NAICS 44-45

Retail Trade in Traverse City, MI

Metro Market Score 61.3 (Difficult), ranked #268 of 378 metros. 687 establishments, 8,899 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 61.3
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Difficult

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national retail trade average.

Market conditions for retail trade in Traverse City are tougher than average. The 61.3 market score reflects a combination of high labor costs, mixed growth signals, and an already crowded field. Rank: #268 of 378 metros.

Industry Concentration
82.8
LQ: 1.30
Rank #313 of 378 metros
Wage Competitiveness
65.9
$39,528 avg wage
Growth Trend
↑ 60.9
Employment growth index
Rank #149 of 378 metros
Wage Pressure
61.7
YoY wage change index

687 Retail Trade Firms in Traverse City

687
Establishments
+100.0% YoY
8,899
Total Employment
+0.0% YoY
$39,528
Average Annual Wage
+0.0% YoY
1.30
Location Quotient
Above national avg

Traverse City vs Michigan Statewide

How this metro's retail trade market compares to Michigan overall. The state ranks #15/51 for entry risk.

Measure Traverse City MI Statewide
Overall Score 61.3 Difficult 40.5 Moderate
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #268 of 378 metros #15 of 51 states

Metro and state scores use different methodologies (metro has 4 QCEW-based metrics; state adds BDS survival and momentum data). Direct score comparisons are approximate.

Other Industries in Traverse City

Information 36.9 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 38.5 Construction 53.7 Finance and Insurance 57.3 Other Services 62.6

Retail Trade in Other Michigan Metros

Niles 33.4 #15/378 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood 37.1 #32/378 Muskegon-Norton Shores 47.1 #100/378 Midland 50.1 #141/378 Ann Arbor 52.6 #169/378 Lansing-East Lansing 55.0 #197/378 Monroe 55.1 #198/378 Battle Creek 58.5 #238/378 Saginaw 60.8 #265/378 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn 63.5 #293/378

+ 4 more metros. View all in Michigan →

About Metro Market Score: A weighted composite of industry concentration (25%), wage competitiveness (25%), wage pressure (20%), and employment growth trend (30%). Lower scores indicate more favorable conditions. For Traverse City's retail trade sector, the industry concentration component (82.8) has the strongest pull on the composite. Metro scores use QCEW data only (no BDS survival data at metro level). Read full methodology →

Data Sources

Data period: 2024. Last updated: April 2026.