The Town FilesGlen Arbor, Michigan
Township in Leelanau County · population 757 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $886,200
- Household income
- $109,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 125 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 66.9
Glen Arbor is a township of 757 people in Leelanau County, Michigan. The median home is worth $886,200, 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 96% of Michigan towns.
How Glen Arbor 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 Glen Arbor is worth $886,200, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 8.1 times the median household income of $109,500, which is more affordable than 0% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,073 a month. 95.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Glen Arbor | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $886,200 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,073 | $955 |
| Median household income | $109,500 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 8.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 95.0% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1992 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 61.9% | — |
Who lives in Glen Arbor
| People | Glen Arbor | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 66.9 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 57.5% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 6.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 75.9% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.7% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 7.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.6% | — |
| Work from home | 32.5% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 23.2 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.0% | 88.8% |
Weather in Glen Arbor
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 125.3 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 Glen Arbor since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. The strongest, an F1, struck on July 31, 1977 about 3.2 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 6 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 Glen Arbor itself the ACS puts it at 5.9%.
Towns near Glen Arbor
- Empire, MI6.3 mi · 1,126 people · home $452,500
- Cleveland, MI6.9 mi · 1,103 people · home $442,400
- Kasson, MI9.3 mi · 1,647 people · home $402,600
- Centerville, MI13.2 mi · 1,243 people · home $444,400
- Almira, MI13.6 mi · 3,873 people · home $284,600
- Solon, MI14.1 mi · 1,562 people · home $376,100
- Lake, MI14.6 mi · 694 people · home $650,000
- Leland, MI16.3 mi · 2,126 people · home $675,900
Glen Arbor questions
Is Glen Arbor, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Glen Arbor scores better for retirees than 100% of Michigan towns and quieter than 96%. 57.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 66.9).
How much does a house cost in Glen Arbor?
The median owner-occupied home in Glen Arbor is valued at $886,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $109,500, so homes cost about 8.1 times income. Median rent is $1,073 a month.
What is the weather like in Glen Arbor?
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 125.3 inches of snow.
Does Glen Arbor get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Glen Arbor 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)