At a Glance
Median Income
$71,731
$53,630 per capita
Home Value
$367,600
Zillow: $446,706
Median Rent
$983/mo
29.5% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
47.0%
95.7% high school+
Unemployment
4.5%
4.9% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
35.6%
13.2% smoking rate
How Traverse City Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Traverse City's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Traverse City a Good Place to Live?
A
4.2 / 5.0 - Great
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Traverse City residents earn a median household income of $71,731 , which is 5% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $53,630. The unemployment rate stands at 4.5% (25% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 4.9% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 3,762 business establishments, including 290 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Traverse City is $367,600 , 30% above the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $446,706. Median rent is $983/month, with 29.5% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 96.2 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1959.
Education
47.0% of adults in Traverse City hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(39% above the national average).
95.7% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.8/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Traverse City has an average annual temperature of 47°F (8°C).
Winters average 23°F in January while summers reach 70°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 29.1 inches.
Data Overview
People
Population15,491
Median Age42.2 yrs
Density1,871/mi²
Male / Female48% / 52%
Foreign Born3.5%
Veterans5.0%
Economy
A
Median Income$71,731
Per Capita$53,630
Unemployment4.5%
Poverty4.9%
County GDP$7,470M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,140
Housing
B+
Home Value$367,600
Rent$983
Ownership60.9%
Zillow$446,706
Housing Units8,302
Rent Burden29.5%
Health
Obesity35.6%
Diabetes8.6%
Smoking13.2%
Heart Disease5.2%
Premature Death6,589/100K
Climate
Avg Temp47°F
Rain29.1 in/yr
Elevation613 ft
Education
A+
Bachelor's+47.0%
High School+95.7%
Graduate+20.1%
School Score5.8/10
Community
2024 VoteR 50% / D 48%
Commute19 min
Broadband90.8%
Internet Speed152 Mbps
EV Stations48
Libraries6
Did You Know?
Traverse City was founded in 1891.
The median home in Traverse City was built in 1959.
15.7% work from home.
The nearest airport is Gaylord Regional (48 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.437 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
11.5% of the population has a disability.
Average internet download speed is 152 Mbps.
There are 290 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 14 fatal vehicle crashes.