The Town Files

Leelanau County, Michigan

22,734 people. The median home is worth $458,400 (typical Michigan town: $193,900) and the median household earns $99,422.

Towns in Leelanau County

Towns in Leelanau County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Elmwood4,892$436,400$94,41749.5
Suttons Bay2,883$440,500$115,76951.3
Bingham2,577$373,200$93,59456.9

People and housing

Leelanau CountyTypical Michigan town
Median home value$458,400$193,900
Median rent$1,228$955
Median household income$99,422$69,792
Median age55.943.7
Bachelor's degree or higher51.8%21.5%
Below the poverty line6.5%10.4%

Jobs and pay

6,662 jobs in 2024, average pay $48,322 a year.

Largest industries in Leelanau CountyHotels & restaurants987 jobs · $36,062Retail609 jobs · $30,908Manufacturing556 jobs · $38,383Construction545 jobs · $60,061Health care & social assistan…529 jobs · $75,754Wholesale trade291 jobs · $40,081
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Leelanau County0%2%4%6%8%10%2000200420082012201620202023 3.8%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 266 storm events in Leelanau County from 1996 to 2026, with 2 deaths.

Storm events in Leelanau County by type since 1996Hail37Blizzard5High Wind13Ice Storm4Heavy Snow51Flash Flood4Strong Wind3Winter Storm64Lakeshore Flood3Lake-Effect Snow21
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Leelanau County has been included in 5 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
March 27, 2020BiologicalDR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3455: Covid-19
September 7, 2005HurricaneEM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation
January 27, 1978SnowstormEM-3057: Blizzards & Snowstorms
March 2, 1977DroughtEM-3035: Drought
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).