Traverse City, Michigan Demographics & Population 2026
Demographic data: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. Sources and methodology
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Traverse City, Michigan had a total population of 15,593, the 70th largest city in Michigan, with a median household income of $74,087, which is 2% higher than the state average. The poverty rate is 12.3%.
Traverse City Quick Facts
How Traverse City Changed
Change from the non-overlapping 2015–2019 ACS period to 2020–2024. Earlier dollar figures are adjusted to 2024 dollars; changes marked “no clear change” are within the combined 90% margins of error.
| Metric | 2015–2019 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 15,570 | 15,593 | No clear change (+0.1%) |
| Median household income | $70,244 | $74,087 | No clear change (+5.5%) |
| Median home value¹ | $327,491 | $415,400 | +26.8% |
| Median gross rent | $1,114 | $995 | -10.7% |
How Traverse City Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
- White: 87.7%
- Black: 1.3%
- Hispanic: 3.6%
- Asian: 1.1%
- Other: 0.0%
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+)
- < High School: 3.1%
- HS Diploma: 17.3%
- Some College: 23.0%
- Associate's: 9.2%
- Bachelor's: 24.7%
- Graduate+: 22.7%
Traverse City Rankings in Michigan
Explore Michigan Rankings
Other Cities in Grand Traverse County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Cities Similar to Traverse City
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grandville | 16,356 | $78,442 | $271,300 | 40.6% | 7.3% |
| Hazel Park | 14,963 | $67,073 | $158,600 | 27.0% | 12.3% |
| Northview | 15,268 | $85,403 | $289,300 | 38.7% | 9.1% |
| Harper Woods | 15,116 | $65,022 | $157,200 | 26.1% | 19.8% |
| Fraser | 14,583 | $64,354 | $215,900 | 22.7% | 10.4% |
Population Overview
Traverse City is a small city located in Michigan, within Grand Traverse County. The total population is 15,593. It ranks as the 70th most populous out of 745 Census-designated places in Michigan.
Age Demographics
The median age in Traverse City is 42.7 years. This is 6% higher than the state median of 40.2 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Traverse City is $74,087. This is 2% higher than the state median of $72,875. It is also 8% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 12.3%. This is 7% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 5.2%. This is 9% lower than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $415,400. Housing costs are 79% higher than the state median of $231,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.6x. 63.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 13% lower than the state average of 73.2%.
Race & Ethnicity
Traverse City has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 87.7% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.6%. The Black or African American population (1.3%) is well below the state average of 13.1%. The Asian population (1.1%) is well below the state average of 3.4%.
Education
47.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 46% 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 96.9%. Notably, 22.7% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Traverse City, Michigan is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. 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. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Traverse City, Michigan?
Traverse City, Michigan has a population of 15,593 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Traverse City, MI?
The median household income in Traverse City is $74,087, which is 8% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Traverse City, MI?
The poverty rate in Traverse City is 12.3%. This means approximately 1,840 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Traverse City, Michigan?
Traverse City's population is 87.7% White, 1.3% Black, 3.6% Hispanic/Latino, and 1.1% Asian.
What is the median home value in Traverse City, MI?
The median home value in Traverse City is $415,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.6x.
How educated is Traverse City, Michigan?
47.4% of adults (25+) in Traverse City hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 22.7% hold a graduate or professional degree.