West Traverse Township, MI

Township in Emmet County, MI, US

By Neilsberg Research

Last updated May 1, 2026

Key Indicators

A quick look at key numbers

Population

1,770

Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates

Median Age

56.6

years ∙ half population younger than 56.6, half older

Diversity Index

15%

chance two random people differ in race and ethnicity

Nativity

0.2%

foreign-born population

99.8%Native

0.2% Foreign-born

Geographic Context

Location, size, and surroundings

About

West Traverse Township is a township in Emmet County, Michigan, United States.

Location

Township in Emmet County, MI, US

Co-ordinates

DEC45.449361° N, 85.040666° W

DMS45° 26′ 57.70″ N, 85° 02′ 26.40″ W

Population Density & area

132.1/sq mi (51.16/km²)

Total Area

13.4 sq mi (34.7 km²)

Land Area

13.4 sq mi (34.6 km²) · 99.79%

Water Area

0 sq mi (0.1 km²) · 0.21%

Demographics & Living

Who lives here, how households are formed, and community composition

Population Composition

Key characteristics of the population

Sex Distribution

56.3% male

Male 56.3%

Female 43.7%

males per 100 females

West Traverse Township 128.7

Emmet County 98.7

Michigan 98.2

Nativity

0.2%

foreign-born population

99.8%Native

0.2% Foreign-born

% Foreign-born

West Traverse Township 0.2%

Emmet County 1.5%

Michigan 7.2%

Age Distribution

How the population is spread across age groups

Median Age

56.6

years ∙ half population younger than 56.6, half older

West Traverse Township

56.6

Emmet County

Michigan

40.2

Dependency ratio

104.9

dependents per 100 working-age adults

West Traverse Township 104.9

Emmet County 75.8

Michigan 66.3

AGE DISTRIBUTION

Distribution of age group

Median age

	West Traverse Township	Emmet County	Michigan
Age Group
Children (Under 18)	16.7%	18.1%	21.2%
Working age (18-64)	48.8%	56.9%	60.2%
Senior (65+)	34.5%	25%	18.6%
Dependency ratio
Total dependency ratio	104.9	75.8	66.3
Child dependency ratio	34.3	31.9	35.3
Old-age dependency ratio	70.6	43.9	31

Racial & Ethnic Composition

Racial and ethnic makeup and how it compares

Race & Ethnicity

White

92.1%

Black

Asian

Hispanic

1.7%

Other

6.2%

Note: White, Black, and Asian refer to individuals belonging to a single race and not of Hispanic origin. Hispanics may be of any race.

Diversity Index

15%

chance two random people differ in race and ethnicity

West Traverse Township 15%

Emmet County 20.2%

Michigan 45.2%

Note: The Diversity Index (DI), based on the Blau Index, measures the probability that two randomly selected individuals differ in race and ethnicity. Values range from 0 (no diversity) to 1 (high diversity) and are shown as percentages.

RACIAL & ETHNIC COMPOSITION

Race & Ethnicity

Percentage of West Traverse Township population

	West Traverse Township	Emmet County	Michigan
Hispanic or Latino	1.7%	2.1%	5.9%
Mexican	0.4%	1.2%	4%
Puerto Rican	1.1%	0.4%	0.5%
Cuban	0%	0.1%	0.2%
Other Hispanic / Latino	0.2%	0.5%	1.2%
Not Hispanic or Latino	98.3%	97.9%	94.1%
One race	94.8%	92.1%	89.6%
White	92.1%	89.1%	72.4%
Black or African American	0%	0.4%	13.1%
American Indian and Alaska Native	1.8%	1.5%	0.3%
Asian	0%	0.5%	3.4%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander	0%	0%	0%
Some Other Race	1%	0.6%	0.5%
Two or more races (Multiracial)	3.5%	5.8%	4.5%

Household & Families Composition

Household size, type, and family structure

Household structure

76% family

Family 76%

Non family 24%

% family households

West Traverse Township 76%

Emmet County 65.2%

Michigan 62.4%

Average household size

2.19

persons per household

West Traverse Township

2.19

Emmet County

2.22

Michigan

2.42

Household & Family COMPOSITION

Households

Percentage of West Traverse Township population

	West Traverse Township	Emmet County	Michigan
Total households	810	15,190	4,076,369
Average houshold size	2.19	2.22	2.42
Family households	616	9,901	2,545,621
Average family size	2.5	2.7	3.05
Married couple family	521	8,152	1,878,767
Other families	95	1,749	666,854
Male householder	41	582	199,150
Female householder	54	1,167	467,704
Non-family households	194	5,289	1,530,748
One-person households	175	4,224	1,250,418
Male householder	85	1,874	583,425
Senior (65+) living alone	46	626	188,594
Female householder	90	2,350	666,993
Senior (65+) living alone	59	1,378	349,637
Other living arrangements	19	1,065	280,330

Housing Profile

Housing stock, ownership, rentals, and cost burdens

Total housing units

1,294

housing units

West Traverse Township 1,294

Emmet County 21,979

Michigan 4,622,236

Occupancy status

62.6% occupied

Occupied 62.6%

Vacant 37.4%

vacancy rate

West Traverse Township 37.4%

Emmet County 30.9%

Michigan 11.8%

Housing Characteristics

How the housing supply is structured and used

Types of Housing unit

91.7%

Single family houses

91.7%

Apartments in multi-unit structures

7.5%

Mobile homes

0.9%

Boat, RV, van, etc

Median Year Built

1990

Half of houses were built before 1990, and half after.

Historic ∙ 1939 or earlier

7.7%

Postwar & mid-century ∙ 1940 - 1969

7.8%

Late 20th century ∙ 1970 - 1999

61%

Modern ∙ 2000 or later

23.6%

Note: Median year built reflects occupied units only; distribution includes all units.

Housing Characteristics

Units, rooms & bedrooms

Physical characteristics of housing units

	West Traverse Township	Emmet County	Michigan
Rooms per unit
Median rooms	7	5.8	5.9
1–3 rooms	3.9%	13.5%	10.5%
4–6 rooms	40.7%	47.3%	51.9%
7+ rooms	55.4%	39.3%	37.6%
Bedrooms
No bedroom / studio	0.6%	2.4%	1.6%
1 bedroom	1.9%	7.2%	8.9%
2 bedrooms	9.6%	23.9%	24.6%
3 bedrooms	50.3%	39.3%	43.5%
4+ bedrooms	37.6%	27.2%	21.4%
At a glance
Median year built	1990	1988	1972
Total housing units	1,294	21,979	4,622,236

Occupancy Profile

Who is inside and how they use it

Homeownership

89.5% owners

Renter-occupied 10.5%

Owner-occupied 89.5%

homeownership rate

West Traverse Township 89.5%

Emmet County 77%

Michigan 73.2%

Average household size

2.22

Owner-occupied

1.85

Renter-occupied

owner-occupied average size

West Traverse Township 2.22

Emmet County 2.36

Michigan 2.54

Housing Characteristics

Occupied unit characteristics

Tenure, crowding, and utilities

	West Traverse Township	Emmet County	Michigan
Total occupied units	810	15,190	4,076,369
Year moved in
2020 or later	16.6%	22.8%	21%
2010 to 2019	44.7%	37.8%	39.5%
2000 to 2009	24.7%	18.1%	16%
1999 or earlier	14.1%	21.3%	23.4%
Occupants per room
1.00 or fewer	99.8%	99.2%	98.4%
1.01 to 1.50	0.2%	0.6%	1.2%
1.51 or more	0%	0.2%	0.4%
Vehicles availability
No vehicles	1.7%	5%	7%
1 vehicle	34.9%	33.7%	34.8%
2 vehicles	44.2%	38.6%	38.3%
3 or more vehicles	19.1%	22.6%	19.8%
House heating fuel used
Gas	81.2%	79.5%	83.6%
Electricity	4.7%	10.3%	12.1%
Solar	0%	0%	0%
Fuel oil, kerosene etc	0%	0.3%	0.8%
All other fuels	14.1%	9.4%	3%
No fuel used	0%	0.4%	0.5%
Selected characteristics
Lacking complete plumbing	0.6%	0.7%	0.4%
Lacking complete kitchen	1.1%	1.5%	0.7%
No telephone service available	2.3%	1%	0.7%

Housing Value

What owner-occupied units are worth

Median home value

$399,600

owner-occupied units

Median value(USD)

West Traverse Township

$399,600

Emmet County

$315,700

Michigan

$231,600

Housing Cost Burden

31.5%

of homeowners with a mortgage are cost-burdened

% Cost-Burdened Households

Owners with a mortgage

31.5%

Owners without a mortgage

17.4%

Renters

39.2%

Note: Households spending 30% or more of their income on housing costs are considered cost-burdened.

Financial characteristics

Property value and housing costs

Tenure, crowding, and utilities

	West Traverse Township	Emmet County	Michigan
Property value
Median Value	$399,600	$315,700	$231,600
Under $100,000	1.4%	9.5%	16.8%
$100,000 - $200,000	10.6%	16.2%	24.7%
$200,000 - $300,000	22.1%	21.4%	23.4%
$300,000 - $500,000	27.6%	29.9%	24.1%
$500,000 - $1,000,000	30.2%	16%	9.2%
$1,000,000 and more	8.1%	6.9%	1.6%
Owner-occupied households
With a mortgage	62.1%	55.1%	57.8%
Without a mortgage	37.9%	44.9%	42.2%
Median monthly owner costs
With a mortgage	$1,553	$1,604	$1,569
Without a mortgage	$828	$601	$602
Gross rent
Median rent	$1,148	$1,112	$1,129

Education Profile

How educated is the community and how education pays off

Adults with a college degree

53.5%

of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher

West Traverse Township 53.5%

Emmet County 41.6%

Michigan 32.4%

Adults without a high school diploma

1.4%

of adults (25+) without a high school diploma

West Traverse Township 1.4%

Emmet County 3.7%

Michigan 8%

School Enrollment

Who is enrolled in school and at what level

School enrollment

301

population (age 3+) enrolled in school

Nursery / Preschool

K–12

85.4%

College / Undergraduate

7.6%

Graduate / Professional

College-going rate (18-24 yr olds)

23.3%

of 18-24-year-olds in college or graduate school

West Traverse Township

23.3%

Emmet County

28.1%

Michigan

41.1%

Enrollment & school type

Enrollment levels, college-going rate, and public vs private school split

Population 3+ currently enrolled in a school

	West Traverse Township	Emmet County	Michigan
Total enrolled (age 3+)	301	6,479	2,312,914
Nursery / preschool	6%	5.5%	5.6%
K–12	85.4%	73.4%	67.9%
Kindergarten	3.7%	8.1%	5.2%
Elementary: Grades 1–4	21.3%	20.1%	19.7%
Elementary: Grades 5–8	30.2%	19.5%	20.8%
High School: Grades 9–12	30.2%	25.6%	22.2%
College or graduate school	8.6%	21.2%	26.5%
College, undergraduate	7.6%	16%	21.1%
Graduate, professional school	1%	5.1%	5.4%
College-going rate · 18-24 yr olds	23.3%	28.1%	41.1%
School type
Public school	93%	86.4%	85.2%
Private school	7%	13.6%	14.8%

Education Attainment by Level & Gender

What is the highest level of education completed among adults

Education attainment

1,444

population 25 years and over

Total adults (25+)

Less than 9th grade

0.8%

9th-12th, no diploma

0.6%

HS graduate

16.5%

Some college no degree

18%

Associates degree

10.6%

Bachelors degree

31.9%

Graduate or professional degree

21.7%

Attainment by gender

Male vs Female

Adults (25+) · Share within each education level

% male · % female

Less than 9th grade

58.3% · 41.7%

9th-12th, no diploma

25% · 75%

HS graduate

53.8% · 46.2%

Some college no degree

68.1% · 31.9%

Associates degree

43.8% · 56.2%

Bachelors degree

43.9% · 56.1%

Graduate or professional degree

58.5% · 41.5%

Educational Attainment Overview

Distribution and key education attainment rates for adults (25+)

Highest credential completed · adults 25+

	West Traverse Township	Emmet County	Michigan
Population (25+)	1,444	25,406	7,008,507
Less than 9th grade	0.8%	0.9%	2.6%
9th–12th, no diploma	0.6%	2.8%	5.4%
High school diploma or GED	16.5%	23.5%	28%
Some college, no degree	18%	21.2%	21.9%
Associate's degree	10.6%	10.1%	9.8%
Bachelor's degree or higher	53.5%	41.6%	32.4%
Bachelor's degree	31.9%	23.9%	19.7%
Graduate or professional	21.7%	17.7%	12.7%
High School or higher	98.6%	96.3%	92.1%

Earnings by education level

percentage as applicable

Median Earnings

$44,417

Median earnings for adults 25+, by level

Less than HS graduate

$46,250

HS graduate

$38,750

Some college or associates

$—

Bachelors degree

$45,469

Graduate or professional degree

$98,792

Poverty Rate

7.9%

for ages 25+, with bachelors degree or higher

Less than HS graduate

10%

HS graduate

11.8%

Some college or associates

5.1%

Bachelors degree or higher

7.9%

Outcomes by Education Level

Earnings and poverty rates across education levels (25+)

Adults 25+

	West Traverse Township	Emmet County	Michigan
Median earnings
Population 25+, with earnings	$44,417	$46,546	$50,316
Less than high school graduate	$46,250	$37,250	$31,851
High school graduate (includes equivalency)	$38,750	$36,209	$37,777
Some college or associate's degree	$—	$40,590	$44,844
Bachelor's degree	$45,469	$58,997	$66,893
Graduate or professional degree	$98,792	$78,274	$85,195
Poverty rates
Less than high school graduate	10%	27.4%	27.4%
High school graduate (includes equivalency)	11.8%	11.7%	15.2%
Some college or associate's degree	5.1%	8.9%	10.3%
Bachelor's degree or higher	7.9%	4.5%	4.2%

Insights for West Traverse Township, by topic

Income By year By race By age By gender

Population By year By race By age By gender

About Neilsberg Research

Neilsberg Research team are data scientists with expertise in processing, analysis and visualization of big data helping small businesses make right decisions.

Cite this page

Citation style

Url to be used as reference

This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be legal or tax advice. We recommend that you consult with a qualified professional such as a lawyer or accountant before making a decision. Many of the products and services featured here are from our affiliate partners. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links. Read advertiser disclosure.