County file · Michigan · Seat: Suttons Bay Township
Leelanau County home appraisals
Water drives Leelanau County, and it has the highest home values of the five counties around Traverse City. The median owner occupied value was $458,400 for 2020 to 2024, and 91.6% of occupied homes are owner occupied (Census QuickFacts). Wikipedia counts 86% of the county's area as water. Lake Michigan, Grand Traverse Bay, Lake Leelanau and Glen Lake shape most sales, and Zillow put the typical Leland home at $1,243,994 in September 2026.
$458,400Median owner occupied home value, 2020 to 2024 ACS (Census QuickFacts)
91.6%Owner occupied housing rate, 2020 to 2024 ACS (Census QuickFacts)
$99,422Median household income in 2024 dollars, 2020 to 2024 ACS (Census QuickFacts)
36.6%Residents 65 or older (Census QuickFacts, July 1, 2025 estimate)
Market files in Leelanau County
Elmwood TownshipElmwood Township had 4,892 residents in 2020, the most of any Leelanau County township, and it sits right against Traverse City.Open market file →Suttons BaySuttons Bay is a village of 613 people on its own bay, about 15 miles north of Traverse City, with orchards and wineries in the township hills.Open market file →LelandLeland sits between Lake Michigan and Lake Leelanau, and water drives most of the value.Open market file →NorthportLeelanau Township covers the tip of the Leelanau Peninsula, with Lake Michigan on one side and Grand Traverse Bay on the other.Open market file →Glen ArborThe 2019 master plan places 79% of Glen Arbor Township inside Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, which leaves few private parcels and 757 residents (2020).Open market file →EmpireEmpire sits inside Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore on Lake Michigan, with Glen Lake on the township's north edge.Open market file →CedarHow much is a home in Cedar worth?Open market file →
Common questions
How does Sleeping Bear Dunes affect housing in Leelanau County?
A large part of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore lies in the county, including North and South Manitou islands (Wikipedia). Glen Arbor Township's 2019 master plan places 79% of that township inside the lakeshore. Federal ownership caps how many private parcels exist near the dunes, and sales in Glen Arbor and Empire stay few each year.
Which lake is the largest inside Leelanau County?
Lake Leelanau is the county's largest inland body of water, and it drains to Lake Michigan through the Leland River (Wikipedia). Homes on its north and south basins, and homes on the Lake Michigan shore near Leland, are different products. Each is best measured against sales on its own water before any wider search.