Michigan’s Lake County Ranks in the Top 10 U.S. Counties with the Most Second Homes, Study Reveals

Article courtesy of SellMyTimeshareNow.com,

Over 57% of all homes in Lake County, Michigan, are likely to be second homes, ranking in the top 10 U.S. counties with the highest proportion of second homes.
The study revealed that 7,714 homes in Lake County were classified as vacant for seasonal, recreational, or occasional use (SRO use), indicating they are likely second homes.

Rich County, Utah, takes the top spot nationwide, with almost 70% of all homes in the county vacant for SRO use.

According to estimates from the National Association of Home Builders, in 2023, there were approximately 5.7 million second homes in the U.S.

Online marketplace for timeshares, SellMyTimeshareNow.com, analyzed data from the United States Census Bureau on the number of housing units, the total number of vacant housing units, and the total number of vacant housing units used for seasonal, recreational, or occasional use in each county.

The counties were then ranked by the proportion of total homes that are vacant due to use for seasonal, recreational, or occasional use, indicating their use as a second home.

Top 10 counties with the highest proportion of second homes

Rank	County, State	*Number of vacant homes for SRO use**	*Proportion of all homes vacant for SRO use**
1	Rich County, Utah	2,240	69.63%
2	Hamilton County, New York	5,479	69.42%
3	Forest County, Pennsylvania	4,820	69.16%
4	Daggett County, Utah	790	68.40%
5	Valley County, Idaho	8,537	67.75%
6	Alpine County, California	1,031	64.97%
7	Mineral County, Colorado	745	59.55%
8	Hinsdale County, Colorado	816	58.96%
9	Lake and Peninsula Borough, Alaska	782	57.71%
10	Lake County, Michigan	7,714	57.43%

*SRO stands for seasonal, recreational, or occasional.

Rich County, Utah, ranks first, with 69.63% of homes vacant for seasonal, recreational, or occasional use. As of 2023, there were a total of 3,217 homes in the county and 2,670 residents. 2,400 homes were vacant, with 93.33% of these vacant for SRO use. Utah came 21^st overall for the number of second homes in a state-wide analysis, with 3.42% of all homes vacant for SRO use.

Hamilton County, New York, is a close second, with 69.42% of homes vacant for seasonal, recreational, or occasional use. Hamilton County has over double the number of houses compared to Rich County at 7,893, with 5,782 of those being vacant. In the state-wide analysis, New York ranks 22^nd, with 3.34% of all homes vacant for SRO use.

In third is Forest County, Pennsylvania, with 69.16% of homes vacant for seasonal, recreational, or occasional use. 5,025 of a total of 6,969 homes are vacant in Forest County, and 95.92% of those vacant homes are for SRO use. Pennsylvania places 33^rd overall, with 2.30% of all homes vacant for SRO use.

Fourth is Daggett County, Utah, with 68.40% of homes vacant for seasonal, recreational, or occasional use. As of 2023, the county had a population of just 992, and only 1,155 homes. 88.47% of vacant homes are for SRO use.

Valley County, Idaho, is fifth, with 67.75% of homes vacant for seasonal, recreational, or occasional use. Valley County has the highest percentage of vacant homes, most likely being used as second homes overall, at 96.76%. Idaho ranks ninth state-wide, with 6.00% of all houses vacant for SRO use.

Alpine County, California, is sixth, with 64.97% of homes vacant for seasonal, recreational, or occasional use. California places 32^nd overall, with 2.40% of homes vacant for SRO use.

Mineral County and Hinsdale County, both located in Colorado, ranked seventh and eighth. In Mineral County, 59.55% of homes are vacant for seasonal, recreational, or occasional use, compared to 58.96%in Hinsdale County. Colorado ranks 17^th overall, with 3.76% of homes vacant for SRO use.

Lake and Peninsula Borough, Alaska, ranks ninth, with 57.71% of homes vacant for SRO use, followed by Lake County, Michigan, in tenth, with 57.43%.

A spokesperson from SellMyTimeshareNow.com added:

“Many people who bought their first home 10 or 15 years ago are now sitting on substantial equity. But using that equity to buy a second home isn’t always realistic. Timeshare ownership gives people the ability to enjoy vacations without the full burden of owning and maintaining a second property.

“With today’s resale and rental options, timeshare owners can find solutions that match their lifestyle and budget—while still enjoying the perks of travel, relaxation, and long-term value.”

A Smarter Alternative to Second Homes

While second homes remain a dream for many, they often come with hefty costs—from mortgages and maintenance to property taxes and seasonal upkeep. For travelers seeking a more practical and affordable option, timeshare ownership can provide many of the same benefits with significantly fewer financial obligations.

Whether families want to revisit the same destination each year or explore new places through exchange programs, timeshares offer a flexible and budget-conscious approach to vacationing. And through the resale market, buyers can access high-quality resort accommodations at a fraction of the cost of purchasing new.

Methodology and sources:

Data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2023 American Community Survey (5-Year Estimates) was used to identify second homes.

The number of vacant housing units classified as seasonal, recreational, or occasional use was measured as a proportion of total housing units in each state and county. States and counties were then ranked based on this proportion.