Residential delivery area · Michigan
ZIP Code 49686: Traverse City, MI
ZIP code 49686 uses the postal name Traverse City, Michigan and lies entirely in Grand Traverse County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 25,000 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024), the most populous of Traverse City's 4 residential ZIP codes. Median household income is $71,609 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, 11% of its land lies in Traverse City; 89% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Traverse City · 4 residential ZIPs
- County
- Grand Traverse County
- Census places
- Traverse City
- Metro area
- Traverse City, MI
- House district
- MI-1 119th Congress
- State
- Michigan
- Time zone
- Eastern
- Land area
- 47.3 sq mi · 539 people per sq mi
Where is ZIP code 49686?
49686 centers on 44.849°, -85.543° and covers 47.3 square miles of land plus 26.2 of water. It borders 3 ZIP codes: 49690, 49684, 49696.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 49686, 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 simplemaps US ZIP Codes (CC BY 4.0).
How does 49686 compare with the rest of Traverse City?
| Measure | 49686 | In Traverse City | In Grand Traverse County | In MI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 25,492 | 1st of 4 | 1st of 11 | 127th of 992 |
| Median household income | $72k | 4th of 4 | 10th of 11 | 368th of 774 |
| Median home value | $345k | 3rd of 4 | 4th of 11 | 98th of 779 |
Its median household income is higher than in 49% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 73% 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 49686?
The 2020 Census counted 25,859 people in 49686; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 25,492. Its boundary changed between the 2010 and 2020 censuses, so the two counts are not compared.
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 25,492
- 2020 Census count
- 25,859
- Households
- 12,007
- Median age
- 47.5
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 49686?
Of the 25,492 people the ACS estimates in 49686, 15.4% are under 18 and 26.6% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (89.3%).
- Under 1815.4%
- 18 to 6458.0%
- 65 and older26.6%
- White, not Hispanic89.3%
- Other or two or more4.8%
- Hispanic or Latino4.5%
- Asian, not Hispanic0.7%
- Black, not Hispanic0.6%
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 49686 earn?
Median household income is $71,609 (ACS 2020-2024), the 10th highest of the 11 ranked ZIP codes in Grand Traverse County.
- Median household income
- $71,609
- Income per person
- $50,606
- Below the poverty line
- 12.8%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 3.6%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 46.3%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $113,47213,710 returns; wages 46% of AGI (IRS)
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 49686?
FHFA's house price index for 49686, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 127% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 72% from 2020 to 2025, and moved +4.3% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $344,700
- Median gross rent
- $1,227
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 72.5%
- Housing units
- 13,547
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 49686?
1,169 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 51 more than in 2018; the most are in retail trade (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Retail trade160
- Professional, scientific, and technical services149
- Health care and social assistance148
- Other services (except public administration)115
- Accommodation and food services105
- Construction99
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 49686?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 49690 | Williamsburg | 6,657 | $109k | 8.5 mi |
| 49684 | Traverse City | 21,585 | $81k | 9.2 mi |
| 49696 | Traverse City | 10,477 | $95k | 12.4 mi |
| 49629 | Elk Rapids | 2,038 | $65k | 8.9 mi (near) |
| 49682 | Suttons Bay | 4,699 | $98k | 10.9 mi (near) |
| 49621 | Cedar | 3,483 | $95k | 11.1 mi (near) |
| 49676 | Rapid City | 3,620 | $76k | 12.2 mi (near) |
| 49653 | Lake Leelanau | 1,766 | $86k | 12.3 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.