5.6 rooms, staying for about 16.0 years on average.
Mason County, MI Housing Compared With Nearby Counties
How Mason County, MI compares with the 2 counties closest to it.
| Area | Population | Median home price | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mason County, MI | 29,204 | $254,688 #2/3 | $895 #2/3 | 78.3% #2/3 |
| Manistee County, MI | 25,350 | $272,572 | $841 | 85.8% |
| Muskegon County, MI | 175,961 | $145,731 | $1,028 | 78.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the housing market in Mason County, Michigan.
What is the median home price in Mason County, Michigan?
The median home price in Mason County, Michigan is $254,688, higher than the Michigan average of $138,713.
What is the average home price in Mason County, Michigan?
The typical home price in Mason County, Michigan, reported as the median sale price, is $254,688. The median is used instead of a mathematical average because it is not skewed by a small number of very expensive or very cheap homes, so it better reflects what a typical buyer pays.
What is the median rent in Mason County, Michigan?
The median gross rent in Mason County, Michigan is $895 per month, lower than the Michigan average of $1,129.
What was the median gross rent in Mason County in 2020?
In 2020, the median gross rent in Mason County, Michigan was $747 per month.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Mason County, Michigan?
The price-to-rent ratio in Mason County, Michigan is about 23.7, meaning it would take roughly 23.7 years of rent payments at the median rent to equal the median home price. That is a relatively high price-to-rent ratio, which tends to favor renting over buying in Mason County.
Are home prices or rent rising faster in Mason County, Michigan?
Both home prices and rent are rising in Mason County, up about 18.9% and 3.6% a year respectively. Home prices are changing faster.
What is the homeownership rate in Mason County, Michigan?
57.0% of households in Mason County, Michigan own their home, lower than the Michigan average of 64.6%.
What is the vacancy rate in Mason County, Michigan?
The housing vacancy rate in Mason County, Michigan is 27.3%, higher than the Michigan average of 11.8%.
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