Grand Traverse County, Michigan Demographics 2026
Grand Traverse County, Michigan has a population of 96,166, the 22nd most populous county in Michigan. The median household income is $81,647 and the median home value is $339,400. The poverty rate is 9.6%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Grand Traverse County Quick Facts
How Grand Traverse County Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 95,757 | 96,166 | +0.4% |
| Median household income | $79,486 | $81,647 | +2.7% |
| Median home value | $296,200 | $339,400 | +14.6% |
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 45 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Grand Traverse County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traverse City | 15,593 | $74,087 | 12.3% | $415,400 |
| Kingsley | 1,785 | $67,321 | 9.2% | $268,800 |
| Chums Corner | 1,186 | $100,855 | 0.0% | $372,700 |
| Grawn | 800 | $57,908 | 18.8% | $209,400 |
| Interlochen | 791 | $104,883 | 10.5% | $166,900 |
| Fife Lake | 343 | $68,472 | 7.3% | $202,300 |
Explore Michigan Rankings
Population Overview
Grand Traverse County is located in Michigan with a total population of 96,166. It is the 22nd most populous county out of 83 in Michigan. The county encompasses 6 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Grand Traverse County is 43.5 years. This is 8% higher than the state median of 40.2 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Grand Traverse County is $81,647. This is 12% higher than the state median of $72,875. It is also 1% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 9.6%. This is 27% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 3.8%. This is 33% lower than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $339,400. Housing costs are 47% higher than the state median of $231,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.2x. 77.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 5% higher than the state average of 73.2%.
Race & Ethnicity
Grand Traverse County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 90.5% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.4%. The Black or African American population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 13.1%. The Asian population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 3.4%.
Education
40.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 25% higher than the state rate of 32.5%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 95.7%. Notably, 16.8% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Grand Traverse County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Michigan and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Grand Traverse County, Michigan?
Grand Traverse County has a population of 96,166, making it the 22nd most populous county in Michigan.
What is the median income in Grand Traverse County?
The median household income in Grand Traverse County is $81,647 with a poverty rate of 9.6%.
How many cities are in Grand Traverse County, Michigan?
Grand Traverse County contains 6 Census-designated places.