Groundwork

County profile · Michigan

Mason County, MI market data

How Mason County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.

Population, 2025
29,040
0.0% since 2020
Households
12,801
Median household income
$64,748
+25.2% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
Median home value
$219,600
Jobs located here
8,586
Highest market score
67
Spas and skin care, #288 of 1,769 scored counties

A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Mason County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Mason County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.

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Survey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure

What this means

Mason County has an estimated 29,040 people and 12,801 households. Population estimates put the population change in Mason County from 2020 to 2025 at 0.0%, against +3.1% for the U.S. Median household income in Mason County is $64,748, 20% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 25.2%, before inflation.

Relative to the U.S., household spending in Mason County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 108, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on child care and other personal services (61).

Of the business types scored in Mason County, spas and skin care studios (67); physical therapy clinics (65); and salons, barbers and spas (58) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For spas and skin care studios, that ranks #288 of 1,769 scored counties.

Mason County is part of the Ludington area. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for grocery stores (2.1 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for salons, barbers and spas (42% below the U.S. rate).

All 56 business types in Mason County

Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Mason 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.

Every business type in Mason County, MI, highest Groundwork market score first, with its rank among counties, listings, listings per 10,000 households, spending per listing and official establishments
Business typeScoreRank among countiesListingsPer 10k householdsSpending per listingSpending per listing vs. U.S. (100)Official establishments
Spas and skin care67#288 of 1,76953.9$2.4M269Under 3
Physical therapy65#323 of 1,42253.9$3.4M141Under 3
Salons, barbers and spas58#734 of 2,3853527.3$337K15810
Dentists and orthodontists57#688 of 1,8861310.2$1.3M1338
Gyms, studios and classes57#719 of 2,0881310.2$766K116Under 3
Funeral homes56#568 of 1,47253.9$446K66Under 3
Sit-down restaurants54#987 of 2,4055845.3$791K11920
Fast food and sandwich shops52#1,055 of 2,2221310.2$3.5M11626
Gyms51#873 of 1,79286.2$1.2M96Under 3
Primary care and pediatrics50#842 of 1,656107.8$1.7M9515
Hair salons50#1,160 of 2,3392318.0$513K1198
Gas stations49#1,202 of 2,3581410.9$2.4M10115
Martial arts and dance studios48#731 of 1,33453.9$2M99Under 3
Pizza45#1,224 of 2,090107.8$4.6M9026
Auto repair shops44#1,470 of 2,3783023.4$441K9916
Auto repair and car care44#1,472 of 2,4015442.2$245K9119
Doctors, dentists and clinics43#1,544 of 2,39411186.7$153K10031
Coffee shops and cafes42#1,314 of 2,0631310.2$3.5M957
Clothing and shoe stores42#1,326 of 2,0871713.3$1.4M10910
Restaurants and cafes42#1,528 of 2,40512496.9$370K10055
Bakeries and dessert shops41#1,251 of 1,889129.4$3.8M927
Clothing, shoes and laundry41#1,457 of 2,2102620.3$904K10310
Convenience stores40#1,480 of 2,2611511.7$4.9M62Under 3
Grocery and convenience stores40#1,621 of 2,4024535.2$1.6M486
Grocery stores38#1,444 of 2,0701814.1$4.1M444
Pet businesses38#1,599 of 2,2001612.5$618K70Under 3
Insurance agencies37#1,572 of 2,2721713.3$1.2M9710
HVAC and plumbing36#1,334 of 1,70797.0$3.6M7611
Real estate35#1,868 of 2,2293628.1Index only10913
Home repair trades34#1,725 of 2,0571713.3$1.9M7922
Roofing and gutters33#938 of 1,17753.9$6.5M773
Real estate agents and brokers33#1,942 of 2,1763426.6Index only927
Chiropractors31#1,243 of 1,490107.8$1.7M718
Car washes and detailing27#1,273 of 1,45197.0$1.5M583
Lawn, cleaning and pest control15#1,763 of 1,7711914.8$777K4625
Landscaping and lawn care14#1,479 of 1,493129.4$1.2M4218
Child care and preschoolsNot scoredNot scored43.1$1.1M1139
Collision repair and body shopsNot scoredNot scored43.1$3.3M1076
House cleaningNot scoredNot scored43.1$3.7M587
Nail salonsNot scoredNot scored43.1$2.9M176Under 3
Pet grooming and boardingNot scoredNot scored43.1$2.5M97Under 3
Pet storesNot scoredNot scored43.1$2.5M55Under 3
Tire shopsNot scoredNot scored43.1$3.3M132Under 3
VeterinariansNot scoredNot scored43.1$2.5M91Under 3
BarbershopsNot scoredNot scored32.3$3.9M208Under 3
ElectriciansNot scoredNot scored32.3$10.8M908
LaundromatsNot scoredNot scored32.3$7.8M63Under 3
Optometrists and eye careNot scoredNot scored32.3$5.7M181Under 3
Pest controlNot scoredNot scored32.3$4.9M48Under 3
Oil change and quick lubeNot scoredNot scored21.6$6.6MToo fewUnder 3
Mortgage brokers and lendersNot scoredNot scored10.8Index onlyToo fewUnder 3
Property managementNot scoredNot scored10.8Index onlyToo few3
Urgent care and walk-in clinicsNot scoredNot scored10.8$17MToo fewUnder 3
Dry cleanersNot scoredNot scored00.0None listedNone listedUnder 3
Home inspectorsNot scoredNot scored00.0None listedNone listedUnder 3
Yoga, Pilates and fitness studiosNot scoredNot scored00.0None listedNone listedUnder 3

Household spending in Mason 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).

Annual household spending in Mason County, MI by line, per household, and against the U.S.
Spending lineA year, all householdsPer householdIndex vs. U.S. (100)
Vehicle maintenance and repairs$13.2M$1,033108
Gasoline and other fuels$33.9M$2,647102
Food away from home$45.9M$3,58488
Groceries$73.8M$5,76491
Personal care products and services$11.8M$92192
Child care and other personal services$4.5M$35361
Memberships, classes and admissions$10M$77879
Medical and dental services$17M$1,327103
Pets$9.9M$77285
Clothing, shoes and related services$23.5M$1,83589
Vehicle insurance$20.6M$1,61182
Home repairs, maintenance and insurance$32.5M$2,53884
Lawn care, cleaning and other household services$14.8M$1,15482
Rent and homeowner costs$169.8M$13,26780

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 Mason County

Population, 2025 estimate
29,0400.0% since 2020
Households
12,801
Median age
47.3
Homes lived in by their owners
78%
Vehicles per household
1.8
Land area
495 sq. mi.
People per square mile
59
Median household income
$64,748+25.2% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
Average household income
$85,702
Median home value
$219,600
Jobs located here
8,586
Daytime population
26,202Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here

Looking at a specific site in Mason 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 Mason County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.

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Mason County is part of the Ludington, MI area.

Questions

How fast is Mason County, MI growing?

Population estimates put Mason County at 29,040 people in 2025, unchanged since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 12,801 households. Median household income rose 25.2% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.

How much do households in Mason County, MI spend?

Households in Mason County spend about $169.8M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $73.8M on groceries and $45.9M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in Mason County spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 108, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on child care and other personal services (61).

Which business types have the highest market scores in Mason County, MI?

The highest Groundwork market scores in Mason County are for spas and skin care studios (67); physical therapy clinics (65); and salons, barbers and spas (58). Mason County ranks #288 of 1,769 scored counties for spas and skin care studios.

How does Mason County, MI compare with the U.S.?

The median household income in Mason County is $64,748 a year, 20% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population held level from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $219,600, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Mason County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for grocery stores (2.1 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for salons, barbers and spas (42% 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. 36 of the 56 business types have a score in Mason 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 Mason 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 Mason 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 Mason 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.