Population 8,538 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Howard City
Household size in Howard City
| Period | Howard City | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.81 | 2.69 | 2.58 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.80 | 2.70 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.81 | 2.69 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.68 | 2.66 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.14 | −0.03 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Households in Howard City average 2.68 people, about the same as the country as a whole (2.65). Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.81, a much bigger shift than nationally. Households are largest in the center and smallest in the east.
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 Howard City
| Period | Howard City | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 34.0 | 36.0 | 38.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 37.5 | 37.2 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 37.7 | 37.9 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.0 | 38.3 | 41.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +6.0 | +2.3 | +2.4 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Howard City are younger than 40.0 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. The population here is older than in the wider Grand Rapids area, where the median age is 38.3. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 34.0, in line with the national trend.
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 Howard City
| Period | Howard City | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.2% | 11.0% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 14.0% | 10.9% | 11.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.9% | 10.5% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 12.2% | 9.7% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.0 pts | −1.3 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are about as common in Howard City as they are nationally: 12.2%, against 11.6%. Single parents are more common here than in the wider Grand Rapids area (9.7%). The single-parent share is down 2.0 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Howard City
Renters in Howard City
| Period | Howard City | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.6% | 24.7% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 15.9% | 26.9% | 28.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 15.5% | 26.6% | 28.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 9.8% | 25.4% | 26.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −5.7 pts | +0.7 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Howard City is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 9.8% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 37.3% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. The renter share is down 5.7 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
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 Howard City
| Period | Howard City | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.5% | 9.6% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.5% | 8.8% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 17.2% | 7.1% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 13.1% | 6.6% | 10.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.4 pts | −3.0 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy runs high in Howard City: 13.1% of homes are empty, against 9.6% nationally. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Vacancy has fallen 2.4 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Howard City
| Period | Howard City | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1985 | 1974 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1986 | 1974 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1989 | 1976 | 1971 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1991 | 1978 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +5 | +3 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Howard City is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1991, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1985 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Of the 331 Michigan cities with 5,000+ people, only 20 have newer homes.
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 Howard City
| Period | Howard City | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $684 | $800 | $833 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $758 | $848 | $886 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $787 | $950 | $978 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $901 | $1,285 | $1,228 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$217 | +$485 | +$395 | +$606 |
Rent in Howard City runs $901 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $217 a month from 2006–10, a 32% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 27.5% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the east; the most affordable are in the center.
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 Howard City
Bachelor's degrees in Howard City
| Period | Howard City | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.9% | 27.1% | 26.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.8% | 29.1% | 27.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 14.5% | 31.9% | 29.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 15.7% | 36.9% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.8 pts | +9.8 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Howard City: 15.7% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 4.8 points, mirroring the country. Of the 331 Michigan cities with 5,000+ people, only 30 have a lower share of college graduates.
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 Howard City
| Period | Howard City | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 83.8% | 88.5% | 88.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 83.7% | 89.4% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 89.6% | 91.0% | 90.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 88.6% | 92.2% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.8 pts | +3.7 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Howard City is close to the national rate: 88.6% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in the Grand Rapids area overall (92.2%). The share with a diploma has risen 4.8 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Howard City
| Period | Howard City | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.4% | 9.2% | 11.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 14.4% | 9.0% | 11.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.2% | 4.2% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.4% | 3.9% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −10.0 pts | −5.3 pts | −5.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Howard City runs below the national rate: 3.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment is down 10.0 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
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).
Howard City compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Howard City | 2.68 | 40.0 | 12.2% | 9.8% | 13.1% | 1991 | $901 | 15.7% | 88.6% | 3.4% |
| Pierson | 2.74 | 40.5 | 3.2% | 9.0% | 18.9% | 1987 | $890 | 20.0% | 94.1% | 1.3% |
| Coral | 2.97 | 40.6 | 5.9% | 6.0% | 20.9% | 1967 | $1,057 | 17.9% | 85.8% | 4.5% |
| Morley | 2.91 | 41.0 | 9.7% | 14.5% | 9.1% | 1982 | $998 | 13.1% | 84.2% | 4.5% |
| Croton Heights | 2.55 | 44.6 | 6.6% | 6.9% | 16.1% | 1988 | $1,063 | 13.4% | 85.9% | 4.1% |
| Croton | 3.19 | 38.8 | 23.8% | 6.8% | 31.4% | 1990 | $1,035 | 14.6% | 90.8% | 0.9% |
| Sand Lake | 2.51 | 44.0 | 9.0% | 9.0% | 11.1% | 1988 | $813 | 16.1% | 90.2% | 2.8% |
| Trufant | 2.94 | 43.0 | 4.4% | 8.5% | 18.1% | 1972 | $954 | 14.4% | 89.4% | 3.6% |
| Lakeview | 2.71 | 40.0 | 11.3% | 14.7% | 17.7% | 1971 | $758 | 14.7% | 89.2% | 7.4% |
| Newaygo | 2.57 | 42.5 | 11.8% | 12.3% | 20.6% | 1978 | $1,001 | 16.1% | 89.0% | 3.2% |
| Stanwood | 2.73 | 43.5 | 8.2% | 12.5% | 14.1% | 1985 | $895 | 20.1% | 85.9% | 3.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Hillside, IL · Heber, CA · Helena Valley Southeast, MT · Helena-West Helena, AR · Hempstead, TX · Herkimer, NY · Hertford, NC · Highland Heights, OH · Highland Park, TX · Hilliard, FL
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 Howard City. 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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