Leelanau County’s rapid personal income growth is among the highest in the state, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s recent data from its American Community Survey (ACS) five-year average for 2020-24.
The ACS is an ongoing survey that provides data every year and covers a range of topics about social, economic, housing, and demographic characteristics of the U.S. population.
The U.S. Census Bureau reports that Leelanau’s median household income was $99,422 in 2024, a significant increase from the county’s 2010 median household income estimate of $56,527.
Downstate, Oakland County trailed behind Leelanau’s 2024 median household income estimate, coming in at $97,760.
Much of the income growth in recent years is due to the changing demographics of individuals like affluent retirees and remote workers relocating to Leelanau County.
Of the roughly 22,871 Leelanau County population 2024 estimate, about 40% are categorized as persons 62 years of age or older, a percentage that has nearly doubled since 2000.
Lena Vander Meulen, director at Leelanau County Senior Services (LCSS), a program that helps support the varying needs of individuals aged 60 and older, said that the current reported increase in household income “does not always reflect their lived reality.”
While she acknowledges Leelanau County’s aging population, she said many older adults live on fixed incomes supported by social security or modest retirement savings.
“Overall household incomes in the county have risen, but so have property values, housing costs, utility costs, insurance premiums, and food prices. For older adults aging in place, these rising costs often outpace their income adjustments,” Vander Meulen said. “What I don’t like about using or discussing median income is that it often masks disparities. We serve older adults who have lived in this community for decades. Some are asset-rich due to rising home values but cash-poor in terms of monthly income. Some have no significant assets at all. The growth reflected in census data does not eliminate the financial vulnerability that many older adults face.”
Despite the county’s higher income reflected in the census, seniors in Leelanau still very much remain in need of services, with Vander Meulen adding that in many cases, the need has increased. She said they’ve seen more senior service requests for needs like transportation, resource navigation, and financial assistance.
“As our population changes, so does the needs of our older adults,” she said. “Our (LCSS) role is to help older adults age in place safely and with dignity, but our role is also to respond to needs as they evolve. So, today’s programming might look different a year from now. Bottom line is the programming and Economic growth in our county is positive, but it does not eliminate the responsibility to make sure that long-time residents and newer retirees alike have access to the supports they need to age in place successfully.”
