All Countries
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
Income Overview
Median Household Income
$75,938
1% above
US avg: $75,149
Per Capita Income
$60,295
54% above
US avg: $39,052
Unemployment Rate
0.6%
83% below
US avg: 3.6%
Poverty Rate
12.7%
2% above
US avg: 12.4%
Income Comparison: Empire vs. U.S. Average
Each bar shows Empire’s value as a percentage of the national average (100% line = U.S. avg)
Median Household
US: $75,149
$75,938
101%
Per Capita
US: $39,052
$60,295
154%
IRS Avg AGI
US: $72,000
$72,228
100%
Avg Weekly Wage
US: $1,432
$877
61%
Thin line = U.S. average (100%)
Employment & Commute
Avg Weekly Wage
$877
39% below US avg ($1,432)
Mean Commute Time
24 min
13% below US avg (28 min)
Work From Home
18.8%
24% above US avg (15.2%)
Drive Alone
73.7%
1% above US avg (73.2%)
Public Transit
0.0%
100% below US avg (5.0%)
County GDP
$741M
County-level GDP (BEA 2024)
How Residents Get to Work
Drive Alone
73.7%
Public Transit
0%
Work From Home
18.8%
Other
7.5%
Average commute time
24 minutes
US avg: 28 min
Business Landscape
Total Establishments
483
Restaurants
67
Healthcare
34
Retail
65
Manufacturing
22
Tax & Financial
IRS Avg Adjusted Gross Income
$72,228
0% below US avg ($72,000)
Avg Property Tax
$8,350
139% above US avg ($3,500)
Cost of Living Index
96.2
Below national average (100 = US avg)
Complete Economy Data
Income & Wages
| Median Household Income | $75,938 |
| Per Capita Income | $60,295 |
| IRS Avg Adjusted Gross Income | $72,228 |
| Avg Weekly Wage | $877 |
| County GDP | $741M |
Hardship Indicators
| Unemployment Rate | 0.6% |
| Poverty Rate | 12.7% |
| Gini Coefficient | 0.445 |
| Cost of Living Index | 96.2 |
Commute
| Mean Commute | 24 minutes |
| Drive Alone | 73.7% |
| Public Transit | 0.0% |
| Work From Home | 18.8% |
Businesses
| Total Establishments | 483 |
| Restaurants | 67 |
| Healthcare | 34 |
| Retail | 65 |
| Manufacturing | 22 |
Tax
| IRS Avg AGI | $72,228 |
| Avg Property Tax | $8,350 |