Leelanau County, Michigan Income Statistics
Leelanau County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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B
Leelanau County Around averageWealthier than 93% of counties in Michigan
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Leelanau County | Michigan Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $99,683 | $72,977 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $59,888 | $59,920 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 6.8% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 16.9% | 11.4% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 15.9% | 9.5% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Leelanau County is about 37% higher than in Michigan. Income has been growing faster in Leelanau County (6.8%/yr) than in Michigan (4.6%/yr).
About 17% of adults in Leelanau County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the Michigan average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Leelanau County, Michigan grew by 75.5% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $99,683 in 2024. That's an average of about 6.8% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Leelanau County
| Metric | Leelanau County | Michigan Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.517 | 0.539 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $76,403 | $69,354 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $59,318 | $54,749 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 22.4% | 21.1% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Leelanau County, it is 0.517, lower than Michigan's 0.539, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 29% more than women's income in Leelanau County, Michigan. Over a 35-year career, a 29% wage gap accumulates to roughly $597,975 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Leelanau County, Michigan has narrowed from about 24% to 22% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 27% in 2010, and was narrowest at 10% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $5,913 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Leelanau County | Michigan Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% | 5.7% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 15.9% | 13.5% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 21 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 342 people are unemployed in Leelanau County, Michigan.
The average commute time in Leelanau County is 21 minutes, about the same as in Michigan.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Leelanau County, Michigan has fallen from 8.4% to 3.4% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 8.6% in 2013 and fell as low as 3.2% in 2022.
Leelanau County, MI Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Leelanau County, MI is typical in size for this group, 22,734 residents against a local median of 25,350, so the measures below are close to a like for like comparison. Leelanau County, MI's median household income, at $99,683, runs 33% above the $74,821 typical of the counties around it. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Income growth tells the same story from another angle: 6.8%/yr against a local median of 5.3%/yr, 28% above it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, so Leelanau County, MI is not trading one advantage for another, it reads stronger than its neighbours across the board. The counties themselves spread $18,004 on median household income, so Leelanau County, MI sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Leelanau County, MI has the highest median household income of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leelanau County, MI | 22,734 | $99,683 #1/6 | 6.8%/yr #1/6 | 3.4% #3/6 | 0.517 #5/6 |
| Benzie County, MI | 18,310 | $74,821 | 5.5%/yr | 3.1% | 0.497 |
| Grand Traverse County, MI | 96,166 | $82,482 | 4.9%/yr | 3.8% | 0.500 |
| Charlevoix County, MI | 26,108 | $76,927 | 5.9%/yr | 3.3% | 0.495 |
| Manistee County, MI | 25,350 | $64,478 | 5.3%/yr | 6.4% | 0.517 |
| Antrim County, MI | 24,127 | $72,664 | 5.2%/yr | 3.9% | 0.500 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Leelanau County, Michigan has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than Michigan, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Leelanau County, Michigan.
How Rich Is Leelanau County, Michigan?
Leelanau County has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $99,683, about 37% higher than the Michigan average of $72,977.
How has median household income changed in Leelanau County, Michigan?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Leelanau County, Michigan rose 76%, from $56,794 to $99,683. Over the same years, income here outpaced Michigan as a whole: +76% against +50%.
What was the median household income in Leelanau County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Leelanau County, Michigan was $93,500, up 11% from $84,610 in 2022. The Michigan median that year was $71,362.
What was the median household income in Leelanau County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Leelanau County, Michigan was $67,803. By 2024 it had risen 47% to $99,683.
Is Leelanau County, Michigan a high-income area?
Yes. 17% of adults in Leelanau County, Michigan earn $100,000 or more a year (about 1 in 6), against 11% (about 1 in 9) in Michigan. 16% of households have a combined income of $200,000 or more, compared with 10% in Michigan.
How strong is the job market in Leelanau County, Michigan?
Unemployment in Leelanau County, Michigan is only 3.4%, well below the Michigan rate of 5.7%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Leelanau County, Michigan?
The Gini coefficient in Leelanau County is 0.517. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Leelanau County, Michigan?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Leelanau County, Michigan has narrowed from about 24% to 22% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 27% in 2010, and was narrowest at 10% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $5,913 since 2009.
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