1st Advantage MortgageAbout 92% of Leelanau County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $99,422. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Who lives in Leelanau County
- What Leelanau County households earn
- What it costs to live in Leelanau County
- Work, industries and travel time in Leelanau County
- Counties near Leelanau County
- Towns and communities in Leelanau County
- Budget math at the Leelanau County median
- Who lives in Leelanau County, in numbers
- Borrowing situations common in Leelanau County
- Checklist for Leelanau County applicants
- Checking a lender's license in Michigan
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Leelanau County
Leelanau County is home to about 22,734 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 63rd most populous of 83 county-level areas in Michigan. Packed into 347 square miles, that is close to 65 residents for every square mile of land. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Traverse City, MI metropolitan area. Of the 10 Census places inside Leelanau County, Greilickville leads by population with about 1,519; 3 of the 10 are incorporated.
What Leelanau County households earn
At $99,422, the typical Leelanau County household income is 51% above the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Income band | Share in Leelanau County | Difference from Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 14.3% | -8.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 35.9% | -5.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 34.0% | +8.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 15.9% | +6.3 pts |
Some 14% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 50% have six-figure incomes. 6.5% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.2%). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Leelanau County median.
What it costs to live in Leelanau County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,228 in Leelanau County versus $1,129 statewide. By the Census definition, 40% of Leelanau County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $458,400, about 4.6 times the median household income. 92% of Leelanau County households own their home and 8% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1988.
| Measure | Leelanau County | Michigan | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,228/mo | $1,129/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $458,400 | $231,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 92% | 73% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 40% | 50% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 23% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 39% | 12% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Leelanau County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
Work, industries and travel time in Leelanau County
By the Census industry count, 26% of employed Leelanau County residents work in education and health care and 15% in professional and administrative services. Compared with Michigan, the county leans toward professional and administrative services (15% against 10%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.4% in Leelanau County. Long commutes are the exception here: 10% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Top industries | Leelanau County share | +/- vs Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.7% | +2.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 15.5% | +5.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.0% | -0.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.8% | +1.3 pts |
| Construction | 8.7% | +2.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 7.7% | -10.5 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Counties near Leelanau County
Benzie County is closest, 36 miles from center to center; the sixth, Kalkaska County, is 57 miles off. None of the six report a higher median household income than Leelanau County; Grand Traverse County is highest at $81,647 and Kalkaska County lowest at $68,578. The list crosses into Wisconsin, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leelanau County | - | $99,422 | $1,228/mo | 92% |
| Benzie County, MI | 36 mi | $74,834 | $1,026/mo | 88% |
| Grand Traverse County, MI | 38 mi | $81,647 | $1,288/mo | 77% |
| Charlevoix County, MI | 41 mi | $76,531 | $949/mo | 83% |
| Antrim County, MI | 44 mi | $72,054 | $902/mo | 86% |
| Door County, WI | 49 mi | $74,795 | $1,086/mo | 78% |
| Kalkaska County, MI | 57 mi | $68,578 | $853/mo | 88% |
Towns and communities in Leelanau County
The table lists the 10 largest of 10 Census places in Leelanau County, by population. Together all 10 hold about 4,251 people, so roughly 81% of residents live outside any named place. No Leelanau County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 10.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greilickville | CDP | 1,519 | $93,750 | $1,859 | 30 mi |
| Suttons Bay | village | 555 | $125,357 | $1,193 | 23 mi |
| Northport | village | 465 | $100,357 | $1,058 | 21 mi |
| Leland | CDP | 400 | $120,781 | n/a | 17 mi |
| Empire | village | 341 | $83,929 | n/a | 23 mi |
| Glen Arbor | CDP | 336 | n/a | n/a | 18 mi |
| Omena | CDP | 305 | $123,553 | n/a | 23 mi |
| Maple City | CDP | 183 | $104,750 | $1,232 | 22 mi |
| Lake Leelanau | CDP | 124 | n/a | n/a | 20 mi |
| Cedar | CDP | 23 | $52,625 | n/a | 24 mi |
Budget math at the Leelanau County median
How much room does a median Leelanau County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Monthly gross at the median, Leelanau County: $8,285
- Housing at the median rent of $1,228 uses 15%
- Under a 43% cap, $3,563 total minus rent leaves $2,335
If your rent is above $1,228, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Who lives in Leelanau County, in numbers
Degree holders: 52% of adults over 25. 3.2% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Leelanau County | All of Michigan | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 55.9 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 51.8% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 2.9% | 7.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.2% | 4.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.8% | 7.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 15.9% | 13.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 6.5% | 13.2% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.4% | 5.7% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Leelanau County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 32.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 39.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.6% |
| 60+ min | 5.3% |
Borrowing situations common in Leelanau County
What the Leelanau County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Retirees. At a median age of 55.9, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
- Strong incomes, long terms. 50% of Leelanau County households earn $100,000+. The risk is a term that outlasts the need.
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
Checklist for Leelanau County applicants
Before you apply, wherever you live in Leelanau County:
- Price the Leelanau County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- A Michigan license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Checking a lender's license in Michigan
Consumer lenders serving Leelanau County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Michigan that is the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. See the Michigan state guide for the statewide picture.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Michigan guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Leelanau County a high-income county?
Its $99,422 median ranks 2nd of 83 Michigan counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Leelanau County rent compare with Michigan?
$1,228 locally versus $1,129 for the state, 9% above.
Which towns does the Leelanau County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 10 Census places: Greilickville, Suttons Bay, Northport, Leland, Empire.
Are Leelanau County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Is there a Leelanau County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Michigan it is the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services.