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CITY

Traverse City

Michigan · 15,832 residents (2025 est.) · 8.276 sq mi
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The short version

Traverse City has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $74,087. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 47% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $415,400.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 42.7
US median: 38.9
More educated
47% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 84%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
15,593
+7%since 2000
from 14,532 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,884 / sq mi
+7%since 2000
from 1,756 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
42.7
+12%since 2000
from 38.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:15,832 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
14K15K15K15K16K1990201020202024Traverse City
202416K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$74,087
+9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $37,330 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$53,432
+140%since 2000
from $22,247 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
49.6%
+26.3 ptssince 2009
from 23.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
12.3%
+3.9 ptssince 2000
from 8.4% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.523
+10%since 2010
from 0.476 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information11.3%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade9.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services9.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration6.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Wholesale trade4.6%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance2.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.7%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services1.3%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Professional, scientific, technical1.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.8%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$415,400
+84%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $123,800 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$995
−10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $605 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
63.7%
+4.6 ptssince 2000
from 59.1% in 2000
36.3% rent
Vacancy rate
15.2%
+6.0 ptssince 2009
from 9.2% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
24.7%
−13.4 ptssince 2009
from 38.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
45.6%
+2.5 ptssince 2009
from 43.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
5.6
+69%since 2000
from 3.3 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
75
RELATED:See current rent listings in Traverse City on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic95%(13,803)
Black0.6%(91)
Hispanic / Latino1.7%(242)
Asian0.5%(72)
Other0%
Diversity Score7%(1,014)
2024
White, non-Hispanic87.7%(13,669)
Black1.3%(197)
Hispanic / Latino3.6%(563)
Asian1.1%(165)
Other6.4%(999)
Diversity Score28.2%(4,403)
Diversity Score
28
+304%since 2000
from 7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
47.4%
+16.2 ptssince 2000
from 31.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
96.8%
+8.2 ptssince 2000
from 88.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
22.7%
+11.1 ptssince 2000
from 11.6% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
17.2 min
+49%since 2000
from 11.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
58.3%
−17.0 ptssince 2009
from 75.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
6.5%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 6.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.1%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
19.4%
+16.8 ptssince 2009
from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
5.9%
−3.9 ptssince 2009
from 9.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
6.3%
+3.6 ptssince 2009
from 2.8% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
8.6%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 9.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.2%
−2.7 ptssince 2011
from 7.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
62.6%
−5.6 ptssince 2011
from 68.2% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
13.4%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 14.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
45.9%
−21.4 ptssince 2009
from 67.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.4%
+3.0 ptssince 2009
from 46.3% in 2009
Female
50.6%
−3.0 ptssince 2009
from 53.7% in 2009
Foreign born
2.5%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
4.0%
−43.2 ptssince 2009
from 47.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
11.5%
−1.4 ptssince 2012
from 12.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
3.8%
−82.8 ptssince 2013
from 86.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
91.2%
+11.8 ptssince 2017
from 79.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
96.5%
−0.2 ptssince 2016
from 96.7% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.1%
+1.2 ptssince 2016
from 0.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Traverse City

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Pop 16,141
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Pop 18,110
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Pop 15,371
Brookside
Pop 15,115
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Head to head

Compare Traverse City to nearby cities

TRAVERSE CITY VS
Cadillac
Income$51,773−30%
Home value$134,300−68%
Population10,438−34%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
TRAVERSE CITY VS
Big Rapids
Income$43,858−41%
Home value$156,400−62%
Population8,623−46%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
TRAVERSE CITY VS
Sturgeon Bay
Income$59,926−19%
Home value$236,300−43%
Population9,917−37%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
TRAVERSE CITY VS
Mount Pleasant
Income$44,706−40%
Home value$173,100−58%
Population20,925+32%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Traverse City, Michigan?

Traverse City, Michigan has about 15,593 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Traverse City, Michigan?

The typical household in Traverse City, Michigan earns about $74,087 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Traverse City, Michigan expensive?

In Traverse City, Michigan, the median home is worth about $415,400, and the typical rent is about $995 a month.

How educated are people in Traverse City, Michigan?

About 47.4% of adults age 25 and over in Traverse City, Michigan hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Traverse City, Michigan?

About 12.3% of people in Traverse City, Michigan live below the federal poverty line.

Has Traverse City, Michigan grown since 1990?

Yes, Traverse City, Michigan has grown since 1990. The population has added about 436 residents, a change of about 3 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →