Garfield offers more room and less expensive homes than Traverse City
Garfield is a popular landing spot for homebuyers who want to live close to — but not in — Traverse City. “When I’m helping someone buy a home in the Traverse City area, we’re almost always looking in Garfield,” says Realtor Ree Zerafa with Wolff Properties, who grew up in Traverse City and lived in Garfield for 4 years. “It's a pretty big township, so people often settle on Garfield because it has a bit more room than the city — and it's cheaper.” The 27-square-mile community is brimming with outdoor activity during Michigan's mild summers and snowy winters, and the area is also home to one of the region's busiest commercial corridors.
From manufactured homes to million-dollar estates
The median home price in Garfield is $385,000 compared to the median of $450,000 in Traverse City. The area includes a mix of subdivisions, some featuring modest midcentury houses and others with larger New Traditional homes from the 2000s, plus some manufactured housing communities. Waterfront properties on Silver Lake and luxury houses on hillsides overlooking the distant Grand Traverse Bay can reach the millions.
Garfield’s commercial corridor and historic shopping village
Garfield’s main commercial corridor is at the junction of M-37 and South Airport Road, featuring several national retailers, grocery stores and the Grand Traverse Mall. The Buffalo Ridge Shopping Center is home to AMC Cherry Blossom 14, the only major theater in the region aside from a few indie theaters downtown. National restaurant chains dominate the dining options, but there are some local establishments as well, including Flap Jack Shack, a community staple for breakfast. More local businesses are in The Village at Grand Traverse Commons, a historic Victorian-Italianate building constructed in 1883. “People spend a lot of time in The Village at Grand Traverse Commons,” Zerafa says. “They’ll park and walk around to all the shops and restaurants. They have concerts in the summer. There’s just no lack of stuff to do over there.” Local restaurants include fine-dining at Trattoria Stella, authentic Mexican at Spanglish and tastings on the patio at the Left Food Charley winery.
Trails, gardens and a ski area for all seasons
Outdoor enthusiasts head to Grand Traverse Natural Education Reserve, a 500-acre expanse that's part of the TART Trails network, which connects to downtown and other parts of Traverse City. Silver Lake Recreation Area has 80 acres of space, including a beach, nature trails for hiking and cross-country skiing, a playground and several athletic fields. The Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park is also open to the public, featuring 26 acres of flora and a gift shop featuring local art. Hickory Hills Ski Area gets a lot of traction in winter but turns into a disc golf course for spring and summer.
Two public school routes with STEM education
Six public elementary schools serve Garfield, including Willow Hill Elementary School, which receives an A-minus grade from Niche. Students west of U.S. 31 attend West Middle School and West Senior High School, both graded a B-plus. Those who live east of the highway go to East Middle School, graded a B-plus and Central High School, graded an A-minus. Both high schools opened Innovation & Manufacturing Centers to expand their STEM programs. The West Titans and Central Trojans are also big football rivals and compete every year in the TC Patriot Game, which honors military members and first responders.
Getting around Garfield and Traverse City
U.S. 31 is the main road that runs through Garfield, leading to downtown Traverse City, about 5 miles away. It’s about the same distance to Cherry Capital Airport. BATA City Loop buses operate in Garfield, with routes leading to downtown.
Written By
Nicolas Stuart
