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METRO AREA

Traverse City Metro

Traverse City, MI · 4 counties · 156,972 residents (2025 est.) · 1,690.975 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#19Highest homeownership rateof 92581.8%
The short version

Traverse City has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $81,911. Population has grown 18% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $332,820. With a median age of 46.3, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. It ranks in the top 5% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 46.3
US median: 38.9
More educated
39% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 49%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
155,449
+18%since 2000
from 131,342 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
92 / sq mi
+18%since 2000
from 78 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
46.3
+19%since 2000
from 38.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:156,972 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
102K116K131K146K160K1990201020202024Traverse City
2024155K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$81,911
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $42,191 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$45,393
+113%since 2000
from $21,356 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
53.8%
+27.2 ptssince 2009
from 26.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
9.5%
+3.0 ptssince 2000
from 6.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.440
+2%since 2010
from 0.430 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information12.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade10.2%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade8.6%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services6.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration4.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance3.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing1.7%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.6%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services1%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.3%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$332,820
+49%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $122,399 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,197
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $572 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
81.8%
+1.3 ptssince 2000
from 80.5% in 2000
18.2% rent
Vacancy rate
22.8%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 24.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
19.9%
−11.1 ptssince 2009
from 30.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
41.5%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 41.6% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.1
+40%since 2000
from 2.9 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
88
RELATED:See current rent listings in Traverse City on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic95.2%(125,015)
Black0.3%(421)
Hispanic / Latino1.7%(2,224)
Asian0.4%(492)
Other0%
Diversity Score6%(7,886)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic90.6%(140,815)
Black0.8%(1,188)
Hispanic / Latino3.3%(5,098)
Asian0.6%(951)
Other4.8%(7,397)
Diversity Score22%(34,195)
Segregation Score17.2%(26,689)
Diversity Score
22
+266%since 2000
from 6 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
17
−22%since 2020
from 22 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
39.3%
+15.1 ptssince 2000
from 24.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
95.1%
+7.2 ptssince 2000
from 87.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
16.0%
+7.2 ptssince 2000
from 8.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.6 min
+56%since 2000
from 14.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
73.2%
−6.0 ptssince 2009
from 79.1% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.6%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 10.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.4%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
13.9%
+8.2 ptssince 2009
from 5.7% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.8%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
1.0%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
4.3%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 4.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.7%
−6.2 ptssince 2011
from 9.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
59.9%
−4.1 ptssince 2011
from 64.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
12.4%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 11.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
41.3%
−22.3 ptssince 2009
from 63.6% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.8%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 49.7% in 2009
Female
50.2%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 50.3% in 2009
Foreign born
1.9%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.3%
−41.8 ptssince 2009
from 49.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
14.0%
+0.9 ptssince 2012
from 13.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.5%
−82.6 ptssince 2013
from 87.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
91.7%
+12.2 ptssince 2017
from 79.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.3%
+1.6 ptssince 2016
from 95.7% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.4%
−0.6 ptssince 2016
from 2.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

Traverse CityCENTRAL15,832
What's inside

4 component counties

Grand Traverse CountyCENTRAL96,729Leelanau County22,982Kalkaska County18,693Benzie County18,568
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Traverse City

Logan
Pop 160,889
Kenosha
Pop 168,448
East Stroudsburg
Pop 167,179
Monroe
Pop 156,004
Places similar to Traverse City
Head to head

Compare Traverse City side by side

TRAVERSE CITY VS
Logan
Income$80,722−1%
Home value$437,430+31%
Population160,889+2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
TRAVERSE CITY VS
Kenosha
Income$81,239−1%
Home value$265,500−20%
Population168,448+7%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
TRAVERSE CITY VS
East Stroudsburg
Income$83,565+2%
Home value$267,600−20%
Population167,179+7%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
TRAVERSE CITY VS
Monroe
Income$77,335−6%
Home value$228,900−31%
Population156,004−1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Traverse City, MI?

Traverse City, MI has about 155,449 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Traverse City, MI earns about $81,911 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Traverse City, MI expensive?

In Traverse City, MI, the median home is worth about $332,820, and the typical rent is about $1,197 a month.

How educated are people in Traverse City, MI?

About 39.3% of adults age 25 and over in Traverse City, MI hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Traverse City, MI?

About 9.5% of people in Traverse City, MI live below the federal poverty line.

Has Traverse City, MI grown since 1990?

Yes, Traverse City, MI has grown since 1990. The population has added about 48,952 residents, a change of about 46 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →