Counties with the most seniors in Michigan

Written by:
August 30, 2022
Notorious4life // Wikimedia Commons

Counties with the most seniors in Michigan

Seniors will comprise more than 20% of U.S. residents in 2030, up from 15% in 2020. By 2034, older adults will outnumber children, according to Census Bureau projections.

Across the U.S., 52 million Americans are 65 years or older, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, and a quarter of them live in just three states: California, Florida, and Texas. By comparison, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, Wyoming, and Alaska each have fewer than 150,000 senior residents. The size of a state's senior population means a lot in terms of demand for resources like health care, affordable housing, assisted living, in-home and nursing care, and support services, and the quality and availability of those resources help determine where seniors migrate.

With baby boomers moving into old age, fewer babies being born, and longer life expectancies, the senior population of America is on a spectacular rise. The lengthening of the U.S. life expectancy has been particularly dramatic, rising to nearly 79 years from 68 years in 1950.

Stacker compiled a list of counties with the most seniors in Michigan using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the highest percentage of residents 65 years or older according to 2020 5-year estimates.

Keep reading to find out which counties have the most seniors in Michigan.

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Charles W. Chapman // Wikimedia Commons

#50. Wexford County

- Population aged 65 or older: 19%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 23.2%
- Median age: 41.7 years old
--- Median age of males: 40.8 years old
--- Median age of females: 43.1 years old
- Total population: 33,433 people
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Tony Webster // Wikimedia Commons

#49. Marquette County

- Population aged 65 or older: 19.1%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 17.9%
- Median age: 39.2 years old
--- Median age of males: 38.8 years old
--- Median age of females: 39.5 years old
- Total population: 66,403 people
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kennethaw88 // Wikimedia Commons

#48. Saginaw County

- Population aged 65 or older: 19.2%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 21.5%
- Median age: 41 years old
--- Median age of males: 38.9 years old
--- Median age of females: 42.7 years old
- Total population: 191,166 people
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Charles W. Chapman // Wikimedia Commons

#47. Newaygo County

- Population aged 65 or older: 19.4%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 22.5%
- Median age: 42.4 years old
--- Median age of males: 41.3 years old
--- Median age of females: 43.4 years old
- Total population: 48,687 people
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Calvin Beale // Wikimedia Commons

#46. Hillsdale County

- Population aged 65 or older: 19.5%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 21.8%
- Median age: 42.1 years old
--- Median age of males: 41.1 years old
--- Median age of females: 42.8 years old
- Total population: 45,707 people

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Russell Sekeet (amtrak_russ) // Wikimedia Commons

#45. Berrien County

- Population aged 65 or older: 19.8%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 21.8%
- Median age: 42.3 years old
--- Median age of males: 40.8 years old
--- Median age of females: 43.7 years old
- Total population: 153,797 people
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stanthejeep // Wikimedia Commons

#44. Grand Traverse County

- Population aged 65 or older: 19.8%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 20.2%
- Median age: 43 years old
--- Median age of males: 41.2 years old
--- Median age of females: 44.8 years old
- Total population: 92,640 people
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Andrew Jameson // Wikimedia Commons

#43. Bay County

- Population aged 65 or older: 20.2%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 20.2%
- Median age: 43.6 years old
--- Median age of males: 41.6 years old
--- Median age of females: 45.7 years old
- Total population: 103,506 people
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Notorious4life // Wikimedia Commons

#42. Kalkaska County

- Population aged 65 or older: 20.3%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 20.9%
- Median age: 44.3 years old
--- Median age of males: 43.7 years old
--- Median age of females: 44.8 years old
- Total population: 17,725 people
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kennethaw88 // Wikimedia Commons

#41. Tuscola County

- Population aged 65 or older: 20.4%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 20.5%
- Median age: 44.8 years old
--- Median age of males: 43.3 years old
--- Median age of females: 46.6 years old
- Total population: 52,683 people

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Notorious4life // Wikimedia Commons

#40. Missaukee County

- Population aged 65 or older: 20.7%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 22.9%
- Median age: 43.3 years old
--- Median age of males: 42.7 years old
--- Median age of females: 43.9 years old
- Total population: 15,075 people
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rossograph // Wikimedia Commons

#39. Oceana County

- Population aged 65 or older: 20.8%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 22.6%
- Median age: 43.6 years old
--- Median age of males: 42.3 years old
--- Median age of females: 44.4 years old
- Total population: 26,545 people
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rossograph // Wikimedia Commons

#38. Cass County

- Population aged 65 or older: 20.8%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 20.7%
- Median age: 45.5 years old
--- Median age of males: 44.5 years old
--- Median age of females: 46.2 years old
- Total population: 51,613 people
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Charles W. Chapman // Wikimedia Commons

#37. Osceola County

- Population aged 65 or older: 20.9%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 22.4%
- Median age: 44.3 years old
--- Median age of males: 43.3 years old
--- Median age of females: 45.2 years old
- Total population: 23,323 people
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rossograph // Wikimedia Commons

#36. Otsego County

- Population aged 65 or older: 21.1%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 21.0%
- Median age: 44.8 years old
--- Median age of males: 43.3 years old
--- Median age of females: 45.9 years old
- Total population: 24,613 people

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Charles W. Chapman // Wikimedia Commons

#35. Luce County

- Population aged 65 or older: 21.3%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 16.4%
- Median age: 45.2 years old
--- Median age of males: 41.8 years old
--- Median age of females: 49.9 years old
- Total population: 6,286 people
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Michigan Department of Natural Resources // Wikimedia Commons

#34. Sanilac County

- Population aged 65 or older: 21.5%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 21.4%
- Median age: 45.4 years old
--- Median age of males: 44.4 years old
--- Median age of females: 46.6 years old
- Total population: 41,179 people
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Notorious4life // Wikimedia Commons

#33. Emmet County

- Population aged 65 or older: 22.4%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 19.2%
- Median age: 45.7 years old
--- Median age of males: 43.9 years old
--- Median age of females: 47.6 years old
- Total population: 33,175 people
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Modlind // Wikimedia Commons

#32. Baraga County

- Population aged 65 or older: 22.6%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 17.7%
- Median age: 45.8 years old
--- Median age of males: 42.2 years old
--- Median age of females: 49.5 years old
- Total population: 8,337 people
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rossograph // Wikimedia Commons

#31. Dickinson County

- Population aged 65 or older: 22.9%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 19.8%
- Median age: 47.4 years old
--- Median age of males: 45.7 years old
--- Median age of females: 48.3 years old
- Total population: 25,373 people

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Dylan L. Tanner // Wikimedia Commons

#30. Alpena County

- Population aged 65 or older: 23.2%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 18.7%
- Median age: 48.1 years old
--- Median age of males: 46.3 years old
--- Median age of females: 49.5 years old
- Total population: 28,431 people
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Doug Coldwell // Wikimedia Commons

#29. Mason County

- Population aged 65 or older: 23.7%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 20.3%
- Median age: 46.3 years old
--- Median age of males: 45.1 years old
--- Median age of females: 47.9 years old
- Total population: 29,062 people
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Iulus Ascanius // Wikimedia Commons

#28. Clare County

- Population aged 65 or older: 23.7%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 19.8%
- Median age: 47.7 years old
--- Median age of males: 46.8 years old
--- Median age of females: 48.4 years old
- Total population: 30,655 people
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Recomposemedia // Wikimedia Commons

#27. Delta County

- Population aged 65 or older: 24%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 19.8%
- Median age: 47.5 years old
--- Median age of males: 45.9 years old
--- Median age of females: 48.8 years old
- Total population: 35,874 people
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User:My name // Wikimedia Commons

#26. Charlevoix County

- Population aged 65 or older: 24.2%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 18.9%
- Median age: 49.1 years old
--- Median age of males: 47.9 years old
--- Median age of females: 49.8 years old
- Total population: 26,197 people

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Bobak Ha'Eri // Wikimedia Commons

#25. Menominee County

- Population aged 65 or older: 24.5%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 18.3%
- Median age: 49.2 years old
--- Median age of males: 47.9 years old
--- Median age of females: 50.2 years old
- Total population: 22,902 people
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Ian Poellet (User:Werewombat) // Wikimedia Commons

#24. Arenac County

- Population aged 65 or older: 24.9%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 18.1%
- Median age: 50 years old
--- Median age of males: 49.3 years old
--- Median age of females: 50.7 years old
- Total population: 15,013 people
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Charles Bash // Wikimedia Commons

#23. Huron County

- Population aged 65 or older: 25.3%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 19.2%
- Median age: 49.3 years old
--- Median age of males: 48.1 years old
--- Median age of females: 50.5 years old
- Total population: 31,105 people
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National Park Service // Wikimedia Commons

#22. Alger County

- Population aged 65 or older: 25.3%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 15.2%
- Median age: 49.6 years old
--- Median age of males: 45.9 years old
--- Median age of females: 53.2 years old
- Total population: 9,098 people
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Notorious4life // Wikimedia Commons

#21. Crawford County

- Population aged 65 or older: 25.3%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 18.4%
- Median age: 50.9 years old
--- Median age of males: 50.3 years old
--- Median age of females: 51.4 years old
- Total population: 13,904 people

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rossograph // Wikimedia Commons

#20. Manistee County

- Population aged 65 or older: 25.5%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 17.3%
- Median age: 49.5 years old
--- Median age of males: 47.9 years old
--- Median age of females: 51.4 years old
- Total population: 24,539 people
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Elevatorrailfan // Wikimedia Commons

#19. Ogemaw County

- Population aged 65 or older: 25.6%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 18.4%
- Median age: 50.6 years old
--- Median age of males: 49.5 years old
--- Median age of females: 51.9 years old
- Total population: 20,895 people
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US Army Corps of Engineer // Wikimedia Commons

#18. Benzie County

- Population aged 65 or older: 26.3%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 18.1%
- Median age: 50.1 years old
--- Median age of males: 49.2 years old
--- Median age of females: 50.9 years old
- Total population: 17,703 people
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Bobak Ha'Eri // Wikimedia Commons

#17. Gogebic County

- Population aged 65 or older: 26.5%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 15.7%
- Median age: 50 years old
--- Median age of males: 47.8 years old
--- Median age of females: 51.5 years old
- Total population: 14,715 people
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User:Malepheasant // Wikimedia Commons

#16. Gladwin County

- Population aged 65 or older: 26.8%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 19.0%
- Median age: 50.6 years old
--- Median age of males: 49.5 years old
--- Median age of females: 51.7 years old
- Total population: 25,312 people

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Notorious4life // Wikimedia Commons

#15. Antrim County

- Population aged 65 or older: 27.2%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 18.0%
- Median age: 51.6 years old
--- Median age of males: 50.3 years old
--- Median age of females: 53 years old
- Total population: 23,301 people
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Charles W. Chapman // Wikimedia Commons

#14. Schoolcraft County

- Population aged 65 or older: 27.3%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 17.0%
- Median age: 52.3 years old
--- Median age of males: 51.6 years old
--- Median age of females: 53.4 years old
- Total population: 8,031 people
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Cwbash (Charles W. Bash) // Wikimedia Commons

#13. Cheboygan County

- Population aged 65 or older: 27.5%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 16.5%
- Median age: 51.6 years old
--- Median age of males: 50.2 years old
--- Median age of females: 52.8 years old
- Total population: 25,435 people
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USFWSmidwest // Wikimedia Commons

#12. Oscoda County

- Population aged 65 or older: 28%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 19.2%
- Median age: 52.3 years old
--- Median age of males: 51.6 years old
--- Median age of females: 53.6 years old
- Total population: 8,282 people
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Jeffness // Wikimedia Commons

#11. Mackinac County

- Population aged 65 or older: 28.2%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 15.7%
- Median age: 53.1 years old
--- Median age of males: 51.7 years old
--- Median age of females: 53.5 years old
- Total population: 10,781 people

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rossograph // Wikimedia Commons

#10. Lake County

- Population aged 65 or older: 29.1%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 16.2%
- Median age: 53.8 years old
--- Median age of males: 53.1 years old
--- Median age of females: 54.2 years old
- Total population: 11,805 people
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Nick Nolte // Wikimedia Commons

#9. Iosco County

- Population aged 65 or older: 29.6%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 16.4%
- Median age: 52.9 years old
--- Median age of males: 52.1 years old
--- Median age of females: 54.4 years old
- Total population: 25,213 people
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Rklawton // Wikimedia Commons

#8. Iron County

- Population aged 65 or older: 30.2%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 16.4%
- Median age: 53.6 years old
--- Median age of males: 52.7 years old
--- Median age of females: 55.1 years old
- Total population: 11,099 people
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Alexey Stiop // Shutterstock

#7. Leelanau County

- Population aged 65 or older: 31.1%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 16.1%
- Median age: 54.6 years old
--- Median age of males: 53.6 years old
--- Median age of females: 55.5 years old
- Total population: 21,649 people
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David Coats // Wikimedia Commons

#6. Presque Isle County

- Population aged 65 or older: 31.6%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 15.8%
- Median age: 55.7 years old
--- Median age of males: 55.5 years old
--- Median age of females: 55.8 years old
- Total population: 12,687 people

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Henry Schenck Tanner // Wikimedia Commons

#5. Montmorency County

- Population aged 65 or older: 31.6%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 14.6%
- Median age: 56 years old
--- Median age of males: 55.9 years old
--- Median age of females: 56.2 years old
- Total population: 9,270 people
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Notorious4life // Wikimedia Commons

#4. Roscommon County

- Population aged 65 or older: 32.6%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 14.8%
- Median age: 56.6 years old
--- Median age of males: 56 years old
--- Median age of females: 56.8 years old
- Total population: 23,863 people
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Phoenix-Five // Wikimedia Commons

#3. Keweenaw County

- Population aged 65 or older: 35.8%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 14.6%
- Median age: 58.3 years old
--- Median age of males: 59 years old
--- Median age of females: 56.5 years old
- Total population: 2,102 people
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Notorious4life // Wikimedia Commons

#2. Alcona County

- Population aged 65 or older: 36.2%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 12.8%
- Median age: 58.9 years old
--- Median age of males: 58.3 years old
--- Median age of females: 59.5 years old
- Total population: 10,396 people
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RomanKahler // Wikimedia Commons

#1. Ontonagon County

- Population aged 65 or older: 36.3%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 11.8%
- Median age: 59.1 years old
--- Median age of males: 58.9 years old
--- Median age of females: 59.2 years old
- Total population: 5,802 people

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