Cost of Living in Benzie County, Michigan
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Benzie County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Benzie County ranks #2,278 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 27%)
Sourced county brief
Benzie County Median Home Value Exceeds State County Mean
Benzie County’s median home value is $285,700, which is higher than the Michigan unweighted county mean of $197,293. Median gross rent in the county was estimated at $1,026 per month, exceeding the state unweighted county mean of $906. The official ACS B25071 median gross rent as a percentage of household income, or GRAPI, is 30.4%. This value is 1.5 percentage points above the state unweighted county mean of 28.9%. For owner-occupied units, the median monthly owner cost is $1,044, compared to the unweighted county mean of $918 for Michigan. Renter-household income is estimated at a median of $42,188. These data points are provided by the ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Benzie County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 30.4% of renter household income in Benzie County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,026 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,044. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $41,040 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Michigan unweighted mean of county median rents is $906 per month. Benzie County's $1,026 median is 13.3% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Benzie County
Rent Burden
16.5%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,746
per month
Owner Cost Burden
16.7%
of gross income
The median home in Benzie County may be a stretch
Median home value is $285,700. Estimated monthly cost: $2,281 vs. your max of $1,746.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
See how much you need to earn to comfortably afford housing
$0/yr
Needed to stay within recommended threshold
$0/yr
Needed to stay within recommended threshold
$0/yr
Needed to stay within recommended threshold
Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of living in Benzie County, Michigan?
What is the median rent in Benzie County?
Is Benzie County affordable?
How does Benzie County's rent compare to the state average?
What is the median home value in Benzie County?
Counties with Similar Housing Costs
Planning a Move?
Researching the cost of living in Benzie County, Michigan? Compare moving quotes from top providers and save on your relocation.
Compare Moving QuotesCompare Mortgage Rates in Benzie County
Whether you're buying in Benzie County, Michigan, or refinancing, compare rates from top lenders using the terms each lender provides.
See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
CostByCounty participates in affiliate programs. We may earn a commission when you use our links, at no extra cost to you.