Grand Traverse County, Michigan

County Distress Index: Healthy · 30.9 | 96,421 people · 79th most distressed in Michigan
American Default Research

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Grand Traverse County, MI ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 30.9 — 2857th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where housing costs consume a moderate share of household income. Within Michigan, it ranks 79th of 83 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 6 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five domains of financial distress. Grand Traverse County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 60.3 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 60.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 85
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 76
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 67
Homeownership Rate 38
Rent-to-Income Ratio 35
Employment & Wages 48.3
Unemployment Rate 52
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 68
Business Formation Rate 25
Debt & Delinquency 22.8
Debt in Collections 15
Medical Debt 25
Student Loan Delinquency 10
Auto Loan Delinquency 26
Credit Card Delinquency 18
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 42
Community Vulnerability 16.1
Uninsured Rate 11
Disability Rate 21
Income & Poverty 6.8
Poverty Rate 5
Income vs. State Median 8
Child Poverty Rate 8

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed. The median line is shown on each bar.

Neighbors and Peers

How Grand Traverse County compares to its 7 neighboring counties and population peers.

Neighboring Counties

County Score Zone vs. Grand Traverse County
Grand Traverse County, MI 30.9 Healthy —
Kalkaska County, MI 54.2 Elevated +23.3
Wexford County, MI 53.4 Elevated +22.5
Manistee County, MI 53.0 Elevated +22.1
Missaukee County, MI 48.8 Normal +17.9
Benzie County, MI 44.6 Normal +13.7
Antrim County, MI 37.9 Normal +7.0
Leelanau County, MI 25.3 Healthy -5.6

Population Peers

County Score Zone vs. Grand Traverse County
Sherburne County, MN 31.1 Healthy +0.2
Tooele County, UT 30.6 Healthy -0.2
Albemarle County, VA 30.6 Healthy -0.2
Chittenden County, VT 30.5 Healthy -0.4
Chippewa County, WI 31.3 Healthy +0.4

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Grand Traverse County as a CSV file.

Find Help in Grand Traverse County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Grand Traverse County.

NORTHWEST MICHIGAN COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY, INC
Traverse City
231-947-3780 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingFair Housing

See all counselors in Michigan →

Find an Attorney

State Bar of Michigan Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

State Bar of Michigan Lawyer Referral Service 1-800-968-0738

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Grand Traverse County residents at no cost.

Legal Aid & Defender Association of Detroit 313-967-5555
Michigan Legal Help / Wolverine Legal Aid
Neighborhood Legal Services of Michigan 248-548-3838
Michigan Advocacy Program 616-774-0672
Legal Services of South Central Michigan 734-665-6181
Lakeshore Legal Aid (888) 783-8190
Legal Aid of Western Michigan (616) 774-0672
Legal Services of Eastern Michigan (800) 322-4512
Legal Services of Northern Michigan, Inc. (906) 786-2303

Self-Help Resources

Michigan Legal Help — Foreclosure Self-help guides and interactive tools for Michigan foreclosure process and defenses
MSHDA Homeowner Resources Assistance programs, counselor referrals, and MIHAF information

American Default Research does not endorse, rate, or rank any provider. Verify attorney credentials with your state bar.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in Michigan →

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Grand Traverse County, Michigan?

    Grand Traverse County has a County Distress Index score of 30.9 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,857th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 79th in Michigan out of 83 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Grand Traverse County?

    The primary driver of distress in Grand Traverse County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 60.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Grand Traverse County compare to neighboring counties?

    Grand Traverse County (30.9) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Kalkaska County, MI (54.2); Wexford County, MI (53.4); Manistee County, MI (53.0).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses percentile-rank averaging across five domains: Debt & Delinquency, Income & Poverty, Housing Cost Burden, Employment & Wages, and Community Vulnerability. Each county's indicators are ranked against all 3,144 U.S. counties. A score of 50 means the county is at the national median; higher scores indicate greater distress.

  • What is the population of Grand Traverse County?

    Grand Traverse County, Michigan has a population of approximately 96,421 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.