The Town FilesEmpire, Michigan
Township in Leelanau County · population 1,126 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $452,500
- Household income
- $94,821
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 143 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 64.8
Empire is a township of 1,126 people in Leelanau County, Michigan. The median home is worth $452,500, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for retirees than 100% of Michigan towns, better for a vacation home than 100% of Michigan towns, quieter than 95% of Michigan towns.
How Empire ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Empire is worth $452,500, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 4.8 times the median household income of $94,821, which is more affordable than 3% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,034 a month. 85.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Empire | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $452,500 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,034 | $955 |
| Median household income | $94,821 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 85.0% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1990 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 46.0% | — |
Who lives in Empire
| People | Empire | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 64.8 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 49.7% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 9.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 56.8% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.3% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 9.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 19.4% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 27.8 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.5% | 88.8% |
Weather in Empire
July highs average 79.9°F and January lows 15.9°F. About 35.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 143.3 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 154 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Empire since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. The strongest, an F1, struck on July 31, 1977 about 4.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 31, 1977.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 7 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 8, 2016.
Severe weather in Leelanau County since 1996
Leelanau County has been included in 5 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| January 27, 1978 | Snowstorm | EM-3057: Blizzards & Snowstorms |
| March 2, 1977 | Drought | EM-3035: Drought |
Jobs and pay in Leelanau County
Leelanau County had 6,662 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,322 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Empire itself the ACS puts it at 0.7%.
Towns near Empire
- Glen Arbor, MI6.3 mi · 757 people · home $886,200
- Kasson, MI6.5 mi · 1,647 people · home $402,600
- Almira, MI8.1 mi · 3,873 people · home $284,600
- Lake, MI9.9 mi · 694 people · home $650,000
- Cleveland, MI10.5 mi · 1,103 people · home $442,400
- Solon, MI11.7 mi · 1,562 people · home $376,100
- Homestead, MI12.0 mi · 2,329 people · home $226,200
- Benzonia, MI12.3 mi · 2,734 people · home $327,000
Empire questions
Is Empire, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Empire scores better for retirees than 100% of Michigan towns and quieter than 95%. 49.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 64.8).
How much does a house cost in Empire?
The median owner-occupied home in Empire is valued at $452,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $94,821, so homes cost about 4.8 times income. Median rent is $1,034 a month.
What is the weather like in Empire?
July highs average 79.9°F and January lows 15.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.7 inches of precipitation a year and 143.3 inches of snow.
Does Empire get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Empire since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on July 31, 1977. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)