The Town FilesSuttons Bay, Michigan
Village in Leelanau County · population 613 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $523,200
- Household income
- $125,357
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 115 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 70.5
Suttons Bay is a village of 613 people in Leelanau County, Michigan. The median home is worth $523,200, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for retirees than 99% of Michigan towns, better for a vacation home than 98% of Michigan towns, better for cycling than 93% of Michigan towns.
How Suttons Bay 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 Suttons Bay is worth $523,200, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $125,357, which is more affordable than 6% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,193 a month. 79.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Suttons Bay | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $523,200 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,193 | $955 |
| Median household income | $125,357 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 79.5% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1984 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 33.3% | — |
Who lives in Suttons Bay
| People | Suttons Bay | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 70.5 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 60.0% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 5.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 65.2% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.2% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 10.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.2% | — |
| Work from home | 33.5% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 20.1 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.4% | 88.8% |
Weather in Suttons Bay
July highs average 78.6°F and January lows 18.5°F. About 31.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 114.5 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 133 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Suttons Bay since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 3, 1956 about 7.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 22, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 21, 2025.
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 Suttons Bay itself the ACS puts it at 3%.
Public schools in Suttons Bay
2 public schools with 368 students, about 16.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suttons Bay Elementary Middle School | PK-8 | 225 | 12.5 |
| Suttons Bay Senior High School | 9-12 | 143 | 28.6 |
Towns near Suttons Bay
- Suttons Bay, MI1.3 mi · 2,883 people · home $440,500
- Bingham, MI4.6 mi · 2,577 people · home $373,200
- Centerville, MI7.3 mi · 1,243 people · home $444,400
- Peninsula, MI8.8 mi · 6,068 people · home $706,900
- Elmwood, MI10.6 mi · 4,892 people · home $436,400
- Solon, MI12.3 mi · 1,562 people · home $376,100
- Leelanau, MI12.4 mi · 2,048 people · home $569,400
- Greilickville, MI12.4 mi · 1,634 people · home $418,500
Suttons Bay questions
Is Suttons Bay, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Suttons Bay scores better for retirees than 99% of Michigan towns and quieter than 77%. 60.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 70.5).
How much does a house cost in Suttons Bay?
The median owner-occupied home in Suttons Bay is valued at $523,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $125,357, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is $1,193 a month.
What is the weather like in Suttons Bay?
July highs average 78.6°F and January lows 18.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 31.2 inches of precipitation a year and 114.5 inches of snow.
Does Suttons Bay get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Suttons Bay since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 3, 1956. 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)