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METRO AREA · 2010 ACS

Traverse City Metro

Traverse City, MI · 4 counties · 143,372 residents · 1,690.975 sq mi
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The short version

Traverse City has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $49,461. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value is $174,522. With a median age of 43.5, the population is older than the US median of 37.2.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $52,703
Older
median age 43.5
US median: 37.2
Average education
28% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
143,372
+9%since 2000
from 131,342 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
85 / sq mi
+9%since 2000
from 78 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 261
Median age
43.5
+12%since 2000
from 38.9 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
102K116K131K146K160K1990201020202024Traverse City
2024155K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$49,461
−7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $42,191 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$26,567
+24%since 2000
from $21,356 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
27.7%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 26.7% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
10.5%
+4.0 ptssince 2000
from 6.5% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.430
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Information13.4%
US avg: 11.5%
Retail trade8.8%
US avg: 10.9%
Wholesale trade8.5%
US avg: 7.2%
Other services6.1%
US avg: 7%
Public administration4.4%
US avg: 4.9%
Finance & insurance3.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Professional, scientific, technical3.1%
US avg: 4.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.9%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing2.6%
US avg: 3.1%
Arts, entertainment, food1.9%
US avg: 2.4%
Construction1.7%
US avg: 1.4%
Manufacturing1.2%
US avg: 0.5%
Education & health services0.7%
US avg: 0.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$174,522
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $122,399 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$768
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $572 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
54.1%
−26.5 ptssince 2000
from 80.5% in 2000
21.4% rent
Vacancy rate
24.9%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 24.3% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
31.4%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 30.9% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
44.4%
+2.8 ptssince 2009
from 41.6% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
3.5
+22%since 2000
from 2.9 in 2000
1990 – 2024
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)
2010
White, non-Hispanic93.5%(134,101)
Black0.8%(1,200)
Hispanic / Latino2.2%(3,184)
Asian0.5%(765)
Other2.8%(3,995)
Diversity Score15.3%(21,904)
Diversity Score
15
+154%since 2000
from 6 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
28.0%
+3.8 ptssince 2000
from 24.1% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
91.5%
+3.6 ptssince 2000
from 87.9% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
10.3%
+1.5 ptssince 2000
from 8.8% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.0 min
+45%since 2000
from 14.4 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
79.7%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 79.1% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
10.7%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 10.8% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
0.6%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
5.3%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 5.7% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
2.4%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
0.7%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
4.4%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 4.3% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
12.4%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 11.5% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
32.0%
−31.6 ptssince 2009
from 63.6% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.5%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 49.7% in 2009
Female
50.5%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 50.3% in 2009
Foreign born
1.7%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.9% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
11.9%
−37.3 ptssince 2009
from 49.2% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
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+63%
Home value$437,430+151%
Population160,889+2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
TRAVERSE CITY VS
Kenosha
Income$81,239+64%
Home value$265,500+52%
Population168,448+7%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
TRAVERSE CITY VS
East Stroudsburg
Income$83,565+69%
Home value$267,600+53%
Population167,179+7%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
TRAVERSE CITY VS
Monroe
Income$77,335+56%
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 143,372 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Traverse City, MI earns about $49,461 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 $174,522, and the typical rent is about $768 a month.

How educated are people in Traverse City, MI?

About 28.0% 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 10.5% 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 36,875 residents, a change of about 35 percent over that period.

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

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