Residential delivery area · Michigan
ZIP Code 49685: Traverse City, MI
ZIP code 49685 uses the postal name Traverse City, Michigan and lies entirely in Grand Traverse County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 21,000 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024), the 3rd most populous of Traverse City's 4 residential ZIP codes. Median household income is $84,590 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, 5% of its land lies in Chums Corner (a census-designated place); 95% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- Town
- Traverse City · 4 residential ZIPs
- County
- Grand Traverse County
- Census places
- Chums Corner census-designated place
- Metro area
- Traverse City, MI
- House district
- MI-1 119th Congress
- State
- Michigan
- Time zone
- Eastern
- Land area
- 54.2 sq mi · 393 people per sq mi
Where is ZIP code 49685?
49685 centers on 44.700°, -85.701° and covers 54.2 square miles of land plus 7.1 of water. It borders 6 ZIP codes: 49637, 49684, 49643, 49650, 49696, 49649.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 49685, open its center on OpenStreetMap.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA cartographic boundaries and the 2023 Gazetteer (2020 ZCTAs); ZIP-to-county shares, Census places and House districts (119th Congress) from the Census 2020 relationship files (shares of land); metro area from the OMB delineation (July 2023); town name and time zone from GeoNames postal codes (CC BY 4.0).
How does 49685 compare with the rest of Traverse City?
| Measure | 49685 | In Traverse City | In Grand Traverse County | In MI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 21,308 | 3rd of 4 | 3rd of 11 | 176th of 992 |
| Median household income | $85k | 2nd of 4 | 3rd of 11 | 208th of 774 |
| Median home value | $359k | 2nd of 4 | 2nd of 11 | 84th of 779 |
Its median household income is higher than in 68% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 70% of all U.S. residential ZIP codes. ZIP codes at the ACS caps ($250,000 or more for household income, $2,000,000 or more for home value) share the top rank.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B19013, B25077); ranks by PlainZIP over residential ZIP codes (ZCTAs).
How many people live in 49685?
The 2020 Census counted 20,856 people in 49685; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 21,308.
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 21,308
- 2020 Census count
- 20,856
- Households
- 8,419
- Median age
- 39.1
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B01002, B11001); 2020 Census (DHC P1); 2010 Census (SF1 P1).
Who lives in 49685?
Of the 21,308 people the ACS estimates in 49685, 22.8% are under 18 and 16.1% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (91.1%).
- Under 1822.8%
- 18 to 6461.1%
- 65 and older16.1%
- White, not Hispanic91.1%
- Other or two or more4.2%
- Hispanic or Latino2.9%
- Black, not Hispanic1.0%
- Asian, not Hispanic0.8%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01001 age by sex, B03002 Hispanic or Latino origin by race); shares of the estimated population, small ZIP codes carry wide margins.
What do households in 49685 earn?
Median household income is $84,590 (ACS 2020-2024), the 3rd highest of the 11 ranked ZIP codes in Grand Traverse County.
- Median household income
- $84,590
- Income per person
- $41,068
- Below the poverty line
- 9.1%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 3.1%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 38.8%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 and 2015-2019 5-year estimates (B19013, B19301, B17001, B23025, B15003; 2015-2019 dollars converted with the BLS CPI-U, 1.22699); IRS Statistics of Income, ZIP code data, tax year 2022 (adjusted gross income per return, filed under the address on the return).
What are homes worth in 49685?
FHFA's house price index for 49685, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 126% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 66% from 2020 to 2025, and moved +2.7% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $358,500
- Median gross rent
- $1,448
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 78.6%
- Housing units
- 9,251
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B25077, B25064, B25003, B25001); FHFA House Price Index, annual five-digit ZIP, updated 2026-03-31.
What businesses are in 49685?
362 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 70 more than in 2018; the most are in construction (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Construction76
- Retail trade53
- Other services (except public administration)39
- Professional, scientific, and technical services26
- Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services25
- Wholesale trade24
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns 2023 and 2018 (establishments with paid employees, by the business's ZIP code).
Which ZIP codes are next to 49685?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 49637 | Grawn | 3,646 | $75k | 4.4 mi |
| 49684 | Traverse City | 21,585 | $81k | 4.4 mi |
| 49643 | Interlochen | 6,963 | $81k | 7.5 mi |
| 49650 | Lake Ann | 3,411 | $88k | 9.6 mi |
| 49696 | Traverse City | 10,477 | $95k | 10.6 mi |
| 49649 | Kingsley | 7,239 | $75k | 12.8 mi |
| 49621 | Cedar | 3,483 | $95k | 11.4 mi (near) |
| 49620 | Buckley | 3,070 | $75k | 12.7 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.