Peninsula Township is a civil township of Grand Traverse County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The township had a population of 6,068 at the 2020 census, an increase from 5,433 at the 2010 census. Peninsula Township is coterminous with (has the same dimensions as) the Old Mission Peninsula, which projects about 17 miles (27 km) north from its base in Traverse City into Grand Traverse Bay, an arm of Lake Michigan. The peninsula divides the Grand Traverse Bay into an East Arm and West Arm. The peninsula is well known for its cherry harvest and viticulture, and is included in the Old Mission Peninsula AVA, a federally recognized viticultural region. At the northern tip of the peninsula is Miss…

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How Peninsula ranks

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#3Most remote workers in MI #18Most educated in MI #22Highest income in MI All MI rankings →

Town numbers

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Living in Peninsula

Work & commute in Peninsula

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Most working residents leave Peninsula for work: only 9% work in town. The top destinations are Traverse City (39%), Garfield (11%) and East Bay (3%). Half commute less than 10 miles.

Traverse City

39%

Garfield

11%

East Bay

Elmwood

9%Work in townlive and work in Peninsula 10 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 611Jobs based herea commuter town

Census LEHD 2021 · ACSWork & commute in Peninsula →

Health in Peninsula

B⁺

Health Grade B+

Healthier than 71% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with Michigan

8better than MI·1worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 23 are too close to call.

Conditions 1▼ 11 close Habits 1▲ 3 close Care 3▲ 4 close Mind all close Everyday needs 4▲ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

10.7%Fewer adults facing food insecurityMI 15.4% · better 8.4%Fewer adults facing housing insecurityMI 11.9% · better 10.8%More adults who have had cancerMI 8.9% · worse

Care nearby

Munson Medical CenterTraverse City · 10.6 mi · ER

Northwest Michigan Health ServicesTraverse City · 10 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careNo shortage

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthNo shortage

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · ZIP code 49686 · CMS · HRSAHealth in Peninsula →

Natural hazards in Peninsula

Very low

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 6% of U.S. communities.

🥶 Cold waves🌊 Inland flooding

4Does Peninsula flood?paid flood claims since 1986 NoneDisasters that paid out hereof 4 declared for Grand Traverse County MapPeninsula vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Peninsula →

Climate in Peninsula

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Peninsula has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 79°, a January night drops to 18°, and about 115 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

31° / 20°Winter

52° / 33°Spring

77° / 57°Summer

57° / 42°Fall

How much snow does Peninsula get?About 115 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 19, with the last in spring around May 13.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+2.3° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Peninsula →

Schools in Peninsula

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School Grade A

The public schools Peninsula’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 85% of Michigan’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.

DistrictOld Mission Peninsula SchoolSchools1

Old Mission Peninsula School A-Elementary · Grades K–6 · 146 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within MI. Ratings are from neighbors.