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CITY · 1990 CENSUS

Traverse City

Michigan · 15,157 residents · 8.276 sq mi
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The short version

Traverse City has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $27,396. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 29% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 20%. Median home value is $64,300.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $30,130
Older
median age 35.3
US median: 33.0
More educated
29% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
More affordable
home values down 32%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
15,157
+4%vs 2000
vs 14,532 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
35.3
−7%vs 2000
vs 38.1 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Population, 1990 – 2024
14K15K15K15K16K1990201020202024Traverse City
202416K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 1990
Under 56%(909)
US avg: 7.3%
5 to 96.1%(924)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 145.7%(871)
US avg: 6.9%
15 to 197.6%(1,150)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 248.2%(1,246)
US avg: 7.5%
25 to 3415.9%(2,404)
US avg: 17.5%
35 to 4416.4%(2,490)
US avg: 15.1%
45 to 549.1%(1,381)
US avg: 10.2%
55 to 648.1%(1,235)
US avg: 8.5%
65 to 748.1%(1,224)
US avg: 7.3%
75 to 846.3%(953)
US avg: 4%
85 and over2.4%(370)
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$27,396
−3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $37,330 in 2000
US average: $30,130
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$14,628
−34%vs 2000
vs $22,247 in 2000
US average: $14,340
Poverty rate
8.7%
+0.3 ptsvs 2000
vs 8.4% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$64,300
−32%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $123,800 in 2000
US average: $93,722
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$439
−4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $605 in 2000
US average: $450
Owner-occupied
61.7%
+2.7 ptsvs 2000
vs 59.1% in 2000
38.3% rent
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%
1990
White, non-Hispanic98.3%(14,900)
Black0%(7)
Hispanic / Latino0.4%(64)
Asian0.9%(132)
Other0.8%(118)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Mexican2.1%(320)
Spaniard0.8%(124)
Colombian0.1%(23)
Puerto Rican0.1%(20)
Guatemalan0.1%(12)
Cuban0.1%(9)
Asian origin
Asian Indian0.5%(74)
Bangladeshi0.2%(32)
Chinese0.2%(24)
Filipino0.1%(20)
Indonesian0.1%(9)
Korean0%(6)
Ancestry
German24.4%(3,812)
English17.3%(2,702)
Irish17%(2,644)
Polish10.7%(1,672)
Scottish4.8%(748)
French4.4%(693)
Italian4.2%(661)
American3%(462)
Norwegian2.2%(339)
Dutch2%(312)
Swedish1.2%(187)
+ 27 more ancestry groups with data
Czech1.1%(168)
Welsh0.8%(132)
Ukrainian0.8%(120)
Russian0.7%(113)
Danish0.7%(105)
Canadian0.6%(91)
Finnish0.5%(84)
Greek0.5%(73)
Hungarian0.5%(72)
Scotch-Irish0.5%(71)
Armenian0.4%(70)
Latvian0.4%(68)
Swiss0.4%(60)
Arab0.4%(55)
Lebanese0.4%(55)
Lithuanian0.3%(51)
British0.3%(47)
Slovak0.2%(36)
Croatian0.2%(33)
Belgian0.2%(32)
Serbian0.1%(21)
Austrian0.1%(18)
Turkish0.1%(9)
Romanian0.1%(8)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest Polish population · Largest Scottish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
28.7%
−2.5 ptsvs 2000
vs 31.2% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
84.1%
−4.6 ptsvs 2000
vs 88.7% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
Graduate degree
9.6%
−2.0 ptsvs 2000
vs 11.6% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
12.8 min
+12%vs 2000
vs 11.5 min in 2000
US average: 21.9
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married40.6%(2,708)
Married44.9%(2,998)
Widowed3.8%(251)
Divorced10.7%(717)
Women 15+
Never married31.6%(2,134)
Married41.5%(2,805)
Widowed8.4%(569)
Divorced18.5%(1,252)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Traverse City

St. Augustine
Pop 16,141
Davenport
Pop 18,110
Lockhart
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+89%
Home value$134,300+109%
Population10,438−34%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
TRAVERSE CITY VS
Big Rapids
Income$43,858+60%
Home value$156,400+143%
Population8,623−46%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
TRAVERSE CITY VS
Sturgeon Bay
Income$59,926+119%
Home value$236,300+267%
Population9,917−37%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
TRAVERSE CITY VS
Mount Pleasant
Income$44,706+63%
Home value$173,100+169%
Population20,925+32%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Traverse City, Michigan?

Traverse City, Michigan has about 15,157 residents according to the 1990 Census.

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

The typical household in Traverse City, Michigan earns about $27,396 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 $64,300, and the typical rent is about $439 a month.

How educated are people in Traverse City, Michigan?

About 28.7% 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 8.7% of people in Traverse City, Michigan live below the federal poverty line.

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

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