Market file · Grand Traverse County, Michigan

Fife Lake home appraisals

Fife Lake Township

Fife Lake Township, with the village of Fife Lake on its 617 acre lake, had 1,526 people in 2020. Census Reporter shows a $248,000 median owner value for 2020 to 2024. Lake frontage, the US 131 corridor and a long commute shape value.

$248,000Median owner occupied home value, ACS 2020 to 2024, margin of error $46,783 (Census Reporter)

1,526Township population, 2020 census (Wikipedia)

617 acresSurface area of Fife Lake, maximum depth 55 feet (Wikipedia)

37.1 minMean commute to work, ACS 2020 to 2024 (Census Reporter)

Walton, Walton Junction and the county corner

Fife Lake Township forms the southeast corner of Grand Traverse County and borders Kalkaska, Missaukee and Wexford counties. The village of Fife Lake sits where US 131 meets M-186. Walton is a small community near US 131 and M-113. Walton Junction, just north of it, takes its name from an old rail junction. Hodge, Holmes and McManus Corner were once settlements here and are ghost towns today. Out on the water, Helen Island and Florence Island sit in Fife Lake itself.

Lakefront, village and rural homes all sit within a short drive of each other around Fife Lake.

A 617 acre lake with the village on its shore

The lake sets the tone. Fife Lake covers 617 acres and reaches 55 feet deep, per Wikipedia, with the village on its north and west shores and a small part of the lake in Kalkaska County. US 131 runs through the township just west of the village, and M-113 and M-186 link toward Kingsley. The mean commute was 37.1 minutes in ACS 2020 to 2024, well above the county's 20.6. Forest Area Community Schools runs Fife Lake Elementary in the village and describes itself as about 35 minutes southeast of Traverse City.

Areas, lakes and neighborhoods in this file

Fife Lake village
Fife Lake (the lake)
Helen Island
Florence Island
Walton
Walton Junction

Landmarks around Fife Lake

Fife LakeInland lake

Common questions

How is a home on Fife Lake appraised?

With other lakefront sales, ideally from Fife Lake or similar inland lakes, adjusted for frontage, access, the lot and the house. Fife Lake covers 617 acres with a maximum depth of 55 feet, per Wikipedia, and drains south toward the Manistee River. No fixed percentage applies to frontage; the appraiser reports what recent sales show.

Is Fife Lake still a village?

Yes. On August 4, 2026, voters rejected a proposal to disincorporate the village, per Wikipedia. Had it passed, Fife Lake would have been the first Michigan village to disincorporate voluntarily. The village sits inside Fife Lake Township, so homes there fall under both, and the village had 456 residents in the 2020 census.