In Luce County, Michigan, benefit checks have brought in more money than paychecks since 2019
In 2024, 45 cents of every dollar of income here came from benefit checks, including Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and veterans' benefits. That was a larger share than across the country.
More distressed than 62% of U.S. counties.
What drives Luce County's score
In Luce County, jobs weigh most: the score for jobs is 95.0. Unemployment averaged 6.9%, Oct 2025 to Sep 2026, higher than in 95% of U.S. counties. Income and the safety net comes next, at 72.6.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Luce County: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
Luce County does better than most counties on two measures: people with a credit card behind (2.2%, August 2025) and bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people (31.1, 2025).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 95.0 of 100
Jobs
Biggest factorUnemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year6.9% · Oct 2025 to Sep 2026top 5%
- Adults 25 to 54 not working51.6% · 2020 to 2024top 5%
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- 72.6 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line19.4% · 202485th percentile
- Children below the poverty line24.4% · 202480th percentile
- People with a disability24.0% · 2020 to 202494th percentile
- People without health insurance5.2% · 2020 to 202421st percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$56,009 · 202480th percentile
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- 63.3 of 100
Housing costs
Renters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent20.8% · 2020 to 202466th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income21.7% · fiscal year 202760th percentile
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- 35.6 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind2.2% · August 20255th or lower percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind6.9% · August 202571st percentile
- People with a subprime credit score35.0% · second quarter of 202629th percentile
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- 22.0 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector20.3% · August 202539th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people31.1 · 20255th or lower percentile
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Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.
Where the money in Luce County comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Luce County, 22.6% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Luce County
Michigan
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Luce County, benefit checks have brought in more than pay since 2019
In Luce County, Michigan, benefit checks' share of income more than doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 44.5%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Luce County getting SNAP food aid had its largest drop, from 17.2% in 2016 to 13.7% in 2017.
The share of households in Luce County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2013 and has since fallen to 14.4%
Low on the chart: 13.6% in 2009. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Luce County, Michigan.
How Luce County has changed
Luce County's population had its largest rise, from 5,677 in 1994 to 7,007 in 1999.
Luce County's population fell 10% from 1969 to 2024, with its low point on the chart in 2019
Low on the chart: 5,515 in 2019. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Luce County, Michigan.
The number of jobs located in Luce County had its largest rise in the last span, from 1,619 in 2020 to 1,932 in 2025.
The number of jobs located in Luce County was at its highest on the chart in 2000 and is down 16% since
High on the chart: 2,308 in 2000. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Luce County, Michigan.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 9.1% | 2025 7.8% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 15.3% | 2024 19.4% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $21,109 | 2024 $56,009 |
The table uses 7.8% for 2025; the score uses 6.9% for the latest year (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Luce County's history
1950
The county's largest recorded population was the 1950 Census count of 8,147. The 2020 Census counted 5,339, 66% of the peak. Census Bureau
2018
Hail in June 2018 did $1 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1977
5 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Luce County. FEMA
Luce County beside its neighbors
Luce County scores higher than all four counties that border it. Of the group, Luce County gets the largest share of its income from benefit checks (44.5%).
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Luce County, MI | 62 | 19.4% | 44.5% |
| Schoolcraft County, MI | 40 | 13.8% | 42.3% |
| Mackinac County, MI | 39 | 12.0% | 32.0% |
| Chippewa County, MI | 35 | 14.4% | 31.4% |
| Alger County, MI | 30 | 12.2% | 37.8% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Luce County the poorest county in Michigan?
No, Luce County's poverty rate was 19.4% in 2024, 3rd highest of 83 in Michigan (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Lake County, at 24.2%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Luce County ranks 20th of 83 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Luce County
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
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Legal Services of Northern Michigan
Legal aid
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Michigan Legal Help
Legal help website
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Luce County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.