Traverse City, MI Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Crime in Traverse City, MI

Is Traverse City, MI safe in 2026?

Yes — Traverse City earns an overall crime grade of A-, and every one of the 10 analyzed neighborhoods scores an A or A+. That means 100% of the city falls into the "safe" tier. Over the most recent 90-day window, 1,388 total incidents were recorded across the entire city — a modest figure for any community, and one that reflects Traverse City's status as one of Michigan's safest small cities. Neighborhoods like Old Town, Central, Kids Creek, and Slabtown all carry the top A+ rating, while areas such as Downtown, Oak Park, and Traverse Heights still hold a strong A grade.

What types of crimes are most common in Traverse City?

Based on the most recent 90 days of incident data (1,388 total reports), the breakdown by category is:

• Other / miscellaneous incidents: 570 (41%) — the single largest category, covering a wide range of non-classified calls.
• Burglary: 260 incidents (19%) — the most notable property crime, making it the clearest area of focus for residents securing their homes.
• Arrests: 176 (13%) — reflecting active law enforcement activity.
• Theft: 173 incidents (12%) — closely tracking arrests in volume.
• Assault: 145 incidents (10%) — the leading violent-crime category, though low relative to comparable cities.
• Vandalism: 39 incidents (3%)
• Shooting: 24 incidents (2%)
• Robbery: 1 incident (under 1%) — an exceptionally rare offense in Traverse City.

Property-related incidents (burglary + theft) account for roughly 31% of all reports, while violent incidents (assault + shooting + robbery) combine for just 12%. That ratio underscores why Traverse City's grades remain so high across the board.

What are the safest neighborhoods in Traverse City?

All 10 analyzed neighborhoods are safe, but five earned the highest possible A+ grade:

1. Old Town — A+ | Median household income: $81,108 | Population: ~560
2. Central — A+ | Median household income: $74,124 | Population: ~1,484
3. Kids Creek — A+ | Median household income: $70,645 | Population: ~913
4. Slabtown — A+ | Median household income: $73,100 | Population: ~465
5. Northwestern Michigan College — A+ | Median household income: $65,852 | Population: ~189

The remaining five neighborhoods — Downtown, Boardman, Traverse Heights, Oak Park, and Traverse City Airport Industrial Park — all hold a solid A grade. Notably, not a single neighborhood in Traverse City grades below an A, which is rare among U.S. cities of any size.

Which areas of Traverse City have relatively higher crime?

Even the "higher crime" areas in Traverse City are still graded A or A+. Relatively speaking, Oak Park, Traverse Heights, and Downtown see more incident activity than the A+ neighborhoods, but this is a comparison within an already very safe city. Downtown's higher foot traffic and commercial activity naturally correlate with a greater share of theft and vandalism reports. Oak Park and Traverse Heights, with median incomes of $50,456 and $49,052 respectively, sit slightly below the city median of $61,056, which may contribute modestly to their relative position — yet both still earn an A. Visitors and residents in these neighborhoods face a low overall risk.

How does burglary compare to other crimes in Traverse City?

Burglary stands out as the most statistically significant specific crime category in recent data, accounting for 19% of all 1,388 incidents — or roughly 260 reports in 90 days. That puts it well ahead of theft (12%) and assault (10%). By contrast, robbery — often confused with burglary — recorded just 1 incident in the same period, less than 0.1% of all reports. This distinction matters: burglary involves unlawful entry into a structure, while robbery involves direct confrontation. The data suggests that securing homes and businesses (locks, lighting, alarm systems) is the most impactful personal safety step Traverse City residents can take.

Is Traverse City a good place to live based on crime data?

The crime data strongly supports Traverse City as an excellent place to live. With a city-wide grade of A-, 100% of neighborhoods graded A or better, and a violent-crime share of just 12% of all incidents, the numbers align with the city's reputation as a peaceful community. The city's median household income of $61,056, median home value of $282,795, and median rent of $930 round out a picture of relative affordability paired with high safety. The unemployment rate of 5.1% and poverty rate of 10.1% are moderate, and neither has translated into elevated crime — a testament to community investment and effective policing. Whether you're considering Old Town's A+ corridor or the more affordable Traverse Heights neighborhood, the safety data makes a compelling case for calling Traverse City home.

How current is the crime data on this map?

The incident data reflected on this page covers the most recent 90-day period, with the latest logged incidents dating to March 11, 2026 across several categories including burglary, theft, assault, and the broad "other" category. Vandalism and shooting data runs through March 8, 2026, and the single robbery incident was recorded March 2, 2026. Neighborhood safety grades are calculated from this rolling dataset and updated regularly, so the grades and percentages you see represent current conditions rather than multi-year averages alone.