The Town FilesGarfield, Michigan
Charter township in Grand Traverse County · population 19,499 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $316,200
- Household income
- $66,082
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 101 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 40.0
Garfield is a charter township of 19,499 people in Grand Traverse County, Michigan. The median home is worth $316,200, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better transit than 97% of Michigan towns, better for cycling than 95% of Michigan towns, better for young professionals than 89% of Michigan towns.
How Garfield ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Garfield is worth $316,200, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 4.8 times the median household income of $66,082, which is more affordable than 3% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,405 a month. 56.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Garfield | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $316,200 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,405 | $955 |
| Median household income | $66,082 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 56.2% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1993 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.8% | — |
Who lives in Garfield
| People | Garfield | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.0 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.5% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.4% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.4% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 6.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.6% | — |
| Work from home | 12.5% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 16.5 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.3% | 88.8% |
Weather in Garfield
July highs average 79.4°F and January lows 15.3°F. About 36.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 101.0 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 154 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Garfield since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 3, 1956 about 8.2 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 24 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on September 22, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 22 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 9, 2000.
Severe weather in Grand Traverse County since 1996
Grand Traverse County has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4925: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| January 27, 1978 | Snowstorm | EM-3057: Blizzards & Snowstorms |
Jobs and pay in Grand Traverse County
Grand Traverse County had 51,962 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,257 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Garfield itself the ACS puts it at 3.3%.
Towns near Garfield
- Traverse City, MI2.5 mi · 15,678 people · home $415,400
- Long Lake, MI5.7 mi · 9,956 people · home $410,600
- East Bay, MI6.3 mi · 11,589 people · home $278,800
- Blair, MI6.9 mi · 8,994 people · home $275,200
- Elmwood, MI7.1 mi · 4,892 people · home $436,400
- Green Lake, MI8.2 mi · 6,703 people · home $289,300
- Acme, MI9.6 mi · 4,456 people · home $338,300
- Whitewater, MI12.1 mi · 2,688 people · home $373,000
Garfield questions
Is Garfield, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Garfield scores better for retirees than 54% of Michigan towns and quieter than 12%. 21.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.0).
How much does a house cost in Garfield?
The median owner-occupied home in Garfield is valued at $316,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,082, so homes cost about 4.8 times income. Median rent is $1,405 a month.
What is the weather like in Garfield?
July highs average 79.4°F and January lows 15.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.2 inches of precipitation a year and 101.0 inches of snow.
Does Garfield get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Garfield since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 3, 1956. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)