The Grand Rapids metro area: Barry, Ionia, Kent, Montcalm and Ottawa counties · Population 1,162,152 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in the Grand Rapids area
Household size in the Grand Rapids area
| Period | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.69 | 2.58 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.70 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.69 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.66 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.03 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Households in the Grand Rapids area average 2.66 people, about the same as the country as a whole (2.65). The typical household here is bigger than in Michigan overall, where it has 2.51 people. Household size has edged down from 2.69 in 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in the Grand Rapids area
| Period | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.0 | 38.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 37.2 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 37.9 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 38.3 | 41.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.3 | +2.4 | +2.3 |
The median resident of the Grand Rapids area is 38.3 years old, a few years younger than the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 36.0, in line with the national trend. The youngest areas are in the west, the oldest in the north.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in the Grand Rapids area
| Period | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.0% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.9% | 11.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.5% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.7% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.3 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in ten households in the Grand Rapids area (9.7%), a little below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has edged down 1.3 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. The Grand Rapids area has a lower share of single-parent households than the great majority of large metro areas.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in the Grand Rapids area
Renters in the Grand Rapids area
| Period | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.7% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 26.9% | 28.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 26.6% | 28.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 25.4% | 26.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.7 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in the Grand Rapids area own their homes; 25.4% rent, below the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 39.0% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged up 0.7 points, mirroring the country. Of the 100 large U.S. metro areas, only four have a lower share of renters.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in the Grand Rapids area
| Period | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.6% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.8% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.1% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.6% | 10.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.0 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in the Grand Rapids area: 6.6% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 3.0 points, as it has nationally. The Grand Rapids area has a lower vacancy rate than at least four in five large metro areas.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in the Grand Rapids area
| Period | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1974 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1974 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1976 | 1971 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1978 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +3 | +6 |
The typical home in the Grand Rapids area was built around 1978, about the same vintage as the country's housing overall (1980). Homes here are newer than in Michigan overall, where the median home dates to 1972. The median year built has moved up from 1974 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the north, while the center has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in the Grand Rapids area
| Period | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $800 | $833 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $848 | $886 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $950 | $978 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,285 | $1,228 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$485 | +$395 | +$606 |
The median renter in the Grand Rapids area pays $1,285 a month for rent and utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $485 a month from 2006–10, a 61% jump, roughly in step with the nation. Rent takes 30.7% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the center and lowest in the northeast.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in the Grand Rapids area
Bachelor's degrees in the Grand Rapids area
| Period | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.1% | 26.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 29.1% | 27.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 31.9% | 29.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 36.9% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.8 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are about as common in the Grand Rapids area as nationally: 36.9% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share is higher than in Michigan overall (32.7%). Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 9.8 points, mirroring the country.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in the Grand Rapids area
| Period | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 88.5% | 88.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.4% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.0% | 90.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.2% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.7 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
About nine in ten adults in the Grand Rapids area have finished high school (92.2%), a bit above the national rate of 89.3%. The figure for Michigan is much the same. The share with a diploma is up 3.7 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in the Grand Rapids area
| Period | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.2% | 11.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.0% | 11.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.2% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.9% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −5.3 pts | −5.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in the Grand Rapids area runs below the national rate: 3.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Only nine of the 100 large U.S. metro areas have lower unemployment. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 5.3 points, in line with the national trend.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Largest cities in the Grand Rapids area
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Rapids area (all) | 2.66 | 38.3 | 9.7% | 25.4% | 6.6% | 1978 | $1,285 | 36.9% | 92.2% | 3.9% |
| Holland | 2.51 | 40.1 | 9.2% | 24.5% | 7.0% | 1979 | $1,266 | 36.4% | 90.9% | 3.2% |
| Wyoming | 2.71 | 34.5 | 13.6% | 33.4% | 6.0% | 1964 | $1,216 | 21.6% | 87.1% | 4.4% |
| Kentwood | 2.73 | 36.3 | 12.3% | 39.0% | 5.2% | 1982 | $1,397 | 36.2% | 88.8% | 4.8% |
| Hudsonville | 2.99 | 35.7 | 4.8% | 11.4% | 3.8% | 1994 | $1,374 | 46.1% | 98.0% | 2.4% |
| Rockford | 2.72 | 40.2 | 7.5% | 9.7% | 4.3% | 1994 | $1,380 | 52.2% | 97.3% | 3.7% |
| Grandville | 2.48 | 37.9 | 9.6% | 31.1% | 6.3% | 1989 | $1,403 | 42.3% | 94.4% | 1.8% |
| Grand Haven | 2.42 | 43.5 | 10.9% | 21.5% | 7.2% | 1982 | $1,152 | 39.9% | 96.0% | 2.8% |
| Forest Hills | 2.87 | 42.7 | 4.5% | 6.0% | 4.3% | 1988 | $1,911 | 70.6% | 97.6% | 1.1% |
| Jenison | 2.88 | 37.7 | 6.9% | 13.1% | 4.5% | 1983 | $1,633 | 43.0% | 96.1% | 2.5% |
| Walker | 2.40 | 38.6 | 9.6% | 34.6% | 3.8% | 1981 | $1,284 | 39.3% | 96.0% | 2.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Metro areas of similar size: New Orleans area · Tulsa area · Honolulu area · Tucson area · Rochester area · Fresno area · Buffalo area · Birmingham area · Hartford area · Salt Lake City area
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up the Grand Rapids area. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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