Todd House, Mackinaw, 1865
Mackinaw City’s story
169 years in pictures
The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1865.
- 1857Mackinaw City is settled
Mackinaw CityMI
Trash & recycling2 bordering townsMap →
Photo: WMrapids · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
836
2025 Census estimate · −0.9% since 2020
Typical home
$310K
+6.4% in a year
Household income
$42K
median
Median age
49.1
years
Jobs based here
565
A job hub
Is Mackinaw City a good place to live?
Mackinaw City’s trail density is 1.1 miles per square mile, above both the Michigan town median (0.3) and the median of U.S. towns (0.4). The biggest park or preserve is Straits of Mackinac Underwater Preserve, at 2,682 acres. Mackinaw City has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
What makes Mackinaw City stand out
Where Mackinaw City beats most towns.
Small town
836 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Mackinaw TownshipWawatam TownshipMackinaw City
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Mackinaw City: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Mackinaw City, and how to reach them.
PowerConsumers Energy20.7¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterVillage of Mackinaw City water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers87% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpEmmet County public Recycling Drop-off site in Mackinaw CityDrop-offTown site
Register to voteOnlineIn Michigan you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereWawatam Township ClerkWawatam Township; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Nov 2025
ZIP code4970149701 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 12, 2025.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Mackinaw City.
Work & commute
The average trip to work in Mackinaw City is shorter than in most of Michigan or the rest of the country
The median commute is under 30 miles. Jobs based in Mackinaw City fell to 565 in 2021, 72 fewer than in 2011. Its middle household income stands at $42,000, where Michigan’s towns sit at $77,000 and U.S. towns at $80,000. In Mackinaw City, 16% of residents live below the poverty line.
12%work in town
| Mackinaw City | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 13 minutes | 25 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $42,000 | $77,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 16% | 8.9% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 12% | 5.9% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Mackinaw City12%
Cheboygan10%
Petoskey9%
Mackinaw Township9%
Wawatam Township4%
30 mi
median commute distance
565
jobs based in Mackinaw City
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2021 · ACS
Natural hazards
The FEMA risk score in Mackinaw City is lower than in the typical Michigan or U.S. town
46% of Mackinaw City’s expected losses from natural hazards come from inland flooding, followed by cold waves at 46%. Households in the town have drawn federal disaster aid in 2 declared disasters, most recently in 2026. Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 98% of U.S. communities.
2risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold waves
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Who lives here
Older than Michigan overall
The share of residents in Mackinaw City who are under 18: 14%. People 65 and older are 31% of residents (19% statewide); adults 18 to 34 are 12% of residents (22% statewide). Its median age stands at 49.1 years. A bachelor’s degree or higher: 29% of adults 25 and older, vs 32% across Michigan.
49.1median age · MI 40.2
| Mackinaw City | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aged 65 or older | 31% | 19% | 18% |
| Under 18 | 14% | 21% | 22% |
| Median age | 49.1 years | 42.5 years | 40.5 years |
Mackinaw CityMichiganUnited States
Ages · share of residents
16%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma7%
High school28%
Some college20%
Associate’s17%
Bachelor’s24%
Graduate5%
Women and men · all residents
51% women, 49% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±6.2 points. Across Michigan, 50.4% of residents are women. Among residents 18 to 24, 74% are men (MI 51%).
| Mackinaw City | MI | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 10% | 11.2% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 4.4% | 10.1% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 9.8% | 9.2% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 2.6% | 13.2% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 16.3% | 12.2% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 12.3% | 12% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 13.4% | 13.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 15.4% | 11.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 15.8% | 7.4% | 7% |
| No diploma | 7.1% | 7.9% | 10.4% |
| High school | 27.8% | 28% | 26% |
| Some college | 19.5% | 21.9% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 16.6% | 9.8% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 24.2% | 19.7% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 4.7% | 12.7% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 800, single groups can be off by several points
Climate
In Mackinaw City, expect snowy winters and pleasant summers
The typical July afternoon high in Mackinaw City is 75°F.
80″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter16–29°
Spring30–48°
Summer55–73°
Fall41–55°
Oct 23
typical first frost
May 7
typical last frost
+1.9°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Housing
A typical Mackinaw City home is worth about $310K
Two thirds of households live in a home they own in Mackinaw City. Home values are up 6.4% over the year to September 2026. For Mackinaw City, the typical rent is $865 a month.
$310KZillow home value
| Mackinaw City | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 67% | 84% | 73% |
| Median rent | $865 a month | $1,046 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Mackinaw City$310K
Michigan$264K
+6.4%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Safety
Crime reported in Mackinaw City
33 crimes were reported in Mackinaw City in 2025: 28 property and 5 violent. In a town this small, a few incidents move the numbers a lot, so rates aren't shown.
Mackinaw City is small, so we show counts rather than rates.
5
violent crimes reported in 2025
28
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Health
How healthy Mackinaw City is
Mackinaw City: 25% of adults have been diagnosed with depression. Of 32 CDC measures, Mackinaw City beats the Michigan average on 6 and trails it on 11. In Mackinaw City, 13% of adults binge drink, and 16% have diabetes.
| Mackinaw City | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 45% | 36% | 35% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 17% | 16% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 12% | 12% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 14% | 14% |
32 measures vs. Michigan
6 better15 too close to call11 worse
| What stands out | Mackinaw City | MI |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 9.7% | 11.9% |
| Fewer binge drinkers | 13% | 15.9% |
| More adults with heart disease | 10.5% | 7% |
Mackinac Straits Hospital and Health Center
7.5 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Outdoors
4.2% of Mackinaw City is conserved land
8.2 miles of trail wind through 9 parks and preserves.
4.2%conserved
4.2%
conserved · 203 of 4,867 acres
8.2 mi
of trails · 1.1 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Fort Michilimackinac State Historic Park | 1.6 mi | 32 |
| 2. Hathaway Family's Regina Caeli Nature Preserve | 0.6 mi | 86 |
| 3. Straits of Mackinac Underwater Preserve | 0.3 mi | 2,682 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Nearby attractions
All 13 attractions →Lake Michigan–Huron and 8 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Mackinaw City. Close and well known come first.
2 mi LakeLake Michigan–Huron
in town Ancient siteFort Michilimackinac9 mi Park & preserveMackinac National Park
8 mi LandmarkFort Mackinac
6 mi MuseumSt. Ignace Mission
8 mi MuseumRobert Stuart HouseSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Lake Michigan–Huron: ChongDae, Public domain · Fort Michilimackinac: WMrapids, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Fort Mackinac: P. Hughes, CC BY 4.0 · St. Ignace Mission: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Robert Stuart House: Royalbroil, CC BY-SA 3.0
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Mackinaw City
19pages on Mackinaw City
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Mackinaw City; the nearest are
North Central Michigan CollegeCommunity college · Public · Petoskey30.7 mi$5,430 in-state tuitionBay Mills Community CollegeUniversity or college · Public · Brimley46.9 mi$3,480 in-state tuition
About 7 of every 100 Mackinaw City residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Michigan.
A job hub
Every workday, about 535 people come to Mackinaw City for work
Where Mackinaw City’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
565jobs based in Mackinaw City
12%of working residents work in town
30 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2021
About Mackinaw City
Village in Michigan, United States
Mackinaw City ( MAK-ə-naw) is a village divided between Cheboygan and Emmet counties in the U.S. state of Michigan. It had a population of 846 at the 2020 census. Mackinaw City is located at the northernmost point of the Lower Peninsula at the southern end of the Mackinac Bridge, which crosses the Straits of Mackinac to the city of St. Ignace in the Upper Peninsula. Mackinaw City and St. Ignace serve as the main access points for ferry service to and from Mackinac Island. Mackinaw City is considered one of Michigan's most popular tourist destinations and includes many historic sites, including Fort Michilimackinac State Park, Old Mackinac Point Light, McGulpin Point Light, and the nearby Do…
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1857
- Area
- 7.6 sq mi
- Elevation
- 594 ft
- ZIP code
- 49701
Questions about Mackinaw City
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Mackinaw City, MI a good place to live?
Mackinaw City has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.