Traverse City, MI Demographics

A map of Traverse City's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	13,669	14,012	87.7%	89.4%
Multiracial	962	679	6.2%	4.3%
Hispanic	563	490	3.6%	3.1%
Black	197	154	1.3%	1.0%
Asian	165	126	1.1%	0.8%
Native American/Other	37	217	0.2%	1.4%

Traverse City, Michigan has an estimated population of 15,593, a less than 1% change from the 15,678 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 87.7% White, 6.2% Multiracial, 3.6% Hispanic, 1.3% Black, 1.1% Asian, and 0.2% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Traverse City, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Traverse City has become more racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than Michigan overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Traverse City, that probability was 19.8% in 2020 and 22.6% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Traverse City is ranked the 70th most populous place in Michigan, out of 745 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Traverse City was ranked the 71st most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Traverse City's White Population

13,669 residents of Traverse City, or 87.7% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Traverse City is significantly higher than in Michigan overall, where 72.4% of the population is White. Traverse City ranks 382nd statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 745 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Traverse City's White population has declined by an estimated 2.4%. White residents' share of Traverse City's population has decreased from 89.4% to 87.7%.

Traverse City is more White than neighboring Greilickville (85.1% White), Chums Corner (84.8% White), and Grawn (86.1% White). Traverse City is less White than neighboring Kingsley (90.3% White), and Interlochen (90.8% White).

Traverse City's Black Population

197 residents of Traverse City, or 1.3% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Traverse City is considerably lower than in Michigan overall, where 13.1% of the population is Black. Traverse City ranks 279th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 745 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Traverse City's Black population has grown by an estimated 27.9%. Black residents' share of Traverse City's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.3%.

Traverse City is more Black than neighboring Greilickville (0% Black), Chums Corner (0% Black), Grawn (0% Black), Kingsley (0% Black), and Interlochen (0% Black).

Traverse City's Asian Population

165 residents of Traverse City, or 1.1% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Traverse City is slightly lower than in Michigan overall, where 3.4% of the population is Asian. Traverse City ranks 209th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 745 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Traverse City's Asian population has grown by an estimated 31.0%. Asian residents' share of Traverse City's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.1%.

Traverse City is more Asian than neighboring Grawn (0% Asian), Kingsley (0% Asian), and Interlochen (0% Asian). Traverse City is less Asian than neighboring Greilickville (2.4% Asian), and Chums Corner (4.6% Asian).

Traverse City's Hispanic Population

563 residents of Traverse City, or 3.6% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Traverse City is slightly lower than in Michigan overall, where 5.9% of the population is Hispanic. Traverse City ranks 389th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 745 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Traverse City's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 14.9%. Hispanic residents' share of Traverse City's population has increased from 3.1% to 3.6%.

Traverse City is more Hispanic than neighboring Chums Corner (0% Hispanic), and Grawn (0% Hispanic). Traverse City is less Hispanic than neighboring Kingsley (9.2% Hispanic), and Interlochen (5.8% Hispanic).

Traverse City's Native American/Other Population

37 residents of Traverse City, or 0.2% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Traverse City is comparable to the share in Michigan overall, where 0.8% of the population is Native American/Other. Traverse City ranks 141st statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 745 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Traverse City's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 82.9%. Native American/Other residents' share of Traverse City's population has decreased from 1.4% to 0.2%.

Traverse City is more Native American/Other than neighboring Chums Corner (0% Native American/Other), Grawn (0% Native American/Other), and Kingsley (0% Native American/Other). Traverse City is less Native American/Other than neighboring Greilickville (0.7% Native American/Other), and Interlochen (0.6% Native American/Other).

Traverse City's Multiracial Population

962 residents of Traverse City, or 6.2% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Traverse City is comparable to the share in Michigan overall, where 4.5% of the population is Multiracial. Traverse City ranks 331st statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 745 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Traverse City's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 41.7%. Multiracial residents' share of Traverse City's population has increased from 4.3% to 6.2%.

Traverse City is more Multiracial than neighboring Kingsley (0.5% Multiracial), and Interlochen (2.8% Multiracial). Traverse City is less Multiracial than neighboring Greilickville (8.2% Multiracial), Chums Corner (10.5% Multiracial), and Grawn (13.9% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.