$1,205,237Average Value$434Average Price per Sq Ft
Two lakes surround this popular Michigan destination
Established originally as a launch point for U.S. Coast Guard rescue missions in the Manitou Passage, Glen Arbor now is more frequently suited for sunset watching after a lakefront dinner. Tourism, not life-and-death danger, is the town's main industry these days. In summer, Glen Arbor’s population swells from under 1,000 to over 20,000 with the influx of seasonal residents and visitors. Bordered by Glen Lake to the east and Lake Michigan to the west, Glen Arbor is popular with kayakers, beachgoers and fishing enthusiasts for its clear waters and abundant wildlife.
Outdoor activities are popular year-round in Glen Arbor
At Glen Arbor Township Park, tennis, pickleball and basketball courts share space with fitness equipment, playgrounds and picnic pavilions. Closer to the shopping district, Glen Arbor Gardens is a small, nature-focused park landscaped to highlight native plants and support pollinators. The Gardens have public restrooms, an information kiosk, and a sitting area with free Wi-Fi.
Past South Lake Street is the Lake Street Beach and Boat Ramp, which offers direct access to the sandy shores of Lake Michigan. The parking lot is small, and the boat ramp can only accommodate small craft, so this spot is mostly used by swimmers, sunbathers and kayakers. “If you like spending time outdoors, this is your place,” says Laurie Adams, owner of the Sylvan Inn and a year-round Glen Arbor resident. “In winter, when it’s a lot quieter and even the grocery store shuts down at 6 p.m., people still come out to cross-country ski the Heritage Trail.”
Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail starts just outside town and stretches for nearly 20 miles west. The trail covers forests, meadows and hills before reaching Sleeping Bear Dunes, one of the area’s most well-known attractions. Pitcher’s thistle, dune grass and bearberries border the sandy trail as it meanders towards the eastern shore of Lake Michigan. On a clear day, hikers can see the Manitou Islands to the northeast from the top of the dunes.
In the winter, sledding down the massive dunes is another to visit the shore and its frozen coastal waters. One fascinating feature of Lake Michigan is how the freshwater behaves in cold weather. “When the temperatures drop in early winter, the churning water creates balls of ice that roll across the crests of each wave,” says Adams. “Then in mid-winter, the ice caves appear.” Crashing waves create ice formations on top of the water, sometimes big enough for a person to fit inside, Adams explains, and icicles extend like stalactites at the caves’ edge. “I’m not even a winter person, but it’s so pretty that I absolutely love it,” she said.
Closer to town is Old Settlers Park, on the southeastern side of Glen Lake. The park has picnic grounds with a gazebo, a parking lot and public restrooms. A trail leads from the park to the shore and connects to a dock used to launch kayaks and paddleboards. The lake’s shallow water and lack of tides make it a safer beach for inexperienced swimmers or young children. Local tip: water shoes are needed at Glen Lake, since the beach is rocky. Lake Michigan has sandy shores, so no shoes are needed there.
Walk from the beach to restaurants, bookstores or art galleries
Cedar-shingled buildings line both sides of Western Avenue, home to restaurants, markets, bookstores and coffee shops. Notable spots include the Cottage Book Shop, an independent bookstore housed in a historic log cabin, and Leelanau Coffee Roasting Co, a retail and wholesale shop that celebrated its 30th opening anniversary in 2023. Inn and Trail Gourmet offers an array of jams, cheeses and spreads designed for a mix-and-match charcuterie board on the beach. Across the street on Western Avenue, Bear Paw Pizza & Market sells made-to-order pizzas and craft beer. While waiting for their orders, customers explore snacks, gifts and prepackaged beverages at the attached market. Further down the avenue, Synchronicity, Joyful and Arbor Art Galleries display masterpieces from local artists, ready to be admired or purchased and displayed.
South Lake Street is the home of Cherry Republic, with its winery, public house, ice cream shop and pit-spitting arena. The Cherry Republic business was established in 1989 and produces over 200 products, including jams, baked goods, soda pop, wine and beer, all made with Michigan’s Montmorency Tart Cherries. The Winery serves complimentary tastings for families, following its motto: “Wine for the Tall and Pop for the Small.” The Cherry Public House offers cherry-themed lunches, dinners and desserts paired with local beer, and the Olympic-sized pit-spitting arena gives visitors a place to hone their skills in advance of the annual pit-spitting competition held at Traverse City’s National Cherry Festival. On the corner of Western Avenue and South Ray Street is Anderson’s Glen Arbor Market, the area’s main grocery store.
Explore condos, cabins or beach houses with views of Lake Michigan
Glen Arbor has several housing types to accommodate both year-round and seasonal residents, with a mix of condos, cottages and modern beach houses spread along forested streets. LeBear Luxury Residential Club overlooks the beach from its spot on Lake Street and offers two-bedroom, two-bathroom condos priced between $350,000 and $400,000. Other condos farther from the water are priced similarly but often include a community pool. Near Western Avenue are cozy cottages, many painted in bright, summery colors; classic log cabins with cedar siding and modern beach houses with outdoor showers and space to store boats over winter. Houses range in price between $750,000 and $1.4 million, depending on size, condition and whether they include waterfront views or beach access.
Glen Lake School District teaches resident students
Students growing up in Glen Arbor may attend Glen Lake Elementary, Middle and High School, which are collectively graded B by Niche. Glen Lake High School offers industrial arts classes, cooking classes, and dual enrollment with Northwestern Michigan College. Private school options include The Leelanau School. This boarding high school was listed as the 9th Best High School for the Arts in Michigan and received an A grade by Niche.
Traveling to nearby Traverse City
Glen Arbor is relatively walkable, with pedestrian-friendly infrastructure including crosswalks and paved sidewalks in the town center, but it becomes less walkable farther out of town. Traveling to larger cities, like Traverse City, requires a car. Traverse City is just under 30 miles southeast of Glen Arbor, and driving between the two takes around 45 to 55 minutes, depending on traffic. Although the region’s winters are icy, Adams says locals can rely on the town’s infrastructure. “The town takes great care of snowplowing and de-icing the roads, so you can get anywhere you need, even in bad weather,” she says.
The nearest airport is William B. Bolton (Y87) for hobby fliers, but the nearest airport with commercial flights is Cherry Capital Airport (TVC) in Traverse City.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
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Parks in this Area
Glen Arbor Playground
Sleeping Bear Dunes
Transit
Airport
Cherry Capital
55 min drive
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Glen Arbor
US
Homicide
1
4
Sexual Assault
1
4
Assault with Weapon
1
4
Robbery
1
4
Burglary
1
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
1
4
Larceny
1
4
Crime Score
1
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Glen Arbor, Empire sell after 71 days on the market compared to the national average of 47 days. The average sale price for homes in Glen Arbor, Empire over the last 12 months is $734,210, down 47% from the average home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Home Trends
Median Price (12 Mo)
$450,000
Median Single Family Price
$550,000
Median 2 Bedroom Price
$385,000
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$434
Last 12 months Home Sales
19
Median List Price
$589,900
Median Discount From 1st List Price
0%
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
-49%
Home Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
187
Median Year Built
2004
Avg. Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
2,233
Above the national average
1,935
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,903
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
31,798
Distribution of Home Values
Source: Public Records
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Danielle Jerome,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
200
Median Age
68
Population Density
1 person/acre
Population under 18
8.5%
Below the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
58%
Significantly above the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$97,023
Significantly above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$140,842
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
98.9%
College Graduates
70.5%
Significantly above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
25.6%
% Population in Labor Force
38.3%
Significantly below the national average
65.1%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
35''
Average Winter Low Temperature
19°F
Average Summer High Temperature
77°F
Annual Snowfall
91''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
45/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
35/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
