County profile · Michigan
Benzie County, MI market data
How Benzie County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 18,568
- +3.1% since 2020
- Households
- 7,708
- Median household income
- $74,834
- +29.1% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $285,700
- Jobs located here
- 3,869
- Highest market score
- 82
- Auto repair shops, #89 of 2,378 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Benzie County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Benzie County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
Benzie County has an estimated 18,568 people and 7,708 households. Population estimates put the population change in Benzie County from 2020 to 2025 at +3.1%, in step with the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in Benzie County is $74,834, 7% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 29.1%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in Benzie County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 119, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on child care and other personal services (67).
Of the business types scored in Benzie County, auto repair shops (82), medical and dental practices (81) and auto repair and car care businesses (80) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For auto repair shops, that ranks #89 of 2,378 scored counties.
Benzie County is part of the Traverse City metro area. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for bakeries and dessert shops (72% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for medical and dental practices (59% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Benzie County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Benzie County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auto repair shops | 82 | #89 of 2,378 | 15 | 19.5 | $587K | 132 | 3 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 81 | #90 of 2,394 | 27 | 35.0 | $394K | 258 | 10 |
| Auto repair and car care | 80 | #132 of 2,401 | 27 | 35.0 | $326K | 121 | 6 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 77 | #116 of 1,886 | 6 | 7.8 | $1.8M | 180 | 4 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 77 | #122 of 2,385 | 19 | 24.6 | $395K | 186 | 4 |
| Gas stations | 71 | #361 of 2,358 | 6 | 7.8 | $3.7M | 156 | 8 |
| Gyms | 66 | #327 of 1,792 | 5 | 6.5 | $1.3M | 101 | Under 3 |
| Hair salons | 64 | #505 of 2,339 | 16 | 20.8 | $469K | 109 | 3 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 62 | #667 of 2,222 | 11 | 14.3 | $2.7M | 87 | 11 |
| Pizza | 59 | #698 of 2,090 | 8 | 10.4 | $3.7M | 72 | 11 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 59 | #759 of 2,210 | 14 | 18.2 | $1.1M | 120 | Under 3 |
| Chiropractors | 58 | #527 of 1,490 | 5 | 6.5 | $2.1M | 89 | Under 3 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 56 | #835 of 2,087 | 11 | 14.3 | $1.3M | 106 | Under 3 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 54 | #874 of 2,088 | 11 | 14.3 | $598K | 90 | Under 3 |
| Convenience stores | 54 | #995 of 2,261 | 9 | 11.7 | $5.1M | 65 | Under 3 |
| Insurance agencies | 53 | #1,018 of 2,272 | 9 | 11.7 | $1.5M | 120 | 6 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 49 | #1,210 of 2,405 | 38 | 49.3 | $772K | 116 | 22 |
| Pet businesses | 45 | #1,345 of 2,200 | 12 | 15.6 | $529K | 60 | 4 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 40 | #1,609 of 2,402 | 23 | 29.8 | $2M | 59 | 7 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 40 | #1,627 of 2,405 | 90 | 116.8 | $326K | 88 | 39 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 39 | #1,443 of 2,063 | 10 | 13.0 | $2.9M | 79 | 6 |
| Grocery stores | 36 | #1,485 of 2,070 | 8 | 10.4 | $5.8M | 62 | 6 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 35 | #1,362 of 1,707 | 6 | 7.8 | $3.4M | 72 | 10 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 33 | #1,551 of 1,889 | 13 | 16.9 | $2.3M | 54 | 6 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 32 | #1,970 of 2,176 | 21 | 27.2 | Index only | 93 | 12 |
| Real estate | 31 | #2,041 of 2,229 | 26 | 33.7 | Index only | 95 | 20 |
| Home repair trades | 26 | #1,920 of 2,057 | 15 | 19.5 | $1.4M | 57 | 24 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 23 | #1,418 of 1,493 | 7 | 9.1 | $1.3M | 45 | 13 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 23 | #1,699 of 1,771 | 10 | 13.0 | $931K | 55 | 18 |
| Property management | 21 | #867 of 910 | 5 | 6.5 | Index only | 38 | 6 |
| Electricians | 20 | #1,104 of 1,160 | 7 | 9.1 | $2.9M | 24 | 14 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 5.2 | $1.6M | 62 | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 5.2 | $1.6M | 58 | 4 |
| Child care and preschools | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.9 | $999K | 100 | 5 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.9 | $2.9M | 95 | Under 3 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.9 | $515K | 76 | Under 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.9 | $2.2M | 109 | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.9 | $2.9M | 117 | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.9 | $2.2M | 54 | Under 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.6 | $4.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.6 | $4.7M | Too few | 5 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.6 | $5.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.6 | $5.3M | Too few | 6 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.6 | $10.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Spas and skin care | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.6 | $3.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.3 | $7.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.3 | $14.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.3 | $14.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.3 | $10.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.3 | $9.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.3 | $6.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in Benzie County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $8.8M | $1,142 | 119 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $22.3M | $2,899 | 112 |
| Food away from home | $29.3M | $3,805 | 93 |
| Groceries | $46.2M | $5,991 | 95 |
| Personal care products and services | $7.5M | $974 | 97 |
| Child care and other personal services | $3M | $389 | 67 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $6.6M | $853 | 87 |
| Medical and dental services | $10.6M | $1,380 | 107 |
| Pets | $6.4M | $824 | 91 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $14.8M | $1,925 | 94 |
| Vehicle insurance | $13.5M | $1,757 | 90 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $20.6M | $2,671 | 89 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $9.3M | $1,208 | 85 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $106.8M | $13,854 | 83 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Benzie County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 18,568+3.1% since 2020
- Households
- 7,708
- Median age
- 50.0
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 88%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.0
- Land area
- 320 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 57
- Median household income
- $74,834+29.1% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $98,649
- Median home value
- $285,700
- Jobs located here
- 3,869
- Daytime population
- 15,392Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Benzie County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Benzie County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in Michigan 8
- Grand Traverse County, MI96,166 people
- Leelanau County, MI22,734 people
- Manistee County, MI25,350 people
- Wexford County, MI34,077 people
- Kalkaska County, MI18,239 people
- Antrim County, MI24,127 people
- Missaukee County, MI15,207 people
- Lake County, MI12,563 people
Questions
How fast is Benzie County, MI growing?
Population estimates put Benzie County at 18,568 people in 2025, up 3.1% since 2020, in step with the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 7,708 households. Median household income rose 29.1% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in Benzie County, MI spend?
Households in Benzie County spend about $106.8M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $46.2M on groceries and $29.3M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in Benzie County spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 119, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on child care and other personal services (67).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Benzie County, MI?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Benzie County are for auto repair shops (82), medical and dental practices (81) and auto repair and car care businesses (80). Benzie County ranks #89 of 2,378 scored counties for auto repair shops.
How does Benzie County, MI compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Benzie County is $74,834 a year, 7% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 3.1% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $285,700, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Benzie County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for bakeries and dessert shops (72% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for medical and dental practices (59% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 31 of the 56 business types have a score in Benzie County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Benzie County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
All markets in Michigan · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in Benzie County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Benzie County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.