Leelanau County, Michigan Population and Demographics

In this article, we'll explore the population statistics for Leelanau County, Michigan, including popular demographics data like median age, number of households, household income, gender, employment and unemployment rates, occupations, religion, and more.

We are using the latest American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year survey data from the US Census Bureau, which is accurate up to 2021.

Table of Contents

Population

There is a lot of data that lets us see how many people live in Leelanau County, Michigan. The most basic data is the total population, which is the total number of people living in Leelanau County, Michigan. The estimated population of Leelanau County, Michigan is 22,251 people, with a median age of 54.7.

We can look at the total population in Leelanau County over the last 5 years to see how much it has changed.

Year Population Change 5-Year Change
2021
22,251
+2.78%
+3.19%
2020
21,649
-0.01% -
2019
21,652
+0.06%
-
2018
21,639
+0.35%
-
2017
21,564
- -

Population of Leelanau County, Michigan by Race and Ethnicity

We can also look at how the population has changed over the last 5 years by each of the race/ethnicity types as defined by the US Census Bureau.

Race 2021 2017 Change
White
89.8%
90.2%
-0.44%
Black/African American
0.3%
0.5%
-40.00%
Native
2.6%
2.5%
+4.00%
Hispanic
4.3%
4.2%
+2.38%
Asian
0.6%
0.7%
-14.29%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0.2%
0%
0.00%
Two Or More Races
2.1%
1.7%
+23.53%
Other
0.1%
0.1%
0.00%

This data can be very important for a number of reasons, including social and economic research, planning and development, and marketing to a multi-cultural population.

Note that the Native group includes both Native American and Alaskan Native people.

Population of Leelanau County, Michigan by Age and Gender

The age and gender of a population is another interesting demographic statistic because it lets us track trends in the population over time. For example, we can see how the population has changed over the last 5 years by median age as a total, and also by male and female.

Year Total Male Female
2021 54.7 +0.18% 53.5 -0.19% 55.9 +0.72%
2020 54.6 +0.92% 53.6 +1.32% 55.5 +0.91%
2019 54.1 +0.74% 52.9 +1.15% 55 +0.73%
2018 53.7 +0.75% 52.3 +0.97% 54.6 +0.55%
2017 53.3 - 51.8 - 54.3 -

The median age of Leelanau County, Michigan gives you an idea of the age distribution, with half of the population being older than the median age and half being younger.

This can then be used to infer and compare against birth rates, parent ages, and more metrics to understand the population. For example, an increasing median age indicates an aging population, which can be a sign of a declining population in terms of birth rates and workforce participation.

Age 2021 2017
(Years) Male Female Male Female
0 to 9 1,034 -22.01% 911 -5.2% 822 862
10 to 19 1,091 +14.17% 1,023 -0.86% 1,241 1,011
20 to 29 993 -1.16% 925 +1.24% 980 936
30 to 39 938 +7.61% 857 +20.69% 1,004 1,043
40 to 49 1,078 -2.96% 1,077 -9.77% 1,046 973
50 to 59 1,543 +2.43% 1,815 -7.38% 1,576 1,682
60 to 69 2,119 +7.43% 2,118 +13.52% 2,273 2,414
70+ 1,885 +11.28% 2,157 +6.01% 2,104 2,284

Median Household Income

The latest median household income of Leelanau County, Michigan is $72,709.00.

In simple terms, the median income is the middle income of a group of people. Half of the people in the group make more than the median income, and half make less. The median income is a good indicator of the overall income of a group of people, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more.

Median Income by Age

We can also look at the median income by age to see how the median income varies by age, and how it compares to the overall median income for Leelanau County.

  • Under 25
    $27,857.00
  • 25 to 44
    $85,762.00
  • 45 to 64
    $83,423.00
  • 65 and over
    $65,172.00

Average Household Income

Whenever we ask what is the average household income in Leelanau County, we are actually talking about the mean household income.

This is calculated by adding up all the incomes of all the households in Leelanau County, and then dividing that number by the total number of households. This is a good way to get a general idea of the average income of a group of people, but it can be skewed by a very high or very low incomes.

The average household income of Leelanau County, Michigan is currently $100,270.00.

In terms of accurately summarizing income at a geographic level, the median income is a better metric than the average income because it isn't affected by a small number of very high or very low incomes.

If you had an area where the average income was greater than the median, it can mean that there is significant income inequality, with income being concentrated in a small number of wealthy households.

9.27% of households in Leelanau County are classed as high income households (making $200,000+ per year).

Household Income Tiers

The US Census Bureau divides households into income tiers based on the median income for the area. This is a good way to compare the income of Leelanau County against other areas.

  • Less than $24,999
    10.97%
  • $25,000 to $49,999
    21.26%
  • $50,000 to $74,999
    19.58%
  • $75,000 to $99,999
    13.25%
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    19.18%
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    6.50%
  • $200,000 or more
    9.27%

Per Capita Income

The per capita income in Leelanau County is $42,080.00.

Per capita income is the average income of a person in a given area. It is calculated by dividing the total income of Leelanau County by the total population of Leelanau County.

This is different from the average or mean income because it includes and accounts for all people in Leelanau County, Michigan, including people like children, the elderly, unemployed people, retired people, and more.

Education Levels

We can also look at the education levels in Leelanau County to see how many people have a high school degree, a bachelor's degree, or a graduate degree.

Educational attainment is a good indicator of the overall education level of a population, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more to see how education levels affect income, unemployment rates, and more.

  • Master's degree or higher
    20.62%
  • Bachelor's degree
    41.05%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    8.75%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    28.31%
  • Less than high school diploma
    1.28%

Employment

Employment rates are all based around the total population in Leelanau County that are over the age of 16.

The total population of Leelanau County over the age of 16 is 19,167.

Of those people, a total of 52.70% are working or actively looking for work. This is called the labor force participation rate.

The participation rate is a useful market measure because it shows the relative amount of labor resources available to the economy.

The employment to total population rate in Leelanau County is 50.60%.

Employment by Age

We can look at the employment rates by age to see how it compares to the overall employment rate.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
16 to 19 years 852 35.80% 17.00%
20 to 24 years 986 69.20% 6.20%
25 to 29 years 930 86.50% 4.10%
30 to 34 years 1,017 87.30% 5.30%
35 to 44 years 2,019 80.30% 1.90%
45 to 54 years 2,340 80.00% 2.80%
55 to 59 years 1,948 76.00% 4.30%
60 to 64 years 2,125 49.40% 2.00%
65 to 74 years 4,192 27.10% 2.60%
75 years and over 2,758 9.50% 12.90%

Employment by Race

Another very interesting employment statistic we can look at is the employment and unemployment rates by race in Leelanau County. The table below shows the rates for each of the ethnicity groups types defined by the US Census Bureau.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
White 17,756 52.20% 3.30%
Black or African American 67 25.40% 0.00%
American Indian and Alaska Native 494 50.60% 19.60%
Asian 105 75.20% 16.50%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 34 64.70% 0.00%
Other 78 51.30% 0.00%
Two or more races 633 65.70% 7.70%
Hispanic or Latino 724 57.70% 6.00%
Not Hispanic or Latino 17,477 52.00% 3.20%

Occupations

In this section we can look at the most common occupations in Leelanau County as well as the gender breakdown and earnings of them.

The total population of civilian employees that are 16 years old or older in Leelanau County is 9,697, with median earnings of $36,545.00.

Women in Leelanau County, Michigan earning approximately 74.70% of the men's earnings.

Population Earnings
Total 9,697 $36,545.00
Male 4,842 $42,745.00
Female 4,855 $31,918.00

Occupations by Category

In the table below, we can break down the population and earnings even further by occupation. The list of occupation categories below will show you how many people are employed in each category and the median earnings of each profession.

Occupation Employed Earnings
Management 1,360 $57,955.00
Business and Financial 369 $71,914.00
Computer and Mathematical 147 $90,302.00
Architecture and Engineering 133 $64,886.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 73 $65,139.00
Community and Social Service 218 $24,839.00
Legal 48 $80,000.00
Educational and Library 543 $31,354.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 344 $33,041.00
Healthcare Practitioners 931 $49,911.00
Healthcare Support 306 $25,854.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 54 $51,944.00
Law Enforcement 30 $49,474.00
Food Preparation and Serving 660 $16,423.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 388 $15,761.00
Personal Care and Service 287 $17,480.00
Sales 926 $37,826.00
Office and Administrative Support 978 $33,088.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 99 $17,344.00
Construction and Extraction 480 $43,226.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 375 $52,344.00
Production 479 $36,708.00
Transportation and Material Moving 283 $33,594.00

Occupations by Gender

The table below shows the same occupations from the list above, but we have split them by male and female to see how many male and females work in each occupation, the median earnings, and the male to female ratio of earnings.

That last metric is important because it can be used to look at the gender pay gap between men and women.

Occupation Male Female
Population Earnings Population Earnings
Management 788 $58,750.00 572 $56,750.00
Business and Financial 212 $100,000.00 157 $53,750.00
Computer and Mathematical 108 $47,500.00 39 $90,819.00
Architecture and Engineering 101 $78,125.00 32 $48,333.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 32 $152,000.00 41 $32,375.00
Community and Social Service 108 $25,259.00 110 $23,438.00
Legal 24 $86,250.00 24 $55,417.00
Educational and Library 102 $43,333.00 441 $24,974.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 104 $57,143.00 240 $31,912.00
Healthcare Practitioners 196 $76,471.00 735 $38,938.00
Healthcare Support 60 $10,625.00 246 $26,585.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 44 $55,208.00 10 $0.00
Law Enforcement 11 $54,792.00 19 $0.00
Food Preparation and Serving 388 $16,739.00 272 $15,778.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 267 $22,292.00 121 $14,063.00
Personal Care and Service 48 $23,500.00 239 $17,242.00
Sales 441 $50,120.00 485 $21,911.00
Office and Administrative Support 218 $28,654.00 760 $33,939.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 60 $21,875.00 39 $16,719.00
Construction and Extraction 467 $43,750.00 13 $29,107.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 375 $52,344.00 0 $0.00
Production 319 $48,867.00 160 $25,556.00
Transportation and Material Moving 253 $35,750.00 30 $18,611.00

Households and Family Size

A household defined bu the US Census Bureau is a group of people who occupy a housing unit. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, group of rooms, or single room occupied as separate living quarters.

There are currently 9,108 households in Leelanau County, with an average household size of 2.4 people.

A family is defined as a group of two or more people related by birth, marriage, or adoption who live together in the same household.

There are 6,307 families in Leelanau County with an average family size of 2.85 people.

Households by Marital Status

The four categories of household by marital status are:

  • Married-couple family
  • Male householder with no spouse present
  • Female household with no spouse present
  • Nonfamily household

The table below shows the total number of households and families, with the average sizes of each.

Married Male Female Nonfamily
Total Households 5,475 292 540 2,801
Average Household Size 2.79 3.61 4.09 1.19
Total Families 5,475 292 540 0
Average Household Size 2.78 3.09 3.46 0

Poverty

Of the 6,307 families in Leelanau County, 3.60% are considered to be below the poverty threshold.

The table below shows the latest poverty thresholds in Leelanau County:

Household Size Poverty Threshold
1 Person $14,580.00
2 People $19,720.00
3 People $24,860.00
4 People $30,000.00
5 People $35,140.00
6 People $40,280.00
7 People $45,420.00
8 People $50,560.00

Housing

There are 15,359 housing units in Leelanau County, Michigan.

The table below shows the split between occupied and vacant units:

Total Percentage
Occupied 9,108 59.30%
Vacant 6,251 40.70%

5.05% of the total 15,359 housing units in Leelanau County are rental units. This is approximately 775 properties.

For owner-occupied housing units, a total of 8,231 are occupied by the owner - or 53.59% of the total.

Rental Rates

The median rent for a property in Leelanau County is $1,009.00.

In the chart below, we can look at the number of rental properties in Leelanau County that fall into a particular rent range. These can then be used to compare with other areas, or to see how they have changed over time.

  • No rent paid
    102
  • Less than $500
    92
  • $500 to $999
    290
  • $1,000 to $1,499
    290
  • $1,500 to $1,999
    78
  • $2,000 to $2,499
    25
  • $2,500 to $2,999
    0
  • $3,000 or more
    0

Property Value

The median value of a property in Leelanau County is $303,200.00.

Just like with rental rates, we can look at the number of properties in Leelanau County that fall into a particular value range.

  • Less than $50,000
    258
  • $50,000 to $99,999
    302
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    509
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    950
  • $200,000 to $299,999
    2,059
  • $300,000 to $499,999
    2,111
  • $500,000 to $999,999
    1,475
  • $1,000,000 or more
    567

Property Age

We can also look at the age of properties in Leelanau County. The chart below shows the number of properties in Leelanau County that fall into a particular age range.

  • 1939 or earlier
    1,674
  • 1940 to 1949
    593
  • 1950 to 1959
    764
  • 1960 to 1969
    1,240
  • 1970 to 1979
    1,956
  • 1980 to 1989
    2,254
  • 1990 to 1999
    3,310
  • 2000 to 2009
    2,604
  • 2010 to 2013
    950
  • 2014 or later
    14

Vehicles per Household

The number of vehicles available per household can be a good indicator of the level of affluence in an area. The chart below shows the number of households in Leelanau County that have a particular number of vehicles available.

  • No vehicles available
    342
  • 1 vehicle available
    2,522
  • 2 vehicles available
    3,948
  • 3 or more vehicles available
    2,296

Commuting to Work

In this section, we can also look at how people in Leelanau County get to work. The chart below shows the number of people in Leelanau County that commute to work in a particular way.

23.9 minutes is the average travel time to work for people in Leelanau County.

These commute times can be compared to other date like income and educational levels to see how they relate to each other and if there are any trends in the data that might suggest a correlation.

  • Less than 5 minutes
    353
  • 5 to 9 minutes
    1,286
  • 10 to 14 minutes
    1,021
  • 15 to 19 minutes
    1,221
  • 20 to 24 minutes
    1,335
  • 25 to 29 minutes
    676
  • 30 to 34 minutes
    997
  • 35 to 39 minutes
    415
  • 40 to 44 minutes
    282
  • 45 to 59 minutes
    332
  • 60 to 89 minutes
    127
  • 90 or more minutes
    282

Summary

We've covered a LOT of demographic and population data for Leelanau County, Michigan in this article! Hopefully you have found it very useful in your research of the area.

If you use any of the data found on this page, please consider linking back to USPopulation.org as the source and if you have any feedback or data requests, click here to contact us.

Places in Leelanau County, Michigan

We have data for 20 places in Leelanau County, Michigan. Click on a place below to see more information about the demographics of that place.