The Town FilesWest Traverse, Michigan
Township in Emmet County · population 1,768 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $399,600
- Household income
- $93,929
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 75°
- Snow a year
- 124 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 56.6
West Traverse is a township of 1,768 people in Emmet County, Michigan. The median home is worth $399,600, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for retirees than 99% of Michigan towns, better for a vacation home than 99% of Michigan towns, quieter than 92% of Michigan towns.
How West Traverse 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 West Traverse is worth $399,600, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 4.3 times the median household income of $93,929, which is more affordable than 5% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,148 a month. 89.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | West Traverse | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $399,600 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,148 | $955 |
| Median household income | $93,929 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.3× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 89.5% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1988 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 36.6% | — |
Who lives in West Traverse
| People | West Traverse | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 56.6 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 34.5% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 53.5% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.8% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 7.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.2% | — |
| Work from home | 14.9% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 23.8 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.5% | 88.8% |
Weather in West Traverse
July highs average 75.2°F and January lows 15.0°F. About 34.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 123.6 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 147 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Traverse since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. The strongest, an F1, struck on July 4, 1957 about 2.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 18, 1987.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 6 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on June 24, 1998.
Severe weather in Emmet County since 1996
Emmet County has been included in 7 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 |
| July 22, 2025 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4880: Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Emmet County
Emmet County had 17,742 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,435 a year. Unemployment was 5.7% in 2023; in West Traverse itself the ACS puts it at 4.6%.
Towns near West Traverse
- Harbor Springs, MI2.8 mi · 1,274 people · home $415,700
- Friendship, MI4.4 mi · 954 people · home $354,000
- Petoskey, MI6.0 mi · 5,877 people · home $364,100
- Little Traverse, MI6.4 mi · 2,657 people · home $345,400
- Bay Shore, MI7.0 mi · 687 people · home $153,600
- Pleasantview, MI7.6 mi · 918 people · home $356,800
- Resort, MI8.3 mi · 2,835 people · home $394,500
- Readmond, MI8.6 mi · 560 people · home $287,500
West Traverse questions
Is West Traverse, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, West Traverse scores better for retirees than 99% of Michigan towns and quieter than 92%. 34.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 56.6).
How much does a house cost in West Traverse?
The median owner-occupied home in West Traverse is valued at $399,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $93,929, so homes cost about 4.3 times income. Median rent is $1,148 a month.
What is the weather like in West Traverse?
July highs average 75.2°F and January lows 15.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.2 inches of precipitation a year and 123.6 inches of snow.
Does West Traverse get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Traverse since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on July 4, 1957. 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)