The Town FilesSuttons Bay, Michigan
Township in Leelanau County · population 2,883 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $440,500
- Household income
- $115,769
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 115 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 51.3
Suttons Bay is a township of 2,883 people in Leelanau County, Michigan. The median home is worth $440,500, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for retirees than 99% of Michigan towns, better for a vacation home than 97% of Michigan towns, more upscale than 89% of Michigan towns.
How Suttons Bay ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Suttons Bay is worth $440,500, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $115,769, which is more affordable than 11% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,151 a month. 87.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Suttons Bay | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $440,500 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,151 | $955 |
| Median household income | $115,769 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 87.1% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1992 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 23.7% | — |
Who lives in Suttons Bay
| People | Suttons Bay | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.3 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 32.9% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 17.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 49.1% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.3% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 9.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.0% | — |
| Work from home | 14.8% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 34.2 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.5% | 88.8% |
Weather in Suttons Bay
July highs average 79.9°F and January lows 16.5°F. About 31.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 114.5 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 157 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Suttons Bay since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 3, 1956 about 8.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 22, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 21, 2025.
Severe weather in Leelanau County since 1996
Leelanau County has been included in 5 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| January 27, 1978 | Snowstorm | EM-3057: Blizzards & Snowstorms |
| March 2, 1977 | Drought | EM-3035: Drought |
Jobs and pay in Leelanau County
Leelanau County had 6,662 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,322 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Suttons Bay itself the ACS puts it at 10.5%.
Towns near Suttons Bay
- Bingham, MI5.7 mi · 2,577 people · home $373,200
- Peninsula, MI9.1 mi · 6,068 people · home $706,900
- Elmwood, MI11.7 mi · 4,892 people · home $436,400
- Elk Rapids, MI13.5 mi · 2,521 people · home $401,100
- Acme, MI16.4 mi · 4,456 people · home $338,300
- Traverse City, MI16.7 mi · 15,678 people · home $415,400
- Garfield, MI18.6 mi · 19,499 people · home $316,200
- Whitewater, MI20.1 mi · 2,688 people · home $373,000
Suttons Bay questions
Is Suttons Bay, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Suttons Bay scores better for retirees than 99% of Michigan towns and quieter than 76%. 32.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.3).
How much does a house cost in Suttons Bay?
The median owner-occupied home in Suttons Bay is valued at $440,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $115,769, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $1,151 a month.
What is the weather like in Suttons Bay?
July highs average 79.9°F and January lows 16.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 31.3 inches of precipitation a year and 114.5 inches of snow.
Does Suttons Bay get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Suttons Bay since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 3, 1956. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)