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Empire, MI

Full City Profile · Michigan · Benzie County County

3.5 /5.0
B+ Good
384 Population 373/sq mi density
$75,938 Median Income $60,295 per capita
$368,400 Home Value $608,126 Zillow
$379 Median Rent 36.4% income on rent
47°F Avg Temperature 270 sunny days/yr
305 Violent Crime/100K 1,840 property/100K
B+
Overall
3.5 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A
Economy
4.1 / 5.0
$75,938 median income, 0.6% unemployment
B+
Affordability
3.9 / 5.0
$368,400 home value, $379/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
305 violent crimes/100K
A+
Education
5.0 / 5.0
51.3% bachelor's degree or higher

Empire, MI

At a Glance

Median Income
$75,938
1% above
$60,295 per capita
Home Value
$368,400
31% above
Zillow: $608,126
Median Rent
$379/mo
67% below
36.4% of income on rent
Violent Crime
305/100K
20% below
1,840/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
51.3%
52% above
98.1% high school+
Unemployment
0.6%
83% below
12.7% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
30.1%
6% below
9.0% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
47°F
270 sunny days/yr

How Empire Compares to the U.S. Average

Each bar shows Empire's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)

Income
101%
Home Value
131%
Rent
33%
Poverty
102%
Bachelor's
152%
Unemployment
17%
Crime
80%
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)

Is Empire a Good Place to Live?

B+
3.5 / 5.0 — Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.

Economy & Jobs

Empire residents earn a median household income of $75,938 , which is 1% above the national average of $75,149. Per capita income is $60,295. The unemployment rate stands at 0.6% (83% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 12.7% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 483 business establishments, including 67 restaurants.

Housing & Cost of Living

The median home value in Empire is $368,400 , 31% above the national median of $281,900. Zillow estimates the typical home at $608,126. Median rent is $379/month, with 36.4% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 96.2 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1974.

Safety & Crime

Empire reports 305 violent crimes per 100,000 residents , which is 20% below the national average of 380/100K. Property crime is 1,840/100K.

Education

51.3% of adults in Empire hold a bachelor's degree or higher (52% above the national average). 98.1% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.7/10 in standardized testing.

Climate & Weather

Empire has an average annual temperature of 47°F (8°C). Winters average 24°F in January while summers reach 69°F in July. The area gets 270 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 34.3 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 38.

Data Overview

People

Population384
Median Age63.7 yrs
Density373/mi²
Male / Female50% / 51%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans11.4%

Economy

A
Median Income$75,938
Per Capita$60,295
Unemployment0.6%
Poverty12.7%
County GDP$741M
Avg Weekly Wage$877

Housing

B+
Home Value$368,400
Rent$379
Ownership81.9%
Zillow$608,126
Housing Units362
Rent Burden36.4%

Crime

F
Violent305/100K
Property1,840/100K

Health

Obesity30.1%
Diabetes6.9%
Smoking9.0%
Heart Disease4.3%
Premature Death9,354/100K

Climate

Avg Temp47°F
Sunny Days270/yr
Rain34.3 in/yr
AQI38 (Good)
Elevation619 ft

Education

A+
Bachelor's+51.3%
High School+98.1%
Graduate+21.0%
School Score5.7/10

Community

2024 VoteR 54% / D 45%
Commute24 min
Broadband88.1%
Internet Speed138 Mbps
EV Stations5
Libraries4

Did You Know?

Empire was founded in 1895.
The median home in Empire was built in 1974.
18.8% work from home.
The nearest airport is Gaylord Regional (68 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.445 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Very Low" by FEMA.
23.0% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 138 Mbps.
The county recorded 2 fatal vehicle crashes.