Traverse City city, Michigan Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Traverse City city is a small city located in Michigan, within Leelanau County. The total population is 15,491. It ranks as the 71st most populous out of 745 cities and towns in Michigan.

Age Demographics

The median age in Traverse City city is 42.2 years. This is 5% higher than the state median of 40.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Traverse City city is $71,731. This is about average than the state median of $71,149. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 9% lower. The poverty rate stands at 9.1%. This is 31% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.1%. The unemployment rate is 4.5%. This is 23% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $367,600. Housing costs are 69% higher than the state median of $217,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.1x. 60.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 16% lower than the state average of 72.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Traverse City city has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 89.0% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 4.2%. The Black or African American population (1.7%) is well below the state average of 13.2%. The Asian population (1.5%) is well below the state average of 3.3%.

Education

47.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 48% 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 95.7%. Notably, 21.3% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Traverse City city, Michigan is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Michigan state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 745 Census-designated places in Michigan. For official data, visit data.census.gov.