1st Advantage MortgageIn Presque Isle County, Michigan, the typical household earns $59,321 a year and the typical rent is $683. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Presque Isle County at a glance
- Jobs and commutes in Presque Isle County
- How much Presque Isle County households make
- Housing costs in Presque Isle County
- The communities that make up Presque Isle County
- Presque Isle County and the counties next door
- Budget math at the Presque Isle County median
- Borrowing situations common in Presque Isle County
- People and households in Presque Isle County
- Four steps for Presque Isle County borrowers
- Michigan rules that apply in Presque Isle County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Presque Isle County at a glance
Presque Isle County is home to about 13,209 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 71st most populous of 83 county-level areas in Michigan. Land area is 659 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 20 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Presque Isle County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 5 places in the county (4 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Rogers City, with about 2,878 residents, or 22% of the county.
Jobs and commutes in Presque Isle County
Education and health care employs 20% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 13%. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 8% of workers here, versus 1% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 6.5% in Presque Isle County. 18% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 10% work from home. Only 6.3% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Presque Isle County | Gap to Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.4% | -2.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.7% | +1.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.0% | -7.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.5% | 0.0 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 7.8% | +6.7 pts |
| Construction | 7.4% | +1.5 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
How much Presque Isle County households make
Half of Presque Isle County households take in less than $59,321 a year and half take in more, 19% below the Michigan median of $72,875. That places it 58th among Michigan's 83 county-level areas.
| Households earning | Presque Isle County | +/- vs Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.5% | +3.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.2% | +4.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.5% | -2.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.8% | -5.7 pts |
Some 26% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 27% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 14.0% of Presque Isle County residents in poverty, against 13.2% across Michigan. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.439 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $59,321 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Housing costs in Presque Isle County
A typical Presque Isle County rental runs $683 a month including utilities, which is 40% below Michigan. 54% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 23% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $151,300, about 2.6 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 89%. The median home was built in 1973, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Home costs | Presque Isle County | Michigan | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $683/mo | $1,129/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $151,300 | $231,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 89% | 73% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 54% | 50% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 23% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 32% | 12% | n/a |
Because most Presque Isle County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral. 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?
The communities that make up Presque Isle County
5 Census places fall mainly inside Presque Isle County; the 5 biggest are below. They account for 4,940 residents, leaving about 63% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $41,622 in Onaway to $102,692 in Presque Isle Harbor. This guide covers each of the 5 places and the rural areas around them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rogers City | city | 2,878 | $49,266 | $675 | 21 mi |
| Presque Isle Harbor | CDP | 906 | $102,692 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Onaway | city | 674 | $41,622 | n/a | 39 mi |
| Posen | village | 345 | $46,500 | $481 | 13 mi |
| Millersburg | village | 137 | $53,281 | n/a | 31 mi |
Presque Isle County and the counties next door
Six nearby counties, 25 to 58 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Otsego County leads the group on income ($68,183), Oscoda County trails ($49,515), and Presque Isle County out-earns 4 of the six.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Presque Isle County | - | $59,321 | $683/mo | 89% |
| Alpena County, MI | 25 mi | $53,950 | $673/mo | 80% |
| Montmorency County, MI | 37 mi | $49,756 | $686/mo | 88% |
| Alcona County, MI | 42 mi | $54,993 | $867/mo | 90% |
| Oscoda County, MI | 52 mi | $49,515 | $681/mo | 87% |
| Cheboygan County, MI | 54 mi | $62,875 | $773/mo | 86% |
| Otsego County, MI | 58 mi | $68,183 | $1,008/mo | 77% |
Budget math at the Presque Isle County median
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Presque Isle County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Median income divided by twelve: $4,943 before taxes
- Rent at the median, $683, takes 14% of that
- With a 36% ceiling, about $1,097 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Borrowing situations common in Presque Isle County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Presque Isle County borrowers.
- Long drives. With 18% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Presque Isle County budgets.
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 56, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
- Tight rental budgets. With 54% of Presque Isle County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
People and households in Presque Isle County
21% of Presque Isle County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 5% go without health insurance.
| Presque Isle County | Michigan | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 56.1 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.4% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.6% | 7.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.2% | 4.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.3% | 7.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.4% | 13.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.0% | 13.2% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.5% | 5.7% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Presque Isle County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 35.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.3% |
| 60+ min | 9.8% |
Four steps for Presque Isle County borrowers
A short checklist for Presque Isle County borrowers:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Michigan rules that apply in Presque Isle County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Presque Isle County borrowers answers to the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. See the Michigan state guide for the statewide picture.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Michigan guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Presque Isle County a high-income county?
Its $59,321 median ranks 58th of 83 Michigan counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Presque Isle County?
$683 a month at the median, about 14% of median household income.
Should Presque Isle County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 89% of Presque Isle 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 Presque Isle County?
By population: Rogers City, Presque Isle Harbor, Onaway, Posen, Millersburg. The county has 5 Census places in all.
Are Presque Isle 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.