HomeMichiganGrand Traverse County
Grand Traverse County, Michigan: commercial real estate data.
Grand Traverse County, Michigan has a population of 96,166 across 464 square miles, up 1.4 percent since the 2020 census base. 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.
128 sourced county values · tier FULL · 12 sections
Grand Traverse County
How many people live in Grand Traverse County
- Population96,166
- 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-equivalents642nd
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 an affordable ownership market 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 storey product rather than schools.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Grand Traverse County
Is Grand Traverse County growing
- Population change since the 2020 census base1.44 percent
- Census 2020 base population95,249
- 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
The county has grown 1.44 percent since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration alone 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 people moving to Grand Traverse County come from
- Tax returns filed by households arriving2,951
- People arriving, from those returns4,833
- Adjusted gross income arriving$282.9 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$0
- Average income of an arriving household$95,857
- Largest single originGrand Traverse County Non-migrants (40,091 households)
- Largest single destination (40,091 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Traverse County Non-migrants | 40,091 | 76,603 | $4.22 bn |
| Other flows - Different State | 914 | 1,586 | $114.4 m |
| Other flows - Same State | 371 | 543 | $21.9 m |
| Other flows - South | 345 | 585 | $28.4 m |
| Leelanau County | 255 | 410 | $19.4 m |
| Other flows - West | 251 | 453 | $26.0 m |
| Other flows - Midwest | 227 | 404 | $53.3 m |
| Oakland County | 155 | 231 | $17.6 m |
The largest single source of arrivals is Grand Traverse County Non-migrants, 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 the Grand Traverse County economy runs on
- 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 Michigan counties18th
- Rank by GDP among US county-equivalents557th
- 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
Who employs people in Grand Traverse County
- Covered employment, annual average51,962
- Establishments reporting3,762
- Average annual pay$59,257
- Average weekly wage$1,140
- Sector 62, employment10,937
- Sector 62, average annual pay$70,451
- Sector 44-45, employment7,218
- Sector 44-45, average annual pay$40,433
- Sector 72, employment6,035
- Sector 72, average annual pay$29,183
- Sector 31-33, employment4,503
- Sector 31-33, average annual pay$66,238
- Sector 23, employment3,190
- Sector 52, employment2,283
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sector 62 | 10,937 | 451 | $70,451 |
| Sector 44-45 | 7,218 | 486 | $40,433 |
| Sector 72 | 6,035 | 293 | $29,183 |
| Sector 31-33 | 4,503 | 188 | $66,238 |
| Sector 23 | 3,190 | 448 | $68,027 |
| Sector 52 | 2,283 | 168 | $106,095 |
| Sector 54 | 2,117 | 434 | $80,127 |
| Sector 81 | 1,858 | 319 | $48,425 |
The largest sector is the biggest private employer group at 10,937 jobs, 21.0 percent of covered employment. Average pay per job sits below median household income, so households here typically need more than one earner.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Grand Traverse County
What businesses operate 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.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Grand Traverse County
What is being built in Grand Traverse County
- Housing units authorised by permit, 2024883
- Declared construction value permitted$126.1 m
- Single family units authorised353
- Multifamily units authorised530
- Multifamily share of units60.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$142,787
- Units authorised per 1,000 households21.9
Multifamily is 60.0 percent of units authorised, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Grand Traverse County
How much SBA lending happens in Grand Traverse County
- 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$923,500
- 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$289,000
- Distinct CDCs active3
- 504 jobs per approval6.7
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved14.9
- Most active CDCGreat Lakes Commercial Finance (135)
- 7(a) share of SBA approvals57.2 percent
- Combined SBA approval dollars$190.7 m
The average approval of $415,668 sits well above the median of $150,000, so a small number of large deals is pulling the mean up. The median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here actually 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
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.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Grand Traverse County
Which parts of Grand Traverse County get the lending
- Places in the county with recorded lending10
- TRAVERSE CITY, approvals205
- Williamsburg, approvals16
- KINGSLEY, approvals12
- Interlochen, approvals10
- GRAWN, approvals5
- BUCKLEY, approvals2
| Place | 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 |
| ROSCOMMON | 1 | $150,000 |
| KARLIN | 1 | $290,000 |
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 big 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
What hazards affect Grand Traverse County
- EPA radon zone predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/LZone 3
- Communities in the NFIP Community Status Book12
- Of those, participating in the NFIP9
- NFIP participation rate75.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
The EPA places the county in radon zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L.
US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001. FEMA OpenFEMA, NFIP Community Status Book, Community Status Book, as retrieved.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Every item below could be filled with a plausible figure. None of them is. On a page a lender may read, a number that cannot be traced is worse than an absence, so the absences are named.
- Flood zone record counts are not held. The flood coverage export has not landed, so no count is shown rather than an estimated one.
- Traffic counts resolve in the platform, not in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here.
- Zoning is in build. Parcel level zoning is not published on this page.
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.
- Population96,166
- 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?
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 growing?
The population has grown 1.44 percent since the 2020 census base. 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 there 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 the average wage in Grand Traverse County?
Average annual pay is $59,257, or $1,140 a week, across 51,962 covered jobs. 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 totalling $105.6 m since FY2020, across 41 lenders, with a median approval of $150,000, plus 190 504 approvals worth $85.1 m. 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.
What is being built in Grand Traverse County?
883 housing units were authorised 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 Grand Traverse County Non-migrants, with 40,091 households. Arriving households report an average income of $95,857 against null 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?
Not yet. The zoning layer is in build. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame with confirm locally attached.