Mackinac County, Michigan

County Distress Index: Healthy · 35.0 | 10,851 people · 67th most distressed in Michigan
American Default Research

Behind on your mortgage or facing eviction? Take a 2-minute assessment to see your options.

Mackinac County, MI ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 35.0 — 2476th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Structural Poverty, where poverty rates are high, transfer income dependency is elevated, and household incomes lag well behind state and national medians. Within Michigan, it ranks 67th of 83 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Mackinac County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 74.0 — above the national median.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 74.0
Unemployment Rate 95
Poverty Rate 50
Income vs. State Median 84
Child Poverty Rate 57
Disability Rate 82
Transfer Income Dependency 73
Economic Vitality 68.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 52
Rent-to-Income Ratio 73
Business Formation Rate 91
House Price Change (YoY) 95
Housing Cost Burden 30.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 22
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 34
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 47
Homeownership Rate 33
Consumer Credit Distress 23.3
Debt in Collections 24
Medical Debt 50
Auto Loan Delinquency 6
Credit Card Delinquency 16
Uninsured Rate 67
Subprime Credit Population 9
Legal Distress 8.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 8

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed.

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Mackinac County
Mackinac County, MI 35.0 Healthy —
Luce County, MI 50.4 Elevated +15.4
Chippewa County, MI 43.7 Normal +8.7
Cheboygan County, MI 41.7 Normal +6.7
Schoolcraft County, MI 39.1 Normal +4.2
Presque Isle County, MI 30.5 Healthy -4.4
Charlevoix County, MI 29.5 Healthy -5.5
Emmet County, MI 27.1 Healthy -7.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Mackinac County
Chippewa County, MN 35.0 Healthy -0.0
Wright County, IA 35.0 Healthy +0.0
Potter County, PA 34.9 Healthy -0.0
Inyo County, CA 34.9 Healthy -0.1
Tama County, IA 35.1 Normal +0.1

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Mackinac County as a CSV file.

Find Help in Mackinac County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Mackinac County.

H.O.M.E. OF MACKINAC COUNTY
Saint Ignace
906-643-6239
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingHome Improvement/Rehab

See all counselors in Michigan →

Find an Attorney

State Bar of Michigan Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

State Bar of Michigan Lawyer Referral Service 1-800-968-0738

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Mackinac County residents at no cost.

Legal Aid & Defender Association of Detroit 313-967-5555
Michigan Legal Help / Wolverine Legal Aid
Neighborhood Legal Services of Michigan 248-548-3838
Michigan Advocacy Program 616-774-0672
Legal Services of South Central Michigan 734-665-6181
Lakeshore Legal Aid (888) 783-8190
Legal Aid of Western Michigan (616) 774-0672
Legal Services of Eastern Michigan (800) 322-4512
Legal Services of Northern Michigan, Inc. (906) 786-2303

Self-Help Resources

Michigan Legal Help — Foreclosure Self-help guides and interactive tools for Michigan foreclosure process and defenses
MSHDA Homeowner Resources Assistance programs, counselor referrals, and MIHAF information

American Default Research does not endorse, rate, or rank any provider. Verify attorney credentials with your state bar.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in Michigan →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Mackinac County, Michigan?

    Mackinac County has a County Distress Index score of 35.0 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,476th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 67th in Michigan out of 83 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Mackinac County?

    The primary driver of distress in Mackinac County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 74.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Mackinac County compare to neighboring counties?

    Mackinac County (35.0) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Luce County, MI (50.4); Chippewa County, MI (43.7); Cheboygan County, MI (41.7).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses PCA-weighted percentile scoring across five statistically derived factors: Consumer Credit Distress (47.5%), Housing Cost Burden (22.3%), Structural Poverty (13.6%), Economic Vitality (9.2%), and Legal Distress (7.4%). Each county's indicators are ranked against all 3,144 U.S. counties. A score of 50 means the county is at the national median; higher scores indicate greater distress.

  • How often is the CDI updated?

    Annually, aligned to Census American Community Survey and Urban Institute Debt in America release windows — the slowest-moving source inputs. Between annual refreshes, faster-cadence indicators (BLS unemployment, QCEW wages) may drive light mid-year updates if a specific component moves meaningfully. Current data compiled April 14, 2026; next full refresh early 2027.

  • What does the Healthy zone mean?

    The CDI divides counties into five zones: Healthy (below 46), Normal (46–55), Elevated (55–71), Serious (71–86), and Crisis (86 and above). Mackinac County's score of 35.0 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

  • What data sources power Mackinac County's CDI score?

    Mackinac County's CDI score draws on Urban Institute Debt in America (Equifax credit-bureau panel), U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey 5-year, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates), Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS, QCEW), U.S. Courts Administrative Office (F-5A bankruptcy filings), and HUD Fair Market Rents. Every number on this page traces to one of these public sources.

  • What is the population of Mackinac County?

    Mackinac County, Michigan has a population of approximately 10,851 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.