1st Advantage MortgageThe median Luce County household earns $54,893, and 17% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Luce County by the numbers
- Renting and owning in Luce County
- What Luce County households earn
- Employment and commuting in Luce County
- The counties around Luce County
- Towns and communities in Luce County
- More Luce County figures
- Before borrowing in Luce County
- Room for a loan payment in Luce County
- A Luce County borrower's checklist
- Lender oversight for Luce County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Luce County by the numbers
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Luce County's population at 6,271; only 80 of Michigan's 83 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 899 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 7 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Luce County is not part of any metropolitan area. Newberry, with about 1,329 people, is the only Census place mainly inside the county. With so few households sampled, Luce County estimates can move a lot between releases.
Renting and owning in Luce County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $675 in Luce County versus $1,129 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 57% of renter households here. Home values center on $112,000, or 2.0 years of median income. 83% of Luce County households own their home and 17% rent. The median home was built in 1976, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Measure | Luce County | Michigan | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $675/mo | $1,129/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $112,000 | $231,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 83% | 73% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 57% | 50% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 23% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Luce 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. When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
What Luce County households earn
Half of Luce County households take in less than $54,893 a year and half take in more, 25% below the Michigan median of $72,875. Only 72 Michigan counties post a higher median.
| Income band | Share in Luce County | Difference from Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 30.7% | +7.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 50.8% | +9.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 16.9% | -9.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 1.6% | -7.9 pts |
About 31% of households earn under $35,000, while 19% clear $100,000. 16.7% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.2%). A household earning below the $54,893 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Employment and commuting in Luce County
The biggest employer of Luce County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 22% of workers, followed by public administration (12%). The sharpest difference from the state is in public administration, at 12% locally and 4% for Michigan. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 9.9% in Luce County. 15% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 8% work from home. 5.6% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Luce County | Gap to Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.3% | -1.1 pts |
| Public administration | 12.2% | +8.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.4% | -6.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.5% | -1.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.7% | +0.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.8% | -2.5 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
The counties around Luce County
Six nearby counties, 26 to 69 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $56,782 in Schoolcraft County to $78,112 in Emmet County; all six of these neighbors top Luce County's median.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luce County | - | $54,893 | $675/mo | 83% |
| Mackinac County, MI | 26 mi | $63,909 | $760/mo | 78% |
| Schoolcraft County, MI | 47 mi | $56,782 | $705/mo | 87% |
| Chippewa County, MI | 49 mi | $62,217 | $797/mo | 75% |
| Alger County, MI | 54 mi | $61,286 | $714/mo | 86% |
| Charlevoix County, MI | 62 mi | $76,531 | $949/mo | 83% |
| Emmet County, MI | 69 mi | $78,112 | $1,112/mo | 77% |
Towns and communities in Luce County
Newberry is the only Census place mainly inside Luce County, with about 1,329 of the county's 6,271 residents. None of the 1 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newberry | village | 1,329 | $45,781 | $710 | 11 mi |
More Luce County figures
Degree holders: 17% of adults over 25. About 5% go without health insurance.
| Luce County | Michigan | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.6 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 17.3% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.4% | 7.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.2% | 4.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.6% | 7.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.6% | 13.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.7% | 13.2% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 9.9% | 5.7% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Luce County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 62.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 18.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 4.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.0% |
| 60+ min | 12.1% |
Before borrowing in Luce County
What the Luce County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Renters under pressure. When 57% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Luce County borrower sees (free reports).
- Consolidating cards in Luce County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
Room for a loan payment in Luce County
Luce County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Median income divided by twelve: $4,574 before taxes
- 15% goes to median rent ($675)
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,292 a month
Two-income households and single earners in Luce County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
A Luce County borrower's checklist
A short checklist for Luce County borrowers:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Michigan borrowers.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Lender oversight for Luce County
The Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services is the place to verify any lender's Michigan license. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. The Michigan guide covers state rules in more detail.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Michigan guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Luce County?
$54,893 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $72,875 for Michigan. It ranks 73rd of 83 in the state.
How does Luce County rent compare with Michigan?
$675 locally versus $1,129 for the state, 40% below.
I own my home in Luce County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 83% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
What are the biggest places in Luce County?
By population: Newberry. The county has 1 Census place in all.
Are Luce 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.