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Buying a home in Arenac County, Michigan

The typical owner-occupied home in Arenac County is worth about $150,600, 35% below the Michigan median of $231,600 and 55% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,707 a year in property taxes, about 1.13% of their home's value, lower than the Michigan rate of 1.25%. The median household earns $58,811 a year, so the median home costs 2.6 times the median income (3.2 times for Michigan). 86% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 46% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Arenac County at a glance

Arenac County Michigan U.S.
Median home value $150,600 $231,600 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $1,707 $2,904 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 1.13% 1.25% 0.94%
Median household income $58,811 $72,875 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 86% 73% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 46% 58% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,140 $1,569 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 20.1% 19.3% 21.0%
Median rent $761 $1,129 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 27.6% 30.2% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1977 1972 1980
Vacant homes 31.4% 11.8% 10.1%
Population 15,077 10,077,761 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Arenac County

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Arenac County home of $150,600 with 20% down costs about $1,015 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,266, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.

Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $43,502 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 21% of the median Arenac County household income of $58,811; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $204,000.

The median rent here is $761 a month, so owning the median home costs about $254 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$30,120
Loan amount$120,480
Principal and interest$810
Property taxes (1.13% a year)$142
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$63
PMI$0
Total per month$1,015

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$5,271
Loan amount$147,872
Principal and interest$995
Property taxes (1.13% a year)$142
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$63
FHA mortgage insurance$67
Total per month$1,266

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Questions about home buying in Arenac County

What is the median home value in Arenac County?

About $150,600 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Arenac County?

Homeowners pay a median $1,707 a year, which is about 1.13% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.

What income do you need to buy a home in Arenac County?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,015 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $43,502 a year.

More about Arenac County

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data