Grand Traverse County, Michigan Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Grand Traverse County is located in Michigan with a total population of 95,757. It is the 22nd most populous county out of 83 in Michigan.

Age Demographics

The median age in Grand Traverse County is 43.1 years. This is 7% higher than the state median of 40.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Grand Traverse County is $79,486. This is 12% higher than the state median of $71,149. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 1% higher. The poverty rate stands at 8.6%. This is 34% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.1%. The unemployment rate is 3.6%. This is 38% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $296,200. Housing costs are 36% higher than the state median of $217,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.7x. 76.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 5% higher than the state average of 72.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Grand Traverse County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 91.3% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.3%. The Black or African American population (0.9%) is well below the state average of 13.2%. The Asian population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 3.3%.

Education

40.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Grand Traverse County in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 27% higher than the state rate of 31.8%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 95.1%. Notably, 16.7% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.