Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Traverse City, MI Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

15,593

Median Agei

42.7

Race & Ethnicityi

White

87.7%13,669

Two or More

6.2%962

Hispanic/Latino

3.6%563

Black

1.3%197

Asian

1.1%165

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.2%37

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

3.5%413

High School Diploma

13.7%1,599

Some College (<1 yr)

8%933

Some College (1+ yr)

15%1,754

Associate's Degree

9.2%1,073

Bachelor's Degree

24.7%2,881

Master's Degree

17.4%2,028

Professional Degree

3.4%393

Doctorate

1.9%223

HS or Higher

96.8%

BA or Higher

47.4%

Graduate+

22.7%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$415,400

Median Renti

$995

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

63.7%4,578

Renter-Occupied

36.3%2,613

Total Units

8,479

Homeownership

63.7%

Vacancy Rate

15.2%

Home Values

Under $50K

2.1%97

$50K–$100K

1.7%80

$100K–$150K

2%93

$150K–$200K

4.3%198

$200K–$300K

16.6%760

$300K–$500K

41.2%1,887

$500K–$1M

25.7%1,178

$1M+

6.2%285

Rent Distribution

Under $500

404

$500–$750

275

$750–$1,000

593

$1,000–$1,250

295

$1,250–$1,500

336

$1,500–$2,000

294

$2,000+

304

Year Built

2020 or later

1.2%100

2010–2019

10.2%861

2000–2009

9.3%786

1990–1999

5.1%433

1980–1989

6.9%584

1970–1979

13.6%1,156

1960–1969

6.7%568

1950–1959

11.3%960

1940–1949

4.3%366

1939 or earlier

31.4%2,665

Heating Fuel

Utility Gas

77%5,539

Electricity

18.6%1,334

Bottled/LP Gas

2.4%175

Other

1%69

No Fuel

0.6%45

Wood

0.2%16

Solar

0.2%13

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$74,087

Mean Household Incomei

$113,200

Per Capita Incomei

$53,432

Poverty Ratei

11.8%

Unemploymenti

5.2%

Labor Forcei

8,274

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

6.9%493

$10K–$15K

2.2%155

$15K–$20K

2.5%183

$20K–$25K

3.2%233

$25K–$30K

2.7%193

$30K–$35K

4.2%301

$35K–$40K

6%434

$40K–$45K

2.2%156

$45K–$50K

2.9%210

$50K–$60K

7.9%567

$60K–$75K

9.7%699

$75K–$100K

13.3%955

$100K–$125K

10.8%776

$125K–$150K

7.1%507

$150K–$200K

7.2%518

$200K+

11.3%811

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

3882.5%

By Region

Top Countries

India

Philippines

United Kingdom

Canada

Guatemala

Germany

Korea

Mexico

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

7,673

Avg. Commutei

17.2 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

7,836

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

524(4% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

96.2%Insured

3.8%Uninsured