2019 · Whitewater Township, MI (Elk Lake Road) · Wikimedia Commons
Whitewater’s story
Whitewater in pictures
1 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives.
Explore the history →WhitewaterMI
A town of 2,712. Nearly 1.1% of it is conserved land.
Population
2,712
+3.5% since 2010
Median home value
$373K
Census ACS
Household income
$94K
median
Median age
52.3
years
Jobs based here
420
A commuter town
What makes Whitewater stand out
The 3 things Whitewater does most differently from other towns.
Outdoors
#22 most trails in MI
145 miles of trails across 10 parks and preserves
1.1% of the town is conserved land.
ASchool Grade
Schools
#49 for schools in MI
of 490 towns
School Grade A.
100 U.S. towns● Whitewater
Health
Healthier than 81%
of U.S. towns on CDC estimates
Better than MI on 16 measures, worse on 1.
Get outside
145 miles of trails in Whitewater
1.1% of the town is conserved land, across 10 parks and preserves.
Trails © OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Whitewater’s report card
Now in Whitewater
Be the first to start the conversation.
Residents weigh in
Whitewater is #17 of 719 in MI for “Fewest uninsured”. Fair?
Your answer becomes a post in Whitewater’s Town Square.
Start a conversation
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Whitewater. Another town gets a different order.
Outdoors
1.1% of Whitewater is conserved land
145 miles of trails across 10 parks and preserves.
#22for trails in MI
1.1%
conserved · 387 of 34,078 acres
145 mi
of trails · 2.7 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Pere Marquette State Forest - Traverse City Unit | 106.2 mi | 14,850 |
| 2. Sand Lakes Quiet Area | 18.4 mi | 2,364 |
| 3. Whitewater Township Park | 2 mi | 101 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-USParks & trails →
Schools
Whitewater’s public schools outperform 87% of Michigan districts
The public schools Whitewater’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 87% of Michigan’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.
ASchool Grade
| School | Grades | Students | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mill Creek Academy | K–5 | 233 | Not graded |
| Woodland School | K–8 | 209 | A |
| Mill Creek Elementary School | PK–5 | — | Not graded |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within MI on state tests and graduationAll 3 schools →
Health
Healthier than 81% of U.S. towns
Whitewater beats the Michigan average on 16 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 1.
A−Health Grade
32 measures vs. Michigan
16 better15 too close to call1 worse
| What stands out | Whitewater | MI |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 8.1% | 15.4% |
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 4.9% | 8.7% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 11.8% | 8.9% |
Kalkaska Memorial Health Center
10.5 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
92nd
percentile among MI towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Work & commute
Most working residents commute out of Whitewater
Most working residents leave Whitewater for work: only 2% work in town. The top destinations are Traverse City (32%), Garfield (13%) and East Bay (4%). Half commute less than 13 miles.
2%work in town
Where working residents work
In Whitewater2%
Traverse City32%
Garfield13%
East Bay4%
Elk Rapids4%
13 mi
median commute distance
420
jobs based in Whitewater
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2021 · ACSCommute map →
Natural hazards
Very low risk, with cold waves at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 12% of U.S. communities.
12risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Cold wavesInland floodingWinter weather
1
paid flood claims since 2020
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Climate
Snowy winters, pleasant summers
Whitewater has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 81°, a January night drops to 15°, and about 101 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
101″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter17–31°
Spring32–54°
Summer55–79°
Fall40–58°
Oct 16
typical first frost
May 12
typical last frost
+2.3°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
A commuter town
98% of working residents leave Whitewater for work
Where Whitewater’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
420jobs based in Whitewater
2%of working residents work in town
13 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2021
About Whitewater
Civil township in Michigan, United States
Whitewater Township is a civil township of Grand Traverse County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,688 at the 2020 census, an increase from 2,597 at the 2010 census. Whitewater Township includes shores on Elk Lake and Lake Skegemog, two large lakes in the Chain of Lakes. A portion of the township is within the Grand Traverse Indian Reservation.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Population
- 2,688
- Area
- 54 sq mi
- Elevation
- 817 ft
Whitewater’s neighbors
6 towns share a border with Whitewater.
MiltonAcmeUnionEast BayKalkaskaClearwaterWhitewater