Empire

Population: 384
Median household income: $75,938
Median home value: $368,400

Empire is a community in Leelanau County, Michigan, home to 384 residents. At $75,938, its median household income sits below Leelanau County's $91,943.

Between 2019 and 2023, Empire's population grew 46.0% from 263 to 384, while its median home value rose 62.0% from $227,400 to $368,400.

Owners occupy 81.9% of the area's occupied homes. The median resident is 63.7 years old.

Demographics

ACS 2019–2023

Population: 384
Median age: 63.7 yrs
Median household income: $75,938
Median home value: $368,400
Median gross rent: $379
Housing units: 342
Homeownership rate: 81.9%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 51.3%
Unemployment rate: 1.5%

Trends

ACS 5-year · 2019–2023

Population

263384

Median household income

$38,977$75,938

Median home value

$227,400$368,400

Median gross rent

$361$379

Year	Population	Median household income	Median home value	Median gross rent
2019	263	$38,977	$227,400	$361
2020	324	$51,786	$239,700	$364
2021	362	$60,781	$281,500	$345
2022	392	$66,563	$346,900	$402
2023	384	$75,938	$368,400	$379

Each year is a US Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimate ending that year.

Age distribution

Under 51.3%

5 to 1716.4%

18 to 240.0%

25 to 343.1%

35 to 448.6%

45 to 542.1%

55 to 6423.2%

65 to 7427.9%

75 and over17.4%

	Count	Share
Under 5	5	1.3%
5 to 17	63	16.4%
18 to 24	0	0.0%
25 to 34	12	3.1%
35 to 44	33	8.6%
45 to 54	8	2.1%
55 to 64	89	23.2%
65 to 74	107	27.9%
75 and over	67	17.4%

Race & ethnicity

	Count	Share
White (non-Hispanic)	353	91.9%
Black or African American	5	1.3%
American Indian & Alaska Native	3	0.8%
Asian	1	0.3%
Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander	0	0.0%
Some other race	0	0.0%
Two or more races	1	0.3%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	21	5.5%

Educational attainment (age 25+)

No high school diploma1.9%

High school graduate13.9%

Some college or associate's32.9%

Bachelor's degree26.6%

Graduate or professional degree24.7%

	Count	Share
No high school diploma	6	1.9%
High school graduate	44	13.9%
Some college or associate's	104	32.9%
Bachelor's degree	84	26.6%
Graduate or professional degree	78	24.7%

Commute to work

Mean travel time to work: 24 min

Drove alone73.7%

Carpooled6.8%

Public transit0.0%

Walked0.8%

Bicycle0.0%

Worked from home18.8%

Other means0.0%

How workers get to work

	Count	Share
Drove alone	98	73.7%
Carpooled	9	6.8%
Public transit	0	0.0%
Walked	1	0.8%
Bicycle	0	0.0%
Worked from home	25	18.8%
Other means	0	0.0%

Travel time

	Count	Share
Under 15 min	36	33.3%
15 to 29 min	22	20.4%
30 to 44 min	38	35.2%
45 to 59 min	7	6.5%
60+ min	5	4.6%

Households

Average household size: 1.99
Poverty rate: 15.1% (58 of 384)

	Count	Share
Family households	110	57.0%
Nonfamily households	83	43.0%

Housing

Median year structure built: 1973

Occupancy

	Count	Share
Occupied	193	56.4%
Vacant	149	43.6%

Tenure (of occupied units)

	Count	Share
Owner-occupied	158	81.9%
Renter-occupied	35	18.1%

1-unit, detached88.3%

1-unit, attached2.3%

2 to 4 units1.5%

5 to 19 units7.9%

20 or more units0.0%

Mobile home & other0.0%

Units in structure

	Count	Share
1-unit, detached	302	88.3%
1-unit, attached	8	2.3%
2 to 4 units	5	1.5%
5 to 19 units	27	7.9%
20 or more units	0	0.0%
Mobile home & other	0	0.0%

Geography

Place GEOID: 2625980
Type (LSAD): 47
Land area: 1.03 sq mi
Water area: 0.09 sq mi
Center point: 44.8126, -86.0593