County · Michigan

Leelanau County, Michigan

Leelanau County, Michigan. Leelanau County had 22,982 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 3.0% since 2020, faster than Michigan (+0.5%). It holds 22 places (4 cities, villages and boroughs, 11 towns and townships and 7 census-designated) and 10 census tracts. GEOID 26089.

Leelanau County is one of the 4 counties of the Traverse City, MI metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).

Residents, July 2025 estimate

22,982

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 22,301 · ACS 2020-2024: 22,734

Median household income

$99,422

±$6,699 (90% margin)
Michigan: $72,875

Median home value

$458,400

±$13,150 (90% margin)
Michigan: $231,600

Median gross rent

$1,228

±$90 (90% margin)
Michigan: $1,129

How many people live in Leelanau County, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 22,301 residents in Leelanau County. The Census Bureau estimates 22,982 for July 1, 2025, up 3.0% since 2020, faster than Michigan (+0.5%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 22,734 over 347 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 +321 (22,633)
2021→2022 +260 (22,893)
2022→2023 +58 (22,951)
2023→2024 −102 (22,849)
2024→2025 +133 (22,982)

Leelanau County in Michigan. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Leelanau County	Michigan	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	22,734	10,077,761	+1,082
Households	9,645±290	4,076,369	+506
Average household size	2.32±0.07	2.42	no clear change
Housing units	15,759±58	4,622,236	+121

Leelanau County's population since 2000

From 21,119 in 2000 to 22,982 in 2025: up 8.8%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.

2000 Census 21,119
2005 (estimate) 21,813
2010 Census 21,708
2015 (estimate) 21,633
2020 Census 22,301
2025 (estimate) 22,982

Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov

What cities and towns are in Leelanau County?

Leelanau County holds 22 places: 4 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places), 11 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government) and 7 census-designated places. The largest is Elmwood Charter Township with 5,039 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.

Places in Leelanau County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Elmwood Charter Township	charter township	4,892	4,983±40	$94,417	$436,400	6.3%	100%
Suttons Bay Township	township	2,883	2,926±21	$115,769	$440,500	10.3%	100%
Bingham Township, Leelanau County	township	2,577	2,630±22	$93,594	$373,200	2.2%	100%
Leland Township	township	2,126	1,748±306	$92,857	$675,900	4.8%	100%
Leelanau Township	township	2,048	2,148±271	$119,044	$569,400	4.3%	100%
Kasson Township	township	1,647	1,722±217	$85,417	$402,600	12.1%	100%
Greilickville	CDP	1,634	1,519±256	$93,750	$418,500	3.3%	100%
Solon Township, Leelanau County	township	1,562	1,522±254	$96,833	$376,100	3.9%	100%
Centerville Township	township	1,243	1,529±263	$98,281	$444,400	6.3%	100%
Empire Township	township	1,126	1,173±132	$94,821	$452,500	10.3%	100%
Cleveland Township	township	1,103	1,183±166	$81,607	$442,400	7.9%	100%
Glen Arbor Township	township	757	916±154	$109,500	$886,200	5.7%	100%
Suttons Bay	village	613	555±140	$125,357	$523,200	9.2%	100%
Northport	village	496	465±97	$100,357	$295,200	8.5%	100%
Leland	CDP	410	400±132	$120,781	$637,300	2.2%	100%
Empire	village	362	341±83	$83,929	$456,300	14.7%	100%
Traverse City	city	15,678	15,593±99	$74,087	$415,400	12.3%	2%
OmenaGEOID 2660640	CDP	295	305±155	$123,553	$621,400	6.2%	100%
Glen ArborGEOID 2632360	CDP	261	336±103	not published	$700,000	1.5%	100%
Lake LeelanauGEOID 2644760	CDP	229	124±69	not published	not published	3.2%	100%
Maple CityGEOID 2650920	CDP	209	183±81	$104,750	$316,700	6.6%	100%
CedarGEOID 2614020	CDP	102	23±21	$52,625	not published	0.0%	100%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Leelanau County?

The median resident of Leelanau County is 55.9 years old; 15.4% are under 18 and 33.8% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 89.0%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 4.3%. 1.9% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure	Leelanau County	Michigan	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	55.9±0.4	40.2	+1.8
Under 18 years	15.4%±0.2 pts	21.2%	–
65 years and over	33.8%±0.2 pts	18.6%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	4.3%	5.9%	−0.1 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	89.0%±0.5 pts	72.4%	−1.0 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	0.6%±0.2 pts	13.1%	–
Asian alone, not Hispanic	0.5%±0.1 pts	3.4%	no clear change
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	2.1%±0.3 pts	0.3%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.1 pts	0.0%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	3.2%±0.6 pts	4.5%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.4%±0.2 pts	0.5%	–
Born outside the United States	1.9%±0.3 pts	7.2%	−1.1 pts
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	4.3%±0.8 pts	10.4%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	6.8%±0.9 pts	5.8%	–
With a disability	12.7%±1.0 pts	14.3%	–
No health insurance coverage	3.2%±0.8 pts	4.9%	−2.0 pts
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	97.1%±0.7 pts	92.1%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	51.8%±2.1 pts	32.4%	+7.1 pts
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	21.5%±1.5 pts	12.7%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	1.1%±0.5 pts	1.4%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov

What do households in Leelanau County earn?

Half of Leelanau County's 9,645 households earn less than $99,422 a year (±$6,699), against $72,875 in Michigan. In 2015-2019 the median was $80,302 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $19,120 after inflation. 6.5% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Leelanau County	Michigan	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$99,422±$6,699	$72,875	+$19,120
Mean household income	$136,818±$8,383	$98,700	–
Per capita income	$57,553±$3,366	$40,735	+$9,466
People below the poverty line	6.5%±0.9 pts	13.2%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	11.0%±3.1 pts	17.6%	+4.1 pts
Households receiving SNAP	4.7%±1.0 pts	13.5%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	93.1%±1.1 pts	90.5%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What does housing cost in Leelanau County?

Owners occupy 91.6% of Leelanau County's occupied homes and renters 8.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $458,400 by its owner (±$13,150). The median renter pays $1,228 a month including utilities, and 39.5% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Leelanau County	Michigan	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$458,400±$13,150	$231,600	+$128,082
Median gross rent	$1,228±$90	$1,129	no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	39.5%±9.4 pts	41.4%	no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,865±$69	$1,569	–
Owner-occupied homes	91.6%±1.5 pts	73.2%	+3.3 pts
Housing units	15,759±58	4,622,236	+121
Homeowner vacancy rate	0.4%±0.3 pts	0.8%	–
Rental vacancy rate	23.8%±7.3 pts	5.1%	–
Single-family detached homes	86.0%±1.1 pts	72.0%	–
Mobile homes	2.3%±0.6 pts	5.0%	–
Built 2020 or later	1.5%±0.4 pts	1.0%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	9.8%±1.1 pts	14.6%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov

How many new homes is Leelanau County building?

Builders took permits for 159 new housing units across Leelanau County in 2025 (159 single-family), 6.9 per 1,000 residents.

2019 163 units
2020 119 units
2021 186 units
2022 178 units
2023 207 units
2024 201 units
2025 159 units

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Leelanau County get to work?

75.4% of Leelanau County's workers drive alone and 15.9% work from home. The average trip to work takes 23.6 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.4%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Leelanau County	Michigan	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	50.7%±1.2 pts	61.3%	–
Unemployment rate	3.4%±0.9 pts	5.7%	no clear change
Drove alone to work	75.4%±1.9 pts	74.3%	–
Carpooled	5.1%±1.1 pts	7.9%	–
Public transportation	0.3%±0.2 pts	0.9%	–
Walked	1.3%±0.5 pts	2.0%	–
Worked from home	15.9%±1.9 pts	13.5%	+6.2 pts
Mean travel time to work	23.6 min±1.9	24.2 min	no clear change

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What are Leelanau County's census tracts?

Leelanau County is divided into 10 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $73,250 (Tract 9705.02) to $139,250 (Tract 9706.02).

Census tracts of Leelanau County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; sort by any column

Tract 970126089970100	Northport (25%)	2,008	2,112±273	$119,485	$566,500	$1,058	4.4%
Tract 9702.0126089970201	Suttons Bay (8%)	2,733	2,982±209	$108,000	$434,200	$1,141	7.2%
Tract 9702.0226089970202	Suttons Bay (36%)	2,606	2,403±181	$95,139	$383,100	$1,184	5.3%
Tract 970326089970300	Leland (24%)	2,828	2,692±279	$99,297	$650,300	$1,088	6.5%
Tract 970426089970400	Empire (19%)	1,621	1,787±171	$107,957	$689,400	$1,075	8.5%
Tract 9705.0126089970501	Cedar (7%)	2,738	2,925±208	$101,892	$405,800	$1,028	3.7%
Tract 9705.0226089970502	Maple City (7%)	2,282	2,394±198	$73,250	$404,800	$1,237	11.5%
Tract 9706.0126089970601	Greilickville (32%)	3,927	3,913±170	$82,588	$393,000	$1,778	7.7%
Tract 9706.0226089970602	Greilickville (21%)	1,558	1,526±185	$139,250	$530,500	not published	2.7%
Tract 990026089990000	–	0	0±11	not published	not published	not published	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov

How does Leelanau County compare with Michigan's other counties?

Leelanau County's rank among Michigan's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	63rd of 83
Growth 2020-2025	16th of 83
Residents per square mile	40th of 83
Median household income	2nd of 83
Median home value	1st of 83
Median gross rent	6th of 83
Poverty rate	82nd of 83
Bachelor's degree or higher	2nd of 83
Median age	7th of 83

Every county in Michigan

Source: PlainCities ranks from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed

How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections

Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Leelanau County are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.