Leelanau County, Michigan Demographics 2026

Name: Leelanau County, Michigan Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Leelanau County, Michigan has a population of 22,734, the 63rd most populous county in Michigan. The median household income is $99,422 and the median home value is $458,400. The poverty rate is 6.5%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Leelanau County Quick Facts

Population 22,734

Median Household Income $99,422

Median Home Value $458,400

Poverty Rate 6.5%

Unemployment Rate 3.4%

Median Age 55.9 years

Homeownership Rate 91.6%

Affordability Ratio 4.6x

Bachelor's Degree+ 51.8%

High School Graduation 97.1%

Cities/Places 10

Population 22,734 63rd of 83

Median Income $99,422 36% higher than state

Poverty Rate 6.5%

Unemployment 3.4%

How Leelanau County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric	2019–2023	2020–2024	Change
Population	22,607	22,734	+0.6%
Median household income	$91,943	$99,422	+8.1%
Median home value	$406,900	$458,400	+12.7%

Median Household Income

Leelanau

$99,422

$72,875

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Leelanau

$458,400

$231,600

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 8.1%

$25K-$50K 14.4%

$50K-$100K 27.8%

$100K+ 49.8%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

2.8%

$10K-$15K

2.1%

$15K-$20K

1.7%

$20K-$25K

1.5%

$25K-$30K

2.8%

$30K-$35K

3.5%

$35K-$40K

2.2%

$40K-$45K

3.1%

$45K-$50K

2.8%

$50K-$60K

5.2%

$60K-$75K

9.8%

$75K-$100K

12.7%

$100K-$125K

12.6%

$125K-$150K

9.3%

$150K-$200K

12.2%

$200K+

15.8%

Employment

3.4% Unemployment Rate State: 5.7%|National: 5.2%

50.7% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 91.6%

Renter 8.4%

Affordability Index Moderate

4.6x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $1,228/mo 14.8% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

15.4%

18-34

13.1%

35-54

20.5%

55-74

37.8%

75+

13.2%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very Low Diversity

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+)

Cities & Places 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
Empire	341	$83,929	14.7%	$456,300
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

Explore Michigan Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Leelanau County is located in Michigan with a total population of 22,734. It is the 63rd most populous county out of 83 in Michigan. The county encompasses 10 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Leelanau County is 55.9 years. This is 39% higher than the state median of 40.2 years. 13.2% 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 Leelanau County is $99,422. This is 36% higher than the state median of $72,875. It is also 23% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 6.5%. This is 51% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 3.4%. This is 40% lower than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $458,400. Housing costs are 98% higher than the state median of $231,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.6x. 91.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 25% higher than the state average of 73.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Leelanau County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 89.0% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 4.3%. The Black or African American population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 13.1%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 3.4%.

Education

51.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Leelanau County in the top 10% of all counties in the state for educational attainment. This is 60% 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 97.1%. Notably, 21.5% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Leelanau County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Michigan and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Leelanau County, Michigan?

Leelanau County has a population of 22,734, making it the 63rd most populous county in Michigan.

What is the median income in Leelanau County?

The median household income in Leelanau County is $99,422 with a poverty rate of 6.5%.

How many cities are in Leelanau County, Michigan?

Leelanau County contains 10 Census-designated places.