The Town FilesTraverse City, Michigan
City in Grand Traverse County · population 15,678 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $415,400
- Household income
- $74,087
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 101 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 42.7
Traverse City is a city of 15,678 people in Grand Traverse County, Michigan. The median home is worth $415,400, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks hipper than 99% of Michigan towns, better for cycling than 99% of Michigan towns, better transit than 99% of Michigan towns.
How Traverse City 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 Traverse City is worth $415,400, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 5.6 times the median household income of $74,087, which is more affordable than 1% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $995 a month. 63.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Traverse City | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $415,400 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $995 | $955 |
| Median household income | $74,087 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 63.7% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 7.1% | — |
Who lives in Traverse City
| People | Traverse City | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.7 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.9% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 16.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 47.4% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.3% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 4.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.5% | — |
| Work from home | 19.4% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 17.2 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.2% | 88.8% |
Weather in Traverse City
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 17.0°F. About 29.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 101.0 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 149 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Traverse City 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 10.0 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 24 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on September 22, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 18 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 Traverse City itself the ACS puts it at 5.2%.
Public schools in Traverse City
26 public schools with 10,275 students, about 16.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Senior High | 9-12 | 1,471 | 24.9 |
| Central High School | 8-12 | 1,324 | 23.2 |
| West Middle School | 6-8 | 1,108 | 22.2 |
| Grand Traverse Academy (charter) | PK-12 | 798 | 16.0 |
| East Middle School | 6-8 | 779 | 21.1 |
| Central Grade School | PK-6 | 537 | 17.9 |
| Eastern Elementary School | PK-5 | 480 | 20.0 |
| Willow Hill Elementary School | PK-5 | 444 | 22.2 |
| Long Lake Elementary School | PK-5 | 357 | 17.9 |
| Westwoods Elementary School | PK-5 | 347 | 17.4 |
| Cherry Knoll Elementary School | PK-5 | 341 | 16.2 |
| TCAPS Montessori School | PK-8 | 297 | 14.1 |
Towns near Traverse City
- Garfield, MI2.5 mi · 19,499 people · home $316,200
- Elmwood, MI5.7 mi · 4,892 people · home $436,400
- East Bay, MI6.0 mi · 11,589 people · home $278,800
- Acme, MI7.4 mi · 4,456 people · home $338,300
- Long Lake, MI7.7 mi · 9,956 people · home $410,600
- Blair, MI8.8 mi · 8,994 people · home $275,200
- Peninsula, MI10.2 mi · 6,068 people · home $706,900
- Whitewater, MI10.4 mi · 2,688 people · home $373,000
Traverse City questions
Is Traverse City, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Traverse City scores better for retirees than 90% of Michigan towns and quieter than 10%. 23.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.7).
How much does a house cost in Traverse City?
The median owner-occupied home in Traverse City is valued at $415,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $74,087, so homes cost about 5.6 times income. Median rent is $995 a month.
What is the weather like in Traverse City?
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 17.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 29.1 inches of precipitation a year and 101.0 inches of snow.
Does Traverse City get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Traverse City 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)