West Traverse is a township in Emmet County, Michigan, home to about 1,770 people across 13 square miles. It has no ZIP code of its own: it’s part of 49740.
Homes sold for a median of $312 per square foot in the three months ending August 2026, a seller’s market.
Mostly Little Traverse; part is in West Traverse
Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside West Traverse. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology
We’re writing up West Traverse’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.
Are you a local agent who knows West Traverse well? Agents who advertise here will be able to write the guide. Advertise on OfferBacked
| Nearest major airport | Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR)184 miles away |
|---|---|
| Closer regional airport | Pellston Regional Airport of Emmet County Airport (PLN)11 miles away |
| Nearest city of 250,000+ | Milwaukee, WI224 miles away |
| Nearest city of 1 million+ | Chicago, IL288 miles away |
Straight-line distances from the center of West Traverse; driving is longer.
Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.
West Traverse had 1,768 residents in the 2020 census, up 22% since 2000.
It’s the 898th largest of 1,531 towns in Michigan by population.
Emmet County grew from 15,931 residents in 1900 to 34,112 in 2020.
Emmet County, 1900–2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).
Average highs peak around 74°F in summer, and winter lows average 12°F. About 33.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year, with about 80 inches of snow.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Cross Village 1e, MI weather station (8 miles away).
16,212 jobs at 1,577 businesses in Emmet County. The biggest industries by employees:
Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).
70 doctors and other health care providers list an office in West Traverse.
Nearest hospitals
Providers with an office here
| Primary care doctors | 11 |
|---|---|
| Specialist doctors | 2 |
| Dentists | 7 |
| Nurse practitioners and physician assistants | 15 |
| Mental health providers | 23 |
| Physical and occupational therapists | 10 |
| Optometrists | 1 |
| Chiropractors | 1 |
| Pharmacies | 1 |
Source: Hospitals from CMS Hospital General Information (ratings are CMS overall star ratings); straight-line distances; providers from the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), by practice address and primary specialty.
Grocery stores
Counts are within about 2.5 miles of the center of town.
Source: Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (openstreetmap.org/copyright), as mapped by volunteers; it can miss places or include closed ones.
Public schools here are run by Harbor Springs School District. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.
| School | Grades | Students | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shay Elementary SchoolHarbor Spgs | K–4 | 258 | Public | 6.2 mi |
| Harbor Springs Middle SchoolHarbor Springs | 5–8 | 233 | Public | 6.2 mi |
| Harbor Springs High SchoolHarbor Spgs | 9–12 | 260 | Public | 6.5 mi |
| School | Grades | Students | Affiliation | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harbor Light Christian SchoolHarbor Springs | Pre-K–12 | 195 | Christian (no specific denomination) | 8.2 mi |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools; Private School Universe Survey (2023-2024) for private schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.
Buying or selling around West Traverse? Tell us what you need and when. No agents advertise here yet, so we’ll keep your request for up to 30 days and send it to local agents who join. No obligation, and you choose who to work with.
Loading map…
Shares ZIP codes with Little Traverse, Harbor Springs, Friendship, Pleasantview, Readmond and Cross Village.
Town boundaries don’t always match ZIP codes: a ZIP code can cross into neighboring towns, and a town can share a ZIP code with its neighbors. Facts describe the town itself; market figures describe whole ZIP codes.