The Town FilesPeninsula, Michigan
Township in Grand Traverse County · population 6,068 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $706,900
- Household income
- $137,787
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 115 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 58.4
Peninsula is a township of 6,068 people in Grand Traverse County, Michigan. The median home is worth $706,900, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for retirees than 100% of Michigan towns, more upscale than 98% of Michigan towns, better for young professionals than 95% of Michigan towns.
- #1 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Michigan
- #2 in 25 Small Towns in Michigan With the Most Remote Workers
- #11 in The 25 Richest Small Towns in Michigan
- #24 in The 25 Best Vacation-Home Small Towns in Michigan
- #43 in The 50 Best Small Towns to Retire in America
- #44 in The 50 Best Places to Retire in America
How Peninsula ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Peninsula is worth $706,900, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 5.1 times the median household income of $137,787, which is more affordable than 2% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,589 a month. 90.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Peninsula | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $706,900 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,589 | $955 |
| Median household income | $137,787 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 90.2% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1990 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 11.5% | — |
Who lives in Peninsula
| People | Peninsula | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 58.4 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 37.7% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 12.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 70.9% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.2% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 7.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.7% | — |
| Work from home | 31.9% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 19.5 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.3% | 88.8% |
Weather in Peninsula
July highs average 79.9°F and January lows 16.5°F. About 31.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 114.5 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 157 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Peninsula since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 3, 1956 about 2.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 3, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 13 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 21, 2025.
Severe weather in Grand Traverse County since 1996
Grand Traverse County has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4925: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| January 27, 1978 | Snowstorm | EM-3057: Blizzards & Snowstorms |
Jobs and pay in Grand Traverse County
Grand Traverse County had 51,962 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,257 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Peninsula itself the ACS puts it at 0.7%.
Towns near Peninsula
- Elk Rapids, MI6.0 mi · 2,521 people · home $401,100
- Bingham, MI6.1 mi · 2,577 people · home $373,200
- Acme, MI7.4 mi · 4,456 people · home $338,300
- Elmwood, MI8.0 mi · 4,892 people · home $436,400
- Suttons Bay, MI9.1 mi · 2,883 people · home $440,500
- Traverse City, MI10.2 mi · 15,678 people · home $415,400
- Whitewater, MI10.9 mi · 2,688 people · home $373,000
- Garfield, MI12.6 mi · 19,499 people · home $316,200
Peninsula questions
Is Peninsula, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Peninsula scores better for retirees than 100% of Michigan towns and quieter than 39%. 37.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 58.4).
How much does a house cost in Peninsula?
The median owner-occupied home in Peninsula is valued at $706,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $137,787, so homes cost about 5.1 times income. Median rent is $1,589 a month.
What is the weather like in Peninsula?
July highs average 79.9°F and January lows 16.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 31.3 inches of precipitation a year and 114.5 inches of snow.
Does Peninsula get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Peninsula since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 3, 1956. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)