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Traverse City, Michigan
With a Beautiful Bayside Setting, Good Medical Facilities, Outstanding Outdoor Recreation and a Lively Cultural Scene, Charming Traverse City, Michigan Beckons
Cost of Living: Above the National Average
Majestic Grand Traverse Bay, part of Lake Michigan, is in northern Michigan. At its southern end, along West Bay and partly along East Bay, the idyllic waterfront city of Traverse City (population 16,000 with 155,000 in the surrounding area) makes its home. The Ottawa and Chippewa once hunted here, and French explorers traveled through the area in the 1700s.
Yet Traverse City, originally a sawmill town, was not established until 1852 and for many years was only accessible by water. While still remote, today this picturesque Great Lakes hamlet draws retirees in search of clean air, dramatic scenery, nice beaches and an abundance of outdoor recreation.
In fact, 40% of locals are age 45 or better, and 25% have at least a four year college degree. Politics lean to the right. The town has grown by about 5% within the last decade, but racial diversity has not yet arrived. The cost of living is 5% above the national average. The crime rate meets the national average.
The median home price is $435,000, reflecting a 6% increase from a year ago. Neighborhoods are leafy, and homes for sale include Victorians, Cape Cods, ranch ramblers, Craftsmans, bunglaows and others. There are also manufactured homes, condominiums and town houses. Many sit along one of the city's several lakes.
Historic properties, many in the Queen Anne style, are in good supply along Boardman Avenue and Washington Street. Late 19th-century mansions line Sixth Street, also known as "Silk Stocking Row," and include the 32-room house built in 1893 by Traverse City founder Perry Hannah. Single family home rental properties generally cater to vacationers, but there are a few apartment complexes.
Michigan is fairly friendly when it comes to taxes and retirees. Social Security benefits are not taxed, and any Social Security income considered taxable on the federal income tax return can be subtracted from the Adjusted Gross Income on the state form. Retirees are also offered a deduction on other retirement income. When it comes to property taxes, the state offers a credit to people with a household income of $63,000 or less and a home with a taxable value of no more than $143,000. The average effective property tax rate (the annual tax payment as a percentage of median home value) in Traverse City is 1.13%. The annual taxes on a $435,000 home are approximately $4,915 without a homestead exemption. The combined sales tax rate is 6%.
Much of life in Traverse City involves the outdoors. The area has more than 180 miles of shoreline and boasts 149 deep, crystal clear lakes. There are dozens of beaches nearby, including one just west of downtown. Even during the height of the summer, it is possible to find a quiet beach.
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore offers opportunities for scuba diving, deep water fishing, stream fishing, sailing, canoeing and kayaking or just beach combing. Dozens of fishing charters are in operation.
Traverse City also has more tall ships than any other U.S. port. Marinas, and a couple of yacht clubs, are found primarily along the West Bay shore. For recreation off the water, 13 private and public golf courses provide challenging play. Winters bring snow shoeing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and ice fishing.
Thanks to its extensive network of bays and rivers, the Traverse City area had its own water-based highway system long before the advent of motorized transportation. Vigilant lighthouses still stand as a reminder of a maritime past. One of the most iconic is the Old Mission Point Lighthouse, built in 1870 to warn ships away from the dangerous shoals extending into Grand Traverse Bay. Today this lighthouse is the centerpiece of a pretty park. Traverse City also has its share of sunken shipwrecks.
Lush forests, rolling hills and vineyards are all around, as are acres and acres of cherry orchards. In fact, Traverse City is the Cherry Capital of the World and hosts the eight-day long National Cherry Festival every July. More than half a million people attend and enjoy parades, contests, music, food, games, a street sale and an annual air show. Throughout July and early August roadside cherry stands and markets sprout up across the countryside.
While the outdoors beckon year round, residents still enjoy a robust arts and foodie culture with galleries, museums and restaurants aplenty. The city is home to sculptors, painters and woodworkers, many of whom have their work displayed in one of 15 local art galleries. The three museums include the Dennos Museum, a contemporary art center. Numerous performing arts companies, such as the Encore Society of Music and the Dennos Museum Center Concert Series, add to the cultural tableau.
The Old Town Playhouse, offering community theater, has been in business for decades, and the Traverse Symphony Orchestra presents numerous concerts each season. The 1891 City Opera House is a popular venue for everything from classical jazz ensembles to the National Writers Series, an event in which nationally recognized writers discuss their work.
An added perk is that the world renowned Interlochen Center for the Arts, one of the country's premier training enters for young musicians, is 13 miles down the road and presents 750 concerts and theater and dance productions annually.
Two Native American casinos are nearby, and on those cold winter days, Horizon Books, northern Michigan's largest independent bookstore, has two roaring fireplaces, three floors, 100,000 titles and musical guests. Nearly two dozen wineries dot the area, offering wine-tastings and tours during the spring, summer and fall.
In addition to the National Cherry Festival, residents also enjoy the week-long Traverse City Film Festival, the Old Town Arts and Crafts Fair, the Suttons Bay Art Festival, the Port Oneida Fair, the Peshawbestown Traditional Pow Wow and the six-week Great Lakes Equestrian Festival.
Two farmers' markets sell a variety of healthy products. And recently, Traverse City has been gaining recognition as a foodie destination with local restaurants serving up some very tasty fare, particularly fish dishes and fruit pies.
Shopping is more than adequate. In fact, Traverse City serves as the area's retail hub. Downtown's Front Street shopping district has been refurbished, and shops, restaurants and galleries make creative use of the Victorian buildings that they occupy.
The Village at Grand Traverse Commons sits where the Northern Michigan Mental Health Asylum once operated and today is has acres of parks, pedestrian friendly walkways, a historic arboretum and century-old Victorian-Italianate architecture. With concerts, shopping, festivals, restaurants and markets, this interesting village is a fun place to be.
The Bay Area Transit Authority (BATA) offers local bus service. Some rides are free; others start at $1.50. People age 60+ ride for half price. On-demand, curb-to-curb services are available, and buses are equipped with wheelchair lifts. Delta, American and United fly out of Cherry Capital Airport.
Health care is provided by Munson Medical Center, a teaching hospital that has been named a Top 50 Hospital for cardiovascular care. It is accredited by the Joint Commission and is a Level II trauma center. Medicare patients are accepted. For military retirees, Traverse City has a VA outpatient clinic, but the nearest VA hospital is 123 miles away in Saginaw.
The city has a Meals on Wheels program, an RSVP (Retired Seniors Volunteer Program) chapter, a Senior Companion Program and a Senior Nutrition Program. The Traverse City Senior Center (for ages 50+) is very active and has 100 programs (social, wellness, exercise, educational, etc.), as well as a busy travel club.
Northwestern Michigan College (5,500 students) is located in Traverse City as well. Its LIFE Academy offers classes designed for people age 50 or better.
The Traverse Area Library has a gift shop, movie nights, exercise classes, book discussions, knitting groups and amazing views from its many windows. Some people say it is the best library that they have ever visited.
Winter temperatures dip into the teens and summer temperatures reaching into the 70s and 80s. Lake-effect snow is common, and it can fall as late as May or as early as September. On average, the area receives 80 inches of the white stuff and 30 inches of rain each year. Fall lingers and is simply jaw-dropping, with tourists coming to revel in the bounty of colors.
Traverse City, of course, has its drawbacks, too. Tourists flock to town during the summer, and traffic can be a particular headache during this time of the year. Restaurant and retail prices increase during summer, too. The city can feel isolated during the winter.
Despite these downsides, Traverse City has a lot to offer at a reasonable price. The natural beauty is striking. Amenities are many. Senior programs are strong. For people in search of a cooler waterfront retirement destination, Traverse City should be at the top of the list.
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