Empire, Michigan Demographics & Population 2026
Demographic data: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. Sources and methodology
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Empire, Michigan had a total population of 341, the 606th largest village in Michigan, with a median household income of $83,929, which is 15% higher than the state average. The poverty rate is 14.7%.
Key Takeaways
- 56.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher — top 10% in Michigan.
Empire Quick Facts
How Empire Changed
Change from the non-overlapping 2015–2019 ACS period to 2020–2024. Earlier dollar figures are adjusted to 2024 dollars; changes marked “no clear change” are within the combined 90% margins of error.
| Metric | 2015–2019 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 263 | 341 | No clear change (+29.7%) |
| Median household income | $47,969 | $83,929 | No clear change (+75.0%) |
| Median home value¹ | $279,863 | $456,300 | No clear change (+63.0%) |
How Empire Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
- White: 93.3%
- Black: 0.0%
- Hispanic: 6.5%
- Asian: 0.0%
- Other: 0.0%
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 45 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
- < High School: 2.2%
- HS Diploma: 13.9%
- Some College: 17.6%
- Associate's: 9.9%
- Bachelor's: 29.3%
- Graduate+: 27.1%
Empire Rankings in Michigan
Explore Michigan Rankings
Other Cities in Leelanau County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greilickville | 1,519 | $93,750 | 3.3% | $418,500 |
| Suttons Bay | 555 | $125,357 | 9.2% | $523,200 |
| Northport | 465 | $100,357 | 8.5% | $295,200 |
| Leland | 400 | $120,781 | 2.2% | $637,300 |
| Glen Arbor | 336 | N/A | 1.5% | $700,000 |
| Omena | 305 | $123,553 | 6.2% | $621,400 |
| Maple City | 183 | $104,750 | 6.6% | $316,700 |
| Lake Leelanau | 124 | N/A | 3.2% | N/A |
| Cedar | 23 | $52,625 | 0.0% | N/A |
Cities Similar to Empire
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glen Arbor | 336 | N/A | $700,000 | 76.8% | 1.5% |
| Grand Beach | 353 | $83,750 | $1,110,300 | 71.4% | 4.8% |
| Leonard | 346 | $76,875 | $245,200 | 33.2% | 4.6% |
| Fife Lake | 343 | $68,472 | $202,300 | 22.9% | 7.3% |
| Bear Lake (Kalkaska County) | 343 | $67,188 | $201,500 | 24.6% | 8.2% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 341, Empire's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.
Population Overview
Empire is a small community located in Michigan, within Leelanau County. The total population is 341. It ranks as the 606th most populous out of 745 Census-designated places in Michigan.
Age Demographics
The median age in Empire is 63.6 years. This is 58% higher than the state median of 40.2 years. 17.6% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Empire is $83,929. This is 15% higher than the state median of $72,875. It is also 4% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 14.7%. This is 11% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The survey records no unemployed residents in Empire, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $456,300. Housing costs are 97% higher than the state median of $231,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.4x. 79.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 9% higher than the state average of 73.2%.
Race & Ethnicity
Empire has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 93.3% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 6.5%.
Education
56.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Empire in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 74% higher than the state rate of 32.5%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 97.8%. Notably, 27.1% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Empire, Michigan is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Michigan state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 745 Census-designated places in Michigan. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Empire, Michigan?
Empire, Michigan has a population of 341 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Empire, MI?
The median household income in Empire is $83,929, which is 4% higher than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Empire, MI?
The poverty rate in Empire is 14.7%. This means approximately 50 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Empire, Michigan?
Empire's population is 93.3% White, 0.0% Black, 6.5% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Empire, MI?
The median home value in Empire is $456,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.4x.
How educated is Empire, Michigan?
56.4% of adults (25+) in Empire hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 27.1% hold a graduate or professional degree.