Benzie County, Michigan: commercial real estate data.
Benzie County, Michigan had an estimated 18,520 residents on July 1, 2024, up 3.1 percent since the 2020 census base of 17,967, across 320 square miles. County output reached $740.7 m in 2024, 474 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 25 7(a) approvals worth $5.1 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Benzie County
How many people live in Benzie County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202418,310
- Households7,708
- Average household size2.38
- Median household income$74,834
- Median age50.8
- Median gross rent$1,026 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$285,700
- Home value to household income3.8 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income16.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher36.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree14.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over14,033
- Population under 183,094
- Share under 1816.9 percent
- Population 65 and over5,261
- Share 65 and over28.7 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 649,955
- Civilian labor force8,406
- Unemployment rate3.1 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over55.2 percent
- Rank by population among Michigan counties65th of 83
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1976th of 3,222
Benzie County is the 65th largest of 83 Michigan counties by population. A median home costs 3.8 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 28.7 percent against 16.9 percent, which points demand at health care, services and single story product rather than schools.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Benzie County
Is Benzie County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202418,520
- Census 2020 base population17,967
- Population change since the 2020 census base3.08 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 202460
- Births, 2024132
- Deaths, 2024222
- Natural change, 2024-90
- Net domestic migration, 2024117
- Net international migration, 202435
- Total net migration, 2024152
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024859
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents848th of 3,144
The county has grown 3.08 percent since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 and the population still grew, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Benzie County
Where are people moving to Benzie County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving657
- People arriving, from those returns1,153
- Tax returns filed by households leaving541
- Net household movement116
- Adjusted gross income arriving$52.5 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$18.0 m
- Average income of an arriving household$79,895
- Average income of a leaving household$63,817
- Largest single originGrand Traverse County (172 households)
- Largest single destinationGrand Traverse County (147 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Traverse County | 172 | 303 | $8.8 m |
| Manistee County | 52 | 82 | $1.8 m |
| Leelanau County | 38 | 79 | $2.2 m |
| Oakland County | 27 | 47 | $2.5 m |
| Kent County | 26 | 48 | $3.2 m |
Households arriving report $16,078 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Grand Traverse County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Benzie County
What is the Benzie County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$740.7 m
- County GDP, 2023$708.0 m
- GDP change, 2023 to 20244.6 percent
- GDP change over five years45.5 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Michigan areas BEA publishes65th of 83
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes2087th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$40,455
Output grew 4.6 percent in the latest year and 45.5 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Benzie County
Employment by industry in Benzie County
- Covered employment, annual average4,882
- Establishments reporting483
- Average annual pay$45,619
- Average weekly wage$877
- Accommodation and food services, employment1,225
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$30,276
- Retail trade, employment600
- Retail trade, average annual pay$34,992
- Construction, employment472
- Construction, average annual pay$62,547
- Health care and social assistance, employment453
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$64,805
- Manufacturing, employment301
- Finance and insurance, employment199
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and food services | 1,225 | 64 | $30,276 |
| Retail trade | 600 | 58 | $34,992 |
| Construction | 472 | 83 | $62,547 |
| Health care and social assistance | 453 | 28 | $64,805 |
| Manufacturing | 301 | 19 | $57,311 |
| Finance and insurance | 199 | 17 | $70,823 |
| Other services, except public administration | 158 | 40 | $30,059 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 156 | 27 | $55,030 |
Accommodation and food services is the largest private sector at 1,225 jobs, 25.1 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Benzie County
How many businesses are in Benzie County?
- Establishments, all industries474
- Employment at those establishments3,659
- Annual payroll$161.1 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents25.9
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Benzie County
Building permits in Benzie County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024110
- Declared construction value permitted$34.9 m
- Single family units authorized110
- Multifamily units authorized0
- Multifamily share of units0.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$317,643
- Units authorized per 1,000 households14.3
Single-family homes are 100.0 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Benzie County
SBA loans in Benzie County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded25
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$5.1 m
- Average 7(a) approval$203,180
- Median 7(a) approval$150,000
- 10th percentile approval$25,000
- 90th percentile approval$500,000
- Largest single approval$790,300
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)177
- Jobs per approval7.1
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active9
- Distinct industries receiving approvals17
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer16.0 percent
- Loans on real estate terms4
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter21
- Franchise loans2
- Franchise share of approvals8.0 percent
- Leading industry by approval countLandscaping Services (4)
- Most active lenderThe Huntington National Bank (12)
- 504 approvals recorded14
- 504 gross approval dollars$4.7 m
- Average 504 approval$333,714
- Median 504 approval$243,500
- Distinct CDCs active2
- 504 jobs per approval4.9
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved14.6
- Most active CDCGreat Lakes Commercial Finance (10)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$9.8 m
The average approval of $203,180 sits well above the median of $150,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 16.0 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Benzie County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Benzie County
Do SBA loans in Benzie County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded5
- Paid in full5
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full5
- Status: Exempt from disclosure18
- Status: Cancelled2
Only 5 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Benzie County
SBA lending by place in Benzie County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending8
- Beulah, approvals7
- Frankfort, approvals5
- Lake Ann, approvals5
- Thompsonville, approvals3
- Midland, approvals2
- Honor, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Beulah | 7 | $2,190,000 |
| Frankfort | 5 | $1,594,200 |
| Lake Ann | 5 | $343,000 |
| Thompsonville | 3 | $141,100 |
| Midland | 2 | $270,000 |
| Honor | 1 | $365,000 |
| Pinconning | 1 | $156,200 |
| Benzonia | 1 | $20,000 |
Beulah accounts for 7 approvals against 5 in Frankfort. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Benzie County
How large is Benzie County?
- Land area320 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Michigan counties83rd of 83
- Width, east to west21.8 mi
- Height, north to south18.3 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary3
- Residents per square mile of land57
- Establishments per square mile1.48
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Benzie County
Flood risk in Benzie County
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book7
- Of those, participating in the NFIP6
- NFIP participation rate85.7 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Benzie County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/LZone 3
The EPA places Benzie County in radon zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 85.7 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Benzie County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Benzie County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202418,310
- Households7,708
- Average household size2.38
- Median household income$74,834
- Median age50.8
Common questions
Benzie County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Benzie County, Michigan?
The Census Bureau estimates 18,520 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 18,310, in 7,708 households, ranking 65th of 83 Michigan counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Benzie County's population growing?
The population has grown 3.08 percent since the 2020 census base of 17,967, to 18,520 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 132 births against 222 deaths, with net migration of 152. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Benzie County?
$74,834. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $285,700, which is 3.8 times income, and median gross rent is $1,026 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Benzie County?
474 establishments, employing 3,659 people with an annual payroll of $161.1 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Benzie County?
Accommodation and food services is the largest private sector at 1,225 jobs, 25.1 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 4,882 jobs at an average annual pay of $45,619, or $877 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Benzie County?
25 7(a) approvals totaling $5.1 m since FY2020, across 9 lenders, with a median approval of $150,000, plus 14 504 approvals worth $4.7 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Benzie County?
110 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $34.9 m. Multifamily was 0.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Benzie County?
Zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Benzie County come from?
The largest single origin is Grand Traverse County, with 172 households. Arriving households report an average income of $79,895 against $63,817 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Benzie County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Benzie County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Benzie County
Cities and places in Benzie.
14 Census places lie wholly or partly in Benzie County. All 14 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frankfort | city | 1,225 | 5 | Wholly in this county |
| Benzonia | village | 718 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Hardwood Acres | CDP | 611 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Thompsonville | village | 490 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Bendon | CDP | 315 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Lake Ann | village | 273 | 5 | Wholly in this county |
| Beulah | village | 218 | 7 | Wholly in this county |
| Elberta | village | 174 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Honor | village | 172 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Crystal Mountain | CDP | 166 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Nessen City | CDP | 149 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Maple Grove | CDP | 82 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Crystal Downs Country Club | CDP | 64 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Pilgrim | CDP | 24 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 3 of the county's 25 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Benzie County, the largest being Midland (2), Pinconning (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.
Nearby