Market file · Leelanau County, Michigan

Empire home appraisals

Village of Empire and Empire Township

Empire sits inside Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore on Lake Michigan, with Glen Lake on the township's north edge. The village had 362 residents in 2020 and the township 1,126. Zillow's typical Empire value was $640,658 in September 2026, up 4.2% year over year.

$640,658Typical Empire home value, September 2026 (Zillow Home Value Index)

1,126Empire Township population, 2020 census (Wikipedia)

7,700 acresTownship land inside Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (Leelanau County)

$458,400Leelanau County median owner occupied home value, 2020 to 2024 ACS (Census QuickFacts)

New village homes and shoreline homes, far apart

Zillow's typical Empire home value was $640,658 as of September 30, 2026, up 4.2% year over year. The Leelanau County ACS median owner value for 2020 to 2024 was $458,400. A small new home phase at The Village at M22 was priced from $279,000 to $314,000 in June 2020, which shows how far apart new village product and shoreline homes can be.

Federal and state land surrounds Empire. Private lots stay scarce, and lake access shapes nearly every sale.

Public land on almost every side

About 7,700 acres of the township lie inside the national lakeshore and nearly 1,800 more are state owned, so private land is limited. The village sits on Lake Michigan between the Empire Bluffs and the dunes, and the lakeshore's Philip A. Hart Visitor Center is in town. South Bar Lake sits behind the beach and stays warmer than the big lake in summer. North Bar Lake and the south shore of Glen Lake are in the township too. Glen Lake Community School serves Empire. M-72 runs east toward Traverse City.

Areas, lakes and neighborhoods in this file

Village of Empire
Burdickville
South Bar Lake
North Bar Lake
Glen Lake (south shore)
Empire Bluffs
The Village at M22
Lake Michigan shoreline

Landmarks around Empire

Sleeping Bear Dunes National LakeshoreNational lakeshore
South Bar LakeInland lake
Glen LakeInland lake

Common questions

Which school district serves Empire?

Glen Lake Community School serves Empire, along with Glen Arbor, Maple City and Cedar. The district covers Empire, Glen Arbor and Kasson townships plus parts of Centerville, Cleveland and Solon. It had 735 students in 2024 to 2025, and its campus is on Burdickville Road in Kasson Township.

How does public land affect Empire home values?

About 7,700 acres of Empire Township sit inside Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, and nearly 1,800 acres are state owned. That limits private supply and can mean few recent sales. An appraisal may need sales from Glen Arbor or nearby lake areas, with adjustments explained for location and water access.