Traverse City, MI
Census place 2680340 · pop 15,593
Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities
Gini 0.52 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities
4.3% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median $214,900 · worse than most cities
$415,400 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities
+0.1% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median 152/100k · worse than most cities
324 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median $1,756/mo · worse than most cities
$1,932/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).
U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities
1.12% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities
12.3% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities
91.2% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities
35.1% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities
$74,087 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities
63.7% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median 14.6% · better than most cities
12.5% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 17.4% · better than most cities
16.5% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 26.5% · better than most cities
22.5% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities
47.4% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median 964/100k · better than most cities
547 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities
5.5% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities
17 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities
39/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
Not measured for Traverse City: Air, Bad air. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.
Frequently asked
- Is Traverse City, MI a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Traverse City scores 51/100 — a D (Meh) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 20 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is natural disaster risk and its weakest is income inequality. Michigan overall ranks #42 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
- How safe is Traverse City, MI?
- Traverse City reports 324 violent crimes per 100k and 547 property crimes per 100k — worse than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
- Is Traverse City, MI expensive to live in?
- Traverse City has a median home value of $415,400 and typical rent around $1,932/mo — pricier than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Traverse City, MI?
- Its weakest measured area is income inequality (0.52) — 5/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Traverse City, MI best at?
- Its strongest measured area is natural disaster risk (39/100) — 93/100, better than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.)
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.