The Town FilesWhitewater, Michigan
Township in Grand Traverse County · population 2,688 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $373,000
- Household income
- $93,958
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 119 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 52.3
Whitewater is a township of 2,688 people in Grand Traverse County, Michigan. The median home is worth $373,000, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for retirees than 97% of Michigan towns, more upscale than 91% of Michigan towns, better for a vacation home than 91% of Michigan towns.
How Whitewater 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 Whitewater is worth $373,000, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $93,958, which is more affordable than 7% of Michigan towns. 96.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Whitewater | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $373,000 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | — | $955 |
| Median household income | $93,958 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 96.1% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1990 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 23.2% | — |
Who lives in Whitewater
| People | Whitewater | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.3 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 32.4% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 45.4% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.2% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 7.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 13.1% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 24.7 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.4% | 88.8% |
Weather in Whitewater
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 118.6 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 Whitewater since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 26, 1969 about 9.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 10, 2007.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 9 times; the largest was 1.50 inches on April 27, 2024.
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 Whitewater itself the ACS puts it at 3.4%.
Public schools in Whitewater
1 public school with 248 students, about 16.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mill Creek Elementary School | PK-5 | 248 | 16.5 |
Towns near Whitewater
- Acme, MI4.0 mi · 4,456 people · home $338,300
- East Bay, MI7.5 mi · 11,589 people · home $278,800
- Kalkaska, MI8.9 mi · 5,027 people · home $173,900
- Elk Rapids, MI9.2 mi · 2,521 people · home $401,100
- Traverse City, MI10.4 mi · 15,678 people · home $415,400
- Peninsula, MI10.9 mi · 6,068 people · home $706,900
- Garfield, MI12.1 mi · 19,499 people · home $316,200
- Paradise, MI13.8 mi · 4,952 people · home $265,800
Whitewater questions
Is Whitewater, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Whitewater scores better for retirees than 97% of Michigan towns and quieter than 82%. 32.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 52.3).
How much does a house cost in Whitewater?
The median owner-occupied home in Whitewater is valued at $373,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $93,958, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Whitewater?
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 118.6 inches of snow.
Does Whitewater get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Whitewater since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 26, 1969. 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)