Sanilac County, Michigan: commercial real estate data.
Sanilac County, Michigan had an estimated 40,293 residents on July 1, 2024, down 0.8 percent since the 2020 census base of 40,614, across 963 square miles. County output reached $1.75 bn in 2024, 848 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 24 7(a) approvals worth $5.6 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Sanilac County
How many people live in Sanilac County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202440,462
- Households17,516
- Average household size2.31
- Median household income$58,863
- Median age45.5
- Median gross rent$807 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$168,300
- Home value to household income2.9 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income16.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher16.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree6.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over29,043
- Population under 188,472
- Share under 1820.9 percent
- Population 65 and over9,406
- Share 65 and over23.2 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6422,584
- Civilian labor force18,134
- Unemployment rate6.0 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over56.7 percent
- Rank by population among Michigan counties41st of 83
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1197th of 3,222
Sanilac County is the 41st largest of 83 Michigan counties by population. A median home costs 2.9 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 23.2 percent against 20.9 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.
Sanilac County
Is Sanilac County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202440,293
- Census 2020 base population40,614
- Population change since the 2020 census base-0.79 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024-141
- Births, 2024379
- Deaths, 2024574
- Natural change, 2024-195
- Net domestic migration, 20248
- Net international migration, 202447
- Total net migration, 202455
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024453
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents2115th of 3,144
The county has lost 0.79 percent of its population since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 by more than net migration added, so the population fell even though more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Sanilac County
Where are people moving to Sanilac County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving916
- People arriving, from those returns1,614
- Tax returns filed by households leaving963
- Net household movement-47
- Adjusted gross income arriving$52.9 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$7.0 m
- Average income of an arriving household$57,790
- Average income of a leaving household$47,672
- Largest single originSt. Clair County (200 households)
- Largest single destinationSt. Clair County (235 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Clair County | 200 | 362 | $8.7 m |
| Macomb County | 149 | 248 | $14.0 m |
| Lapeer County | 78 | 136 | $2.8 m |
| Tuscola County | 64 | 128 | $2.7 m |
| Huron County | 52 | 86 | $2.0 m |
| Oakland County | 49 | 76 | $4.1 m |
| Wayne County | 34 | 54 | $2.1 m |
| Genesee County | 23 | 42 | $975,000 |
Households arriving report $10,118 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 St. Clair 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.
Sanilac County
What is the Sanilac County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$1.75 bn
- County GDP, 2023$1.65 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20245.8 percent
- GDP change over five years43.3 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Michigan areas BEA publishes43rd of 83
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1394th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$43,176
Output grew 5.8 percent in the latest year and 43.3 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.
Sanilac County
Employment by industry in Sanilac County
- Covered employment, annual average10,437
- Establishments reporting879
- Average annual pay$48,626
- Average weekly wage$935
- Manufacturing, employment2,720
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$63,221
- Retail trade, employment1,299
- Retail trade, average annual pay$35,842
- Health care and social assistance, employment1,149
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$51,079
- Accommodation and food services, employment882
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$17,327
- Construction, employment442
- Finance and insurance, employment321
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 2,720 | 63 | $63,221 |
| Retail trade | 1,299 | 113 | $35,842 |
| Health care and social assistance | 1,149 | 71 | $51,079 |
| Accommodation and food services | 882 | 60 | $17,327 |
| Construction | 442 | 100 | $57,582 |
| Finance and insurance | 321 | 54 | $59,268 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 300 | 52 | $44,671 |
| Other services, except public administration | 238 | 68 | $35,924 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 2,720 jobs, 26.1 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Sanilac County
How many businesses are in Sanilac County?
- Establishments, all industries848
- Employment at those establishments8,997
- Annual payroll$417.5 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents21.0
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.
Sanilac County
Building permits in Sanilac County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202463
- Declared construction value permitted$13.5 m
- Single family units authorized63
- Multifamily units authorized0
- Multifamily share of units0.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$213,590
- Units authorized per 1,000 households3.6
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.
Sanilac County
SBA loans in Sanilac County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded24
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$5.6 m
- Average 7(a) approval$232,504
- Median 7(a) approval$98,500
- 10th percentile approval$25,000
- 90th percentile approval$622,290
- Largest single approval$1,325,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)281
- Jobs per approval11.7
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active7
- Distinct industries receiving approvals18
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer8.3 percent
- Loans on real estate terms2
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter20
- Franchise loans2
- Franchise share of approvals8.3 percent
- Most active lenderThe Huntington National Bank (15)
- 504 approvals recorded6
- 504 gross approval dollars$1.1 m
- Average 504 approval$181,500
- Median 504 approval$167,500
- Distinct CDCs active1
- 504 jobs per approval4.8
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved26.6
- Most active CDCMichigan Certified Development Corporation (6)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$6.7 m
The average approval of $232,504 sits well above the median of $98,500, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 8.3 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.
Sanilac County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Sanilac County
Do SBA loans in Sanilac County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded2
- Paid in full2
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full2
- Status: Exempt from disclosure16
- Status: Cancelled3
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed3
Only 2 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.
Sanilac County
SBA lending by place in Sanilac County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending9
- Sandusky, approvals8
- Deckerville, approvals4
- Croswell, approvals3
- Port Sanilac, approvals2
- Brown City, approvals2
- Decker, approvals2
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Sandusky | 8 | $2,372,400 |
| Deckerville | 4 | $610,000 |
| Croswell | 3 | $975,000 |
| Port Sanilac | 2 | $764,700 |
| Brown City | 2 | $560,000 |
| Decker | 2 | $122,000 |
| Carsonville | 1 | $81,000 |
| Marlette | 1 | $50,000 |
| 1 other borrower city | 1 | $45,000 |
Sandusky accounts for 8 approvals against 4 in Deckerville. 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.
Sanilac County
How large is Sanilac County?
- Land area963 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Michigan counties11th of 83
- Width, east to west31 mi
- Height, north to south37 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary4
- Residents per square mile of land42
- Establishments per square mile0.88
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.
Sanilac County
Flood risk in Sanilac County
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book15
- Of those, participating in the NFIP12
- NFIP participation rate80.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Sanilac County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The EPA places Sanilac County in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 80.0 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 Sanilac 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 Sanilac County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202440,462
- Households17,516
- Average household size2.31
- Median household income$58,863
- Median age45.5
Common questions
Sanilac County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Sanilac County, Michigan?
The Census Bureau estimates 40,293 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 40,462, in 17,516 households, ranking 41st of 83 Michigan counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Sanilac County's population growing?
The population has fallen 0.79 percent since the 2020 census base of 40,614, to 40,293 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 379 births against 574 deaths, with net migration of 55. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Sanilac County?
$58,863. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $168,300, which is 2.9 times income, and median gross rent is $807 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Sanilac County?
848 establishments, employing 8,997 people with an annual payroll of $417.5 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 Sanilac County?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 2,720 jobs, 26.1 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 10,437 jobs at an average annual pay of $48,626, or $935 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Sanilac County?
24 7(a) approvals totaling $5.6 m since FY2020, across 7 lenders, with a median approval of $98,500, plus 6 504 approvals worth $1.1 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Sanilac County?
63 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $13.5 m. Multifamily was 0.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Sanilac County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Sanilac County come from?
The largest single origin is St. Clair County, with 200 households. Arriving households report an average income of $57,790 against $47,672 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Sanilac 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 Sanilac 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.
Sanilac County
Cities and places in Sanilac.
14 Census places lie wholly or partly in Sanilac 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sandusky | city | 2,694 | 8 | Wholly in this county |
| Croswell | city | 2,488 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Marlette | city | 1,850 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Brown City | city | 1,139 | 2 | 95.9 percent here, 4.1 percent Lapeer County |
| Lexington | village | 1,126 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Deckerville | village | 1,042 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Port Sanilac | village | 812 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Peck | village | 589 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Carsonville | village | 463 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Applegate | village | 255 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Minden City | village | 203 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Snover | CDP | 192 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Melvin | village | 139 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Forestville | village | 136 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 2 of the county's 24 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Sanilac County, the largest being Decker (2). 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