Leelanau County, Michigan: commercial real estate data.
Leelanau County, Michigan had an estimated 22,871 residents on July 1, 2024, up 2.6 percent since the 2020 census base of 22,298, across 347 square miles. County output reached $1.13 bn in 2024, 796 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 53 7(a) approvals worth $32.9 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Leelanau County
How many people live in Leelanau County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202422,734
- Households9,645
- Average household size2.36
- Median household income$99,422
- Median age55.9
- Median gross rent$1,228 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$458,400
- Home value to household income4.6 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income14.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher51.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree21.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over18,008
- Population under 183,500
- Share under 1815.4 percent
- Population 65 and over7,673
- Share 65 and over33.8 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6411,561
- Civilian labor force9,969
- Unemployment rate3.4 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over51.8 percent
- Rank by population among Michigan counties63rd of 83
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1740th of 3,222
Leelanau County is the 63rd largest of 83 Michigan counties by population. A median home costs 4.6 times median household income, which is seriously unaffordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 33.8 percent against 15.4 percent, which points demand at health care, services and single story product rather than schools.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Leelanau County
Is Leelanau County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202422,871
- Census 2020 base population22,298
- Population change since the 2020 census base2.57 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024-99
- Births, 2024124
- Deaths, 2024286
- Natural change, 2024-162
- Net domestic migration, 202443
- Net international migration, 202424
- Total net migration, 202467
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20241,121
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents987th of 3,144
The county has grown 2.57 percent since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 by more than net migration added, so the population fell even though more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Leelanau County
Where are people moving to Leelanau County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving823
- People arriving, from those returns1,476
- Tax returns filed by households leaving719
- Net household movement104
- Adjusted gross income arriving$126.1 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$56.9 m
- Average income of an arriving household$153,259
- Average income of a leaving household$96,239
- Largest single originGrand Traverse County (238 households)
- Largest single destinationGrand Traverse County (255 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Traverse County | 238 | 436 | $23.7 m |
| Oakland County | 35 | 59 | $4.0 m |
| Kent County | 22 | 40 | $2.6 m |
Households arriving report $57,020 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Grand Traverse County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Leelanau County
What is the Leelanau County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$1.13 bn
- County GDP, 2023$1.05 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20248.2 percent
- GDP change over five years43.5 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Michigan areas BEA publishes56th of 83
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1745th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$49,772
Output grew 8.2 percent in the latest year and 43.5 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Leelanau County
Employment by industry in Leelanau County
- Covered employment, annual average6,662
- Establishments reporting840
- Average annual pay$48,322
- Average weekly wage$929
- Accommodation and food services, employment987
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$36,062
- Retail trade, employment609
- Retail trade, average annual pay$30,908
- Manufacturing, employment556
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$38,383
- Construction, employment545
- Construction, average annual pay$60,061
- Health care and social assistance, employment529
- Wholesale trade, employment291
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and food services | 987 | 77 | $36,062 |
| Retail trade | 609 | 98 | $30,908 |
| Manufacturing | 556 | 46 | $38,383 |
| Construction | 545 | 114 | $60,061 |
| Health care and social assistance | 529 | 59 | $75,754 |
| Wholesale trade | 291 | 11 | $40,081 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 251 | 50 | $49,231 |
| Other services, except public administration | 227 | 72 | $44,289 |
Accommodation and food services is the largest private sector at 987 jobs, 14.8 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Leelanau County
How many businesses are in Leelanau County?
- Establishments, all industries796
- Employment at those establishments5,239
- Annual payroll$275.9 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents35.0
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Leelanau County
Building permits in Leelanau County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024201
- Declared construction value permitted$52.4 m
- Single family units authorized201
- Multifamily units authorized0
- Multifamily share of units0.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$260,596
- Units authorized per 1,000 households20.8
Single-family homes are 100.0 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Leelanau County
SBA loans in Leelanau County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded53
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$32.9 m
- Average 7(a) approval$621,045
- Median 7(a) approval$199,000
- 10th percentile approval$25,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,389,600
- Largest single approval$4,417,500
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)495
- Jobs per approval9.3
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active19
- Distinct industries receiving approvals37
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer22.6 percent
- Loans on real estate terms12
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter37
- Franchise loans0
- Franchise share of approvals0.0 percent
- Leading industry by approval countWood Window and Door Manufacturing (6)
- Most active lenderThe Huntington National Bank (21)
- 504 approvals recorded38
- 504 gross approval dollars$18.4 m
- Average 504 approval$483,447
- Median 504 approval$272,500
- Distinct CDCs active2
- 504 jobs per approval5.4
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved11.1
- Most active CDCGreat Lakes Commercial Finance (26)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$51.3 m
The average approval of $621,045 sits well above the median of $199,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 22.6 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Leelanau County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Leelanau County
Do SBA loans in Leelanau County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded13
- Paid in full13
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full13
- Status: Exempt from disclosure32
- Status: Cancelled7
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed1
Only 13 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Leelanau County
SBA lending by place in Leelanau County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending10
- Northport, approvals12
- Suttons Bay, approvals11
- Glen Arbor, approvals8
- Empire, approvals5
- Traverse City, approvals4
- Leland, approvals4
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Northport | 12 | $16,543,900 |
| Suttons Bay | 11 | $1,464,700 |
| Glen Arbor | 8 | $6,269,400 |
| Empire | 5 | $835,000 |
| Traverse City | 4 | $1,481,700 |
| Leland | 4 | $799,000 |
| Lake Leelanau | 3 | $4,323,000 |
| Maple City | 3 | $785,500 |
| 2 other borrower cities | 3 | $413,200 |
Northport accounts for 12 approvals against 11 in Suttons Bay. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Leelanau County
How large is Leelanau County?
- Land area347 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Michigan counties82nd of 83
- Width, east to west30.8 mi
- Height, north to south30.1 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary2
- Residents per square mile of land66
- Establishments per square mile2.29
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Leelanau County
Flood risk in Leelanau County
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book14
- Of those, participating in the NFIP14
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Leelanau County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The EPA places Leelanau County in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Leelanau County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Leelanau County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202422,734
- Households9,645
- Average household size2.36
- Median household income$99,422
- Median age55.9
Common questions
Leelanau County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Leelanau County, Michigan?
The Census Bureau estimates 22,871 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 22,734, in 9,645 households, ranking 63rd of 83 Michigan counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Leelanau County's population growing?
The population has grown 2.57 percent since the 2020 census base of 22,298, to 22,871 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 124 births against 286 deaths, with net migration of 67. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Leelanau County?
$99,422. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $458,400, which is 4.6 times income, and median gross rent is $1,228 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Leelanau County?
796 establishments, employing 5,239 people with an annual payroll of $275.9 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Leelanau County?
Accommodation and food services is the largest private sector at 987 jobs, 14.8 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 6,662 jobs at an average annual pay of $48,322, or $929 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Leelanau County?
53 7(a) approvals totaling $32.9 m since FY2020, across 19 lenders, with a median approval of $199,000, plus 38 504 approvals worth $18.4 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Leelanau County?
201 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $52.4 m. Multifamily was 0.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Leelanau County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Leelanau County come from?
The largest single origin is Grand Traverse County, with 238 households. Arriving households report an average income of $153,259 against $96,239 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Leelanau County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Leelanau County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Leelanau County
Cities and places in Leelanau.
11 Census places lie wholly or partly in Leelanau County. All 11 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traverse City | city | 15,593 | 4 | 4.1 percent here, 95.9 percent Grand Traverse County |
| Greilickville | CDP | 1,519 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Suttons Bay | village | 555 | 11 | Wholly in this county |
| Northport | village | 465 | 12 | Wholly in this county |
| Leland | CDP | 400 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Empire | village | 341 | 5 | Wholly in this county |
| Glen Arbor | CDP | 336 | 8 | Wholly in this county |
| Omena | CDP | 305 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Maple City | CDP | 183 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Lake Leelanau | CDP | 124 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Cedar | CDP | 23 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
Nearby