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COUNTY

Leelanau County

Michigan · 22,982 residents (2025 est.) · 347.199 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#9Highest homeownership rateof 3,14491.6%#45Oldest by median ageof 3,14455.9#77Most educatedof 3,14451.8%
The short version

Leelanau County is wealthier than most US places, with a median household income of $99,422. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 52% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $458,400. With a median age of 55.9, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. It ranks in the top 1% of US counties for household income.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 55.9
US median: 38.9
More educated
52% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 53%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
22,734
+8%since 2000
from 21,119 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
65 / sq mi
+4%since 2009
from 63 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
55.9
+31%since 2000
from 42.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:22,982 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
16K18K20K21K23K1990201020202024Leelanau County
202423K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 53.5%(797)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 93.6%(828)
US avg: 6%
10 to 145.1%(1,154)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 194.7%(1,070)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 243.9%(877)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 347.8%(1,762)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4410.2%(2,312)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5410.4%(2,359)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6417.2%(3,902)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7420.6%(4,681)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 849.8%(2,229)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over3.4%(763)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$99,422
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $47,062 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$57,553
+133%since 2000
from $24,686 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
62.6%
+27.9 ptssince 2009
from 34.6% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
6.5%
+1.1 ptssince 2000
from 5.4% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.469
+4%since 2010
from 0.451 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information10%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade8.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Retail trade7.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services6.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance3.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Public administration3.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.8%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction2.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Professional, scientific, technical2.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Education & health services1.6%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1.4%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.4%
US avg: 2.2%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$458,400
+53%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $164,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,228
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $565 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
91.6%
+7.0 ptssince 2000
from 84.6% in 2000
8.4% rent
Vacancy rate
38.8%
+2.3 ptssince 2009
from 36.5% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
20.3%
−10.6 ptssince 2009
from 30.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
32.2%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 34.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.6
+9%since 2009
from 4.2 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
87
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Leelanau County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic92%(19,424)
Black0.2%(49)
Hispanic / Latino3.3%(694)
Asian0.2%(48)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic89%(20,233)
Black0.6%(133)
Hispanic / Latino4.3%(982)
Asian0.5%(106)
Other5.6%(1,280)
Diversity Score
25
+15%since 2009
from 22 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
23
−17%since 2020
from 28 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican2.9%(661)
Spaniard0.6%(142)
Puerto Rican0.1%(12)
Colombian0.1%(12)
Cuban0%(3)
Asian origin
Asian Indian0.1%(31)
Filipino0.1%(26)
Japanese0.1%(14)
Chinese0.1%(12)
Thai0%(4)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
German26.4%(6,008)
English17%(3,866)
Irish12.7%(2,883)
Polish11.1%(2,525)
Scottish5%(1,129)
Dutch4.9%(1,105)
French4.7%(1,058)
Italian3.8%(871)
American3.3%(740)
Norwegian2.4%(551)
Swedish2.4%(538)
Czech1.2%(281)
+ 33 more ancestry groups with data
Belgian0.9%(200)
Swiss0.8%(193)
Welsh0.8%(183)
Danish0.7%(150)
Finnish0.6%(141)
Arab0.5%(116)
Ukrainian0.5%(106)
British0.4%(87)
Russian0.3%(74)
Canadian0.3%(72)
Lithuanian0.3%(67)
Hungarian0.3%(59)
Armenian0.3%(57)
Slovak0.3%(57)
Lebanese0.2%(52)
Austrian0.2%(45)
Greek0.1%(30)
Egyptian0.1%(26)
Croatian0.1%(26)
Serbian0.1%(14)
West Indian0.1%(14)
Jamaican0.1%(14)
Latvian0.1%(12)
Slovene0%(9)
Syrian0%(4)
Kenyan0%(1)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest Polish population · Largest Scottish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
51.8%
+20.5 ptssince 2000
from 31.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
97.1%
+6.4 ptssince 2000
from 90.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
21.5%
+9.8 ptssince 2000
from 11.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.6 min
+66%since 2000
from 14.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
75.4%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 76.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
5.1%
−4.9 ptssince 2009
from 10.0% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.3%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
15.9%
+6.9 ptssince 2009
from 9.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.3%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 2.8% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.9%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
2.8%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 2.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.4%
−5.0 ptssince 2011
from 8.4% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
50.7%
−8.2 ptssince 2011
from 58.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
12.8%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 11.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
48.1%
−15.8 ptssince 2009
from 63.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.7%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 50.0% in 2009
Female
50.3%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 50.0% in 2009
Foreign born
1.9%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 3.4% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.8%
−43.0 ptssince 2009
from 49.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
12.7%
+0.7 ptssince 2012
from 12.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
3.2%
−85.0 ptssince 2013
from 88.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
93.1%
+11.6 ptssince 2017
from 81.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
95.7%
+0.9 ptssince 2016
from 94.7% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.1%
−0.6 ptssince 2016
from 2.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married23.6%(2,339)
Married63.2%(6,255)
Widowed3.2%(313)
Divorced10%(991)
Women 15+
Never married18.7%(1,883)
Married62.1%(6,242)
Widowed8.6%(865)
Divorced10.6%(1,067)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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Head to head

Compare Leelanau County to nearby counties

LEELANAU COUNTY VS
Benzie County
Income$74,834−25%
Home value$285,700−38%
Population18,568−19%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LEELANAU COUNTY VS
Grand Traverse County
Income$81,647−18%
Home value$339,400−26%
Population96,729+321%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LEELANAU COUNTY VS
Charlevoix County
Income$76,531−23%
Home value$276,800−40%
Population26,036+13%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LEELANAU COUNTY VS
Antrim County
Income$72,054−28%
Home value$255,500−44%
Population24,698+7%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Leelanau County, Michigan?

Leelanau County, Michigan has about 22,734 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Leelanau County, Michigan?

The typical household in Leelanau County, Michigan earns about $99,422 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Leelanau County, Michigan expensive?

In Leelanau County, Michigan, the median home is worth about $458,400, and the typical rent is about $1,228 a month.

How educated are people in Leelanau County, Michigan?

About 51.8% of adults age 25 and over in Leelanau County, Michigan hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Leelanau County, Michigan?

About 6.5% of people in Leelanau County, Michigan live below the federal poverty line.

Has Leelanau County, Michigan grown since 1990?

Yes, Leelanau County, Michigan has grown since 1990. The population has added about 6,207 residents, a change of about 38 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

10 census tracts
Census Tract 9706.01Census Tract 9702.01Census Tract 9705.01Census Tract 9703Census Tract 9702.02Census Tract 9705.02Census Tract 9701Census Tract 9704Census Tract 9706.02Census Tract 9900
10 ZIP codes
ZIP 49684ZIP 49682ZIP 49621ZIP 49664ZIP 49670ZIP 49653ZIP 49630ZIP 49654ZIP 49636ZIP 49674
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →