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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 experiences four distinct seasons with 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. The area receives 93.0 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 38.
Temperature
24°F Jan (-5°C)
69°F Jul (21°C)
| Annual Average | 46.5°F |
| 14% below US avg | |
| January Average | 24°F (-5°C) |
| July Average | 69°F (21°C) |
| Sunny Days | 270 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 619 ft (189 m) |
| Area | 1.2 sq mi (3.2 km²) |
| Population Density | 373/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 44.8126°N, 86.0593°W |
| Timezone | America/Detroit |
| County | Benzie County County |
| Nearest Airport | Gaylord Regional (GLR) 68 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 38.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)
| Ozone (O₃) | 0.0427 ppm |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Very Low |
| Risk Score | 22.7 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 53.4 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 99.0 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Very Low |
| Hurricane | Very Low |
| Earthquake | Very Low |
| Wildfire | Very Low |
| Flood | Relatively Low |
| Hail | Very Low |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low |
| Heat Wave | Very Low |
| Winter Weather | Relatively High |
| Lightning | Relatively Low |
| Ice Storm | Very Low |
| Drought | No Rating |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate |
| Landslide | Relatively Low |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 24°F (-5°C) | 2.3 in | |
| February | 23°F (-5°C) | 1.7 in | Coldest, Driest |
| March | 31°F (-1°C) | 2.1 in | |
| April | 42°F (5°C) | 2.5 in | |
| May | 53°F (12°C) | 2.5 in | |
| June | 62°F (17°C) | 3.2 in | |
| July | 69°F (21°C) | 2.6 in | Warmest |
| August | 67°F (20°C) | 3.2 in | |
| September | 60°F (16°C) | 4.1 in | Wettest |
| October | 49°F (10°C) | 2.9 in | |
| November | 38°F (3°C) | 2.8 in | |
| December | 28°F (-2°C) | 2.4 in |
Empire has a seasonal temperature swing of 46°F / from 23°F in February to 69°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 32.4 inches, with September being the wettest month (4.1") and February the driest (1.7").