HomeMichiganGrand Traverse County
Grand Traverse County, Michigan: commercial real estate data.
Grand Traverse County, Michigan had an estimated 96,625 residents on July 1, 2024, up 1.4 percent since the 2020 census base of 95,249, across 464 square miles. County output reached $7.47 bn in 2024, 3,549 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 254 7(a) approvals worth $105.6 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Grand Traverse County
How many people live in Grand Traverse County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202496,166
- Households40,287
- Average household size2.39
- Median household income$81,647
- Median age43.5
- Median gross rent$1,288 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$339,400
- Home value to household income4.2 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income18.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher40.6 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree16.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over70,229
- Population under 1818,689
- Share under 1819.4 percent
- Population 65 and over21,109
- Share 65 and over22.0 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6456,368
- Civilian labor force50,787
- Unemployment rate3.8 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over65.6 percent
- Rank by population among Michigan counties22nd of 83
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included642nd of 3,222
Grand Traverse County is the 22nd largest of 83 Michigan counties by population. A median home costs 4.2 times median household income, which is seriously unaffordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 22.0 percent against 19.4 percent, which points demand at health care, services and single story product rather than schools.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Grand Traverse County
Is Grand Traverse County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202496,625
- Census 2020 base population95,249
- Population change since the 2020 census base1.44 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024168
- Births, 2024887
- Deaths, 20241,035
- Natural change, 2024-148
- Net domestic migration, 2024200
- Net international migration, 2024117
- Total net migration, 2024317
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20241,608
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1355th of 3,144
The county has grown 1.44 percent since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 and the population still grew, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Grand Traverse County
Where are people moving to Grand Traverse County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving2,951
- People arriving, from those returns4,833
- Tax returns filed by households leaving2,776
- Net household movement175
- Adjusted gross income arriving$282.9 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$74.7 m
- Average income of an arriving household$95,857
- Average income of a leaving household$74,997
- Largest single originLeelanau County (255 households)
- Largest single destinationLeelanau County (238 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leelanau County | 255 | 410 | $19.4 m |
| Oakland County | 155 | 231 | $17.6 m |
| Benzie County | 147 | 271 | $8.1 m |
| Kent County | 129 | 200 | $11.8 m |
| Kalkaska County | 118 | 195 | $4.7 m |
| Wexford County | 102 | 177 | $5.7 m |
| Antrim County | 99 | 161 | $7.9 m |
| Wayne County | 74 | 117 | $7.5 m |
Households arriving report $20,860 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Leelanau County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Grand Traverse County
What is the Grand Traverse County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$7.47 bn
- County GDP, 2023$7.13 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20244.7 percent
- GDP change over five years40.8 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Michigan areas BEA publishes18th of 83
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes557th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$77,682
Output grew 4.7 percent in the latest year and 40.8 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Grand Traverse County
Employment by industry in Grand Traverse County
- Covered employment, annual average51,962
- Establishments reporting3,762
- Average annual pay$59,257
- Average weekly wage$1,140
- Health care and social assistance, employment10,937
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$70,451
- Retail trade, employment7,218
- Retail trade, average annual pay$40,433
- Accommodation and food services, employment6,035
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$29,183
- Manufacturing, employment4,503
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$66,238
- Construction, employment3,190
- Finance and insurance, employment2,283
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 10,937 | 451 | $70,451 |
| Retail trade | 7,218 | 486 | $40,433 |
| Accommodation and food services | 6,035 | 293 | $29,183 |
| Manufacturing | 4,503 | 188 | $66,238 |
| Construction | 3,190 | 448 | $68,027 |
| Finance and insurance | 2,283 | 168 | $106,095 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 2,117 | 434 | $80,127 |
| Other services, except public administration | 1,858 | 319 | $48,425 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 10,937 jobs, 21.0 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Grand Traverse County
How many businesses are in Grand Traverse County?
- Establishments, all industries3,549
- Employment at those establishments47,454
- Annual payroll$2.81 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents36.9
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Grand Traverse County
Building permits in Grand Traverse County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024883
- Declared construction value permitted$126.1 m
- Single family units authorized353
- Multifamily units authorized530
- Multifamily share of units60.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$142,787
- Units authorized per 1,000 households21.9
Multifamily is 60.0 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Grand Traverse County
SBA loans in Grand Traverse County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded254
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$105.6 m
- Average 7(a) approval$415,668
- Median 7(a) approval$150,000
- 10th percentile approval$25,000
- 90th percentile approval$916,450
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)2,851
- Jobs per approval11.2
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active41
- Distinct industries receiving approvals132
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer13.4 percent
- Loans on real estate terms34
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter212
- Franchise loans28
- Franchise share of approvals11.0 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFull-Service Restaurants (19)
- Most active lenderThe Huntington National Bank (109)
- 504 approvals recorded190
- 504 gross approval dollars$85.1 m
- Average 504 approval$447,905
- Median 504 approval$287,500
- Distinct CDCs active3
- 504 jobs per approval6.7
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved14.9
- Most active CDCGreat Lakes Commercial Finance (135)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$190.7 m
The average approval of $415,668 sits well above the median of $150,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 13.4 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Grand Traverse County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Grand Traverse County
Do SBA loans in Grand Traverse County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded65
- Paid in full63
- Charged off2
- Charge-off rate on resolved loans3.1 percent
- Status: Paid in full63
- Status: Exempt from disclosure150
- Status: Cancelled21
- Status: Charged off2
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed18
Of the 65 loans that have reached a final outcome, 3.1 percent were charged off. This is computed only over resolved loans, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed and counting it either way would be wrong.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Grand Traverse County
SBA lending by place in Grand Traverse County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending10
- Traverse City, approvals205
- Williamsburg, approvals16
- Kingsley, approvals12
- Interlochen, approvals10
- Grawn, approvals5
- Buckley, approvals2
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Traverse City | 205 | $91,997,600 |
| Williamsburg | 16 | $6,442,400 |
| Kingsley | 12 | $1,914,300 |
| Interlochen | 10 | $734,200 |
| Grawn | 5 | $2,558,000 |
| Buckley | 2 | $1,194,700 |
| Karlin | 1 | $290,000 |
| Thompsonville | 1 | $248,500 |
| 2 other borrower cities | 2 | $200,000 |
Traverse City accounts for 205 approvals against 16 in Williamsburg. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Grand Traverse County
How large is Grand Traverse County?
- Land area464 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Michigan counties78th of 83
- Width, east to west23.8 mi
- Height, north to south33.1 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary5
- Residents per square mile of land207
- Establishments per square mile7.65
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Grand Traverse County
Flood risk in Grand Traverse County
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book12
- Of those, participating in the NFIP9
- NFIP participation rate75.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Grand Traverse County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/LZone 3
The EPA places Grand Traverse County in radon zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 75.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Grand Traverse County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Grand Traverse County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202496,166
- Households40,287
- Average household size2.39
- Median household income$81,647
- Median age43.5
Common questions
Grand Traverse County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Grand Traverse County, Michigan?
The Census Bureau estimates 96,625 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 96,166, in 40,287 households, ranking 22nd of 83 Michigan counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Grand Traverse County's population growing?
The population has grown 1.44 percent since the 2020 census base of 95,249, to 96,625 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 887 births against 1,035 deaths, with net migration of 317. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Grand Traverse County?
$81,647. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $339,400, which is 4.2 times income, and median gross rent is $1,288 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Grand Traverse County?
3,549 establishments, employing 47,454 people with an annual payroll of $2.81 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Grand Traverse County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 10,937 jobs, 21.0 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 51,962 jobs at an average annual pay of $59,257, or $1,140 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Grand Traverse County?
254 7(a) approvals totaling $105.6 m since FY2020, across 41 lenders, with a median approval of $150,000, plus 190 504 approvals worth $85.1 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in Grand Traverse County get paid back?
Of the 65 loans that have reached a final outcome, 63 were paid in full and 2 charged off, a charge-off rate of 3.1 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
How many building permits were issued in Grand Traverse County?
883 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $126.1 m. Multifamily was 60.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Grand Traverse County?
Zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Grand Traverse County come from?
The largest single origin is Leelanau County, with 255 households. Arriving households report an average income of $95,857 against $74,997 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Grand Traverse County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Grand Traverse County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Grand Traverse County
Cities and places in Grand Traverse.
6 Census places lie wholly or partly in Grand Traverse County. All 6 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traverse City | city | 15,593 | 205 | 95.9 percent here, 4.1 percent Leelanau County |
| Kingsley | village | 1,785 | 12 | Wholly in this county |
| Chums Corner | CDP | 1,186 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Grawn | CDP | 800 | 5 | Wholly in this county |
| Interlochen | CDP | 791 | 10 | Wholly in this county |
| Fife Lake | village | 343 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 22 of the county's 254 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Grand Traverse County, the largest being Williamsburg (16), Buckley (2), Karlin (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.
Nearby