1st Advantage MortgageIn Huron County, Michigan, the typical household earns $58,870 a year and the typical rent is $788. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Huron County, MI: the basics
- What Huron County households earn
- Work, industries and travel time in Huron County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Huron County
- Huron County next to its neighbors
- Huron County towns compared
- Room for a loan payment in Huron County
- Before borrowing in Huron County
- Huron County households compared
- Steps before you apply in Huron County
- Lender oversight for Huron County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Huron County, MI: the basics
Roughly 31,113 residents live in Huron County, Michigan, 48th by population among the state's 83 counties and county equivalents. Spread over 836 square miles, that works out to roughly 37.2 residents per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 12 Census places inside Huron County, Bad Axe leads by population with about 2,992; 11 of the 12 are incorporated.
What Huron County households earn
Huron County households have a median income of $58,870 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 60th of 83 in Michigan.
| Household income | Huron County | vs Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 28.0% | +4.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 49.1% | +7.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 18.3% | -7.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.6% | -4.9 pts |
The spread is wide: 23% of Huron County households make $100,000 or more, and 28% make less than $35,000. Census counts 12.6% of Huron County residents in poverty, against 13.2% across Michigan. For a borrower in Huron County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Work, industries and travel time in Huron County
By the Census industry count, 21% of employed Huron County residents work in education and health care and 20% in manufacturing. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 8% of workers here, versus 1% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Huron County averages 4.1% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.7%). 9% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 8% work from home. Only 6.3% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Huron County | Gap to Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.0% | -2.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 20.4% | +2.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.0% | -0.8 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 8.1% | +7.0 pts |
| Construction | 7.4% | +1.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.3% | -1.2 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Rent, home values and ownership in Huron County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $788 in Huron County versus $1,129 statewide. By the Census definition, 42% of Huron County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $154,300, about 2.6 times the median household income. 82% of Huron County households own their home and 18% rent. The median home was built in 1967, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Measure | Huron County | Michigan | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $788/mo | $1,129/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $154,300 | $231,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 82% | 73% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 42% | 50% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 5.9% | 5.0% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Huron County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
Huron County next to its neighbors
Distances run center to center, from Sanilac County at 33 miles out to Bay County at 58. Tuscola County leads the group on income ($63,811), Iosco County trails ($50,066), and Huron County out-earns 4 of the six.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huron County | - | $58,870 | $788/mo | 82% |
| Sanilac County, MI | 33 mi | $58,863 | $807/mo | 83% |
| Tuscola County, MI | 41 mi | $63,811 | $819/mo | 86% |
| Iosco County, MI | 42 mi | $50,066 | $719/mo | 82% |
| Arenac County, MI | 45 mi | $58,811 | $761/mo | 86% |
| Alcona County, MI | 56 mi | $54,993 | $867/mo | 90% |
| Bay County, MI | 58 mi | $61,763 | $860/mo | 77% |
Huron County towns compared
The table lists the 12 largest of 12 Census places in Huron County, by population. Together all 12 hold about 11,741 people, so roughly 62% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $60,288 at the median in Port Austin, $40,809 in Harbor Beach. Rent is cheapest in Harbor Beach ($554) and steepest in Elkton ($909). None of the 12 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bad Axe | city | 2,992 | $44,688 | $742 | 10 mi |
| Sebewaing | village | 1,850 | $48,125 | $649 | 32 mi |
| Harbor Beach | city | 1,582 | $40,809 | $554 | 11 mi |
| Pigeon | village | 1,100 | $52,361 | $853 | 21 mi |
| Ubly | village | 785 | $54,886 | $692 | 14 mi |
| Elkton | village | 750 | $48,654 | $909 | 17 mi |
| Port Austin | village | 699 | $60,288 | $809 | 12 mi |
| Caseville | city | 634 | $55,729 | $578 | 21 mi |
| Bay Port | CDP | 474 | $48,333 | $675 | 26 mi |
| Kinde | village | 414 | $49,886 | $725 | 7 mi |
| Port Hope | village | 268 | $51,563 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Owendale | village | 193 | $54,375 | $967 | 24 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Room for a loan payment in Huron County
Huron County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Start: $4,906 gross per month ($58,870 / 12)
- Housing at the median rent of $788 uses 16%
- With a 36% ceiling, about $978 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
If your rent is above $788, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Before borrowing in Huron County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Huron County borrowers.
- Older households. A 49.5 median age means fixed-income borrowing is common; a fixed payment and short term limit risk.
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Huron County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
Huron County households compared
College graduates make up 19% of the adult population. About 5% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Huron County | Michigan | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.5 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.5% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.5% | 7.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.8% | 4.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.3% | 7.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.6% | 13.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.6% | 13.2% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.1% | 5.7% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Huron County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 41.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 34.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 14.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.2% |
| 60+ min | 5.7% |
Steps before you apply in Huron County
Before you apply, wherever you live in Huron County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Huron County.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Huron County-area credit union.
- A Michigan license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Lender oversight for Huron County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Huron County resident can confirm its license with the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. See the Michigan state guide for the statewide picture.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Michigan guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Huron County household make?
About $58,870 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 19% below the Michigan median.
How much is rent in Huron County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $788 a month; 42% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Should Huron County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 82% of Huron County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
What are the biggest places in Huron County?
By population: Bad Axe, Sebewaing, Harbor Beach, Pigeon, Ubly. The county has 12 Census places in all.
Are Huron County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.