Sanilac County, MI

This county of 39,964 residents needs 550 more housing units over the next five years.

Housing snapshot

Population
39,964 (2026)
Households
17,422
Median household income
$65,052 (2026)
Typical home value
$203,551
Owner-occupied
66%
Five-year housing need
550 units

Comparison to other Michigan counties

Sanilac County: $65,052 Median income (2026 estimate)
<$54K >$105K
Sanilac County: 0.62 jobs to household ratio
<0.24 >1.23
Sanilac County: Permits since 2021 represent 1.6% of housing
<0.6% >5.1%
On this page

How affordable is this community?

In Sanilac County, MI, the typical home price of $203,551 is below the Michigan average of $232,321. Sanilac County, MI's median household income of $65,052 comfortably exceeds what is needed to afford the typical home, making this a relatively affordable market.

This chart tracks whether housing prices are keeping pace with local incomes. The gap between what homes cost and what households can afford reveals affordability trends over time.

How is the population changing?

Sanilac County, MI has a population of roughly 40,462 that has been largely stable in recent years.

Population growth patterns reveal how communities are evolving. This chart shows historical population changes by age group and projects future trends based on demographic patterns.

How has employment changed over time?

Jobs by industry sector since 2012. Switch between local jobs — counted where the jobs are located — and resident jobs, counted where the workers live. On the local view the most recent year is a nowcast: it grows the latest local LODES job mix forward using recent county employment growth from QCEW and the BLS local employment series, so the newest point tracks today's economy instead of data that is roughly two years old.

How are households changing by income?

Sanilac County, MI has roughly 17,422 households and a population that has been largely stable in recent years.

Understanding how households at different income levels are growing or declining helps identify which groups face the greatest housing pressure and where new housing is most needed.

Who lives here today?

The housing stock in Sanilac County, MI is heavily oriented toward detached single-family, which makes up 82% of units. Homeownership is the norm in Sanilac County, MI, with 66% of units owner-occupied.

Households may have different structure type preferences depending on characteristics such as household size, income, employment, presence of children, age of individuals, and lifestyle choices. Understanding the housing stock in corresponding terms helps assess how well existing units align with existing households' ideals.

What does the housing stock look like?

The mix of housing types and ownership patterns shapes a community's character. This chart breaks down housing units by structure type and whether they're owner-occupied or rented.

How much new housing supply is needed?

To keep up with growth and fill current housing shortages, Sanilac County, MI needs 550 new units over the next 5 years.

550
Units to address shortages in existing housing stock
Production needs to address vacancy rates and other factors.
218
Replacement housing
Effective annual loss rate is 2.0 per 1,000 units.
102
Ownership vacancy adjustment
Owner-occupied vacancy is 0.8%. This is below the minimum stable target of 1.5%.
129
Rental vacancy adjustment
Rental vacancy is 3.6%. This is below the minimum stable target of 7.4%.
101
Substandard housing adjustment
Substandard housing rate is 1.56%. This is above National avg. of 0.98%.
550
Total 5-year housing production need (2026-2031)
110
Annual production pace
Average units needed per year to meet 5-year need
2.5%
Total housing unit growth
Percent increase in housing stock over 5 years
0.5%
Annual housing unit growth
Average percent increase in housing stock per year

How do these communities compare to each other?