Garfield Township Hall, 2023
Garfield Township’s story
Garfield Township in pictures
Census counts: 986 in 1900, 19,499 in 2020. The archive holds 4 old photos and papers going back to 2023 and 2 maps from 1956 on.
Explore the history →
Garfield TownshipMI
A town of 19,698.
5 bordering townsMap →
Photo: Phoenix-Five · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
19,698
2025 Census estimate · +0.9% since 2020
Median home value
$316K
Census ACS
Household income
$66K
median
Median age
40.0
years
Jobs based here
11,412
Balanced
TownGrade
B+
#258 of 697 in MI
Is Garfield Township a good place to live?
For most people who can afford it, yes. Garfield Township grades B+ overall, 258th of 697 graded towns in Michigan. Natural-hazard risk is low. Its schools outperform 80% of the state's. The catch is cost: the typical home is worth about $316K, 3.9 years of the Traverse City metro’s $81K median household income. Garfield Township’s trail density is 2.3 miles per square mile, where Michigan’s towns sit at 0.3 and U.S. towns at 0.4. On walkability, just 69 of Michigan’s 1,279 towns do better. Garfield Township's civic life (library use, community groups, volunteering) is stronger than in 91% of U.S. towns.
What makes Garfield Township stand out
Where Garfield Township beats most towns.
Natural hazardsA+
Lower risk than 99% of U.S. communities
Very low risk of storm and flood damage
FEMA National Risk Index.
Community nonprofits per 1,000 residents
Garfield Township5.2
Typical U.S. town3.7
Typical MI town3.1
Civic lifeA
68% more nonprofits per person
than the typical Michigan town
Charities, civic groups and human services; churches not counted.
A growing town
Garfield Township has grown 21% since 2010
16,256 counted in 2010 and 19,499 in 2020; an estimated 19,698 in 2025.
Growth has leveled off: within 1% of 2020, after 19.9% in the decade before.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
How Garfield Township grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Michigan), ordered by how far Garfield Township is from typical.
Hazard riskcold waves tops the listA+Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 9.2 of 20; 9.2% of households have no car; 4.7% of workers walk, bike or ride transitAOpen →SchoolsA−Open →Cost of livingC−Open →HealthMunson Medical Center 2.5 miles awayB+Open →Jobs & incomeC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Garfield Township: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Garfield Township, and how to reach them.
PowerDTE20.2¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterGarfield Charter Township water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers96% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpAmerican Waste280 Hughes DriveOpenStreetMap
Register to voteOnlineIn Michigan you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereGarfield Township ClerkThe town itself; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Nov 2025
ZIP codes49685, 49684, 49686, 4969649685 33% · 49684 31% · 49686 30% · 49696 6%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 12, 2025.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Garfield Township.
Garfield Township gets more snow than nearly all U.S. towns, is healthier than towns with similar incomes and has commutes shorter than most of Michigan.
OutdoorsA
5% of Garfield Township is conserved land
63 miles of trail in 24 parks and preserves. The biggest place to walk is Grand Traverse Natural Education Reserve, 264 acres with 6.5 miles of trail.
#34for trails in MI
5%
conserved · 878 of 17,606 acres
63 mi
of trails · 2.3 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Grand Traverse Commons Natural Area | 9.4 mi | 183 |
| 2. Grand Traverse Natural Education Reserve | 6.5 mi | 264 |
| 3. Hickory Meadows | 4.5 mi | 102 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
SchoolsA−
For schools, Garfield Township earns an A−
Its public schools are run by the Traverse City Area Public Schools. Three of its 9 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is West Senior High, with 1,384 students.
80%of MI districts it outscoresA−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Middle SchoolLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8 | Grades 6–8 | 1,081 | B+ |
| West Senior HighLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 1,384 | A |
| TCAPS Montessori SchoolTop results in townGrades PK–8 | Grades PK–8 | 331 | A− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within MI on state tests and graduation
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A+
The FEMA risk score in Garfield Township is lower than in the typical Michigan or U.S. town
At 1 of 100, Garfield Township’s FEMA risk score is below both the Michigan town median (25 of 100) and the median of U.S. towns (44 of 100). Since 1999, 7 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Garfield Township.
1risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Cold wavesInland floodingWinter weather
7
paid flood claims since 1999
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
HealthB+
On CDC estimates, Garfield Township is healthier than 72% of U.S. towns
Against the 10,099 U.S. towns with household incomes like Garfield Township’s, it is healthier than 91%, so its B+ isn’t only a matter of income.
Garfield Township beats the Michigan average on 11 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 1. 31% of adults sleep under 7 hours in Garfield Township.
72%healthier than U.S. townsB+Health Grade
| Garfield Township | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 34% | 36% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 15% | 14% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 32% | 33% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 18% | 17% |
32 measures vs. Michigan
11 better20 too close to call1 worse
| What stands out | Garfield Township | MI |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 10.3% | 15.4% |
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 6.1% | 8.7% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 10.6% | 8.9% |
Munson Medical Center
2.5 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
76th
percentile among MI towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Climate
Snowy winters and pleasant summers in Garfield Township
The Traverse City Munson weather station records that 101 inches of snow fall in a normal winter, more than in 97% of U.S. towns.
Garfield Township has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers. The July high in Garfield Township is 80°F.
101″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter18–31°
Spring32–53°
Summer56–78°
Fall40–57°
Oct 15
typical first frost
May 9
typical last frost
+2.5°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C+
About two in five of Garfield Township’s working residents commute to Traverse City
The average commute for its 7,648 working residents takes 16.5 minutes, against 24.2 across Michigan.
Most working residents leave Garfield Township for work: only 17% work in town. Jobs based in Garfield Township fell to 11,412 in 2021, 1,855 fewer than in 2011. Garfield Township’s median household income is $66,000.
17%work in town
| Garfield Township | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 17 minutes | 25 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 17% | 8.9% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 17% | 5.9% | 8% |
| Median household income | $66,000 | $77,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Garfield Township17%
Traverse City39%
East Bay Township3%
Blair Township3%
Suttons Bay Township2%
4 mi
median commute distance
11,412
jobs based in Garfield Township
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
A
Walkability grade: more walkable than 85% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2021 · ACS
Safety
Crime reported in Garfield Township
No violent or property crimes were reported in Garfield Township in 2022. In a town this small, a few incidents move the numbers a lot, so rates aren't shown.
Garfield Township is small, so we show counts rather than rates.
0
violent crimes reported in 2022
0
property crimes reported in 2022
FBI crime data, 2022 · crimes reported to police
Who lives here
An age mix much like Michigan’s
No broad age group is more than 4 points off the Michigan average. 37% of Garfield Township adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more.
40median age · MI 40.2
| Garfield Township | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 37% | 26% | 29% |
| Aged 65 or older | 22% | 19% | 18% |
| Median age | 40 years | 42.5 years | 40.5 years |
| Under 18 | 20% | 21% | 22% |
Garfield TownshipMichiganUnited States
Ages · share of residents
14%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma6%
High school24%
Some college22%
Associate’s12%
Bachelor’s24%
Graduate13%
Women and men · all residents
53% women, 47% men
About 91 men for every 100 women (the survey’s margin: ±2.1 points). Across Michigan, 50.4% of residents are women. Median age: women 41.6, men 36.7.
| Garfield Township | MI | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 12.1% | 11.2% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 8.3% | 10.1% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 9.4% | 9.2% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 14.2% | 13.2% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 12.3% | 12.2% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 12.9% | 12% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 9.3% | 13.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 10% | 11.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 11.4% | 7.4% | 7% |
| No diploma | 5.5% | 7.9% | 10.4% |
| High school | 24.4% | 28% | 26% |
| Some college | 22% | 21.9% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 11.6% | 9.8% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 23.5% | 19.7% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 13% | 12.7% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Garfield Township
19pages on Garfield Township
The big questions
Out and about
The story
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of Garfield Township
Northwestern Michigan CollegeCommunity college · Public · Traverse City3.6 mi$5,860 in-state tuition
About 5 of every 100 Garfield Township residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Michigan.
Get outside
63 miles of trails in Garfield Township
5% of the town is conserved land, across 24 parks and preserves.
Trails © OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
About Garfield Township
Charter township in Michigan, United States
Garfield Township, officially the Charter Township of Garfield, is a charter township of Grand Traverse County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the township had a total population of 19,499. Garfield Township is the largest municipality in Northern Lower Michigan by population. Much of the township is suburban, due to its proximity to Traverse City. It is one of four charter townships in the Traverse City metropolitan area; the others being Elmwood Township in Leelanau County, and East Bay and Long Lake townships in Grand Traverse County.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 28 sq mi
- Elevation
- 702 ft
Garfield Township’s neighbors
5 towns share a border with Garfield Township.
Traverse CityBlair TownshipLong Lake TownshipChums CornerEast Bay TownshipGarfield Township
How the neighbors grade
| Town | MI rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garfield Township | #258 | B+ | C− | — | A− | B+ |
| Traverse City | #305 | B | C− | C+ | A− | B+ |
| Blair Township | #284 | B | B− | — | A− | B |
| Long Lake Township | #313 | B | C− | — | A− | B+ |
| Chums Corner | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| East Bay Township | #137 | A− | C+ | — | A− | A− |
Garfield Township, Blair Township, Long Lake Township and East Bay Township report no FBI crime data of their own. Chums Corner isn’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Garfield Township with a neighbor →
Questions about Garfield Township
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Garfield Township, MI a good place to live?
For most people who can afford it, yes. Garfield Township grades B+ overall, better than 68% of U.S. towns and #258 of 697 in Michigan. It grades B+ for health and A− for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a C−.
Is Garfield Township, MI expensive?
Yes. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C−.