Population 663,150 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Kent County
Household size in Kent County
| Period | Kent County | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.65 | 2.69 | 2.58 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.67 | 2.70 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.69 | 2.69 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.63 | 2.66 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.02 | −0.03 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
At 2.63 people per household, Kent County sits close to the national average of 2.65. Of Michigan's 83 counties, only seven have larger households.
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 Kent County
| Period | Kent County | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.7 | 36.0 | 38.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 36.5 | 37.2 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 37.1 | 37.9 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 37.4 | 38.3 | 41.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.7 | +2.3 | +2.4 | +2.3 |
Kent County is a little younger than the country as a whole: its median age is 37.4, against 40.1 nationally. The median age has climbed from 35.7 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. Only three of Michigan's 83 counties are younger.
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 Kent County
| Period | Kent County | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.3% | 11.0% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.1% | 10.9% | 11.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.6% | 10.5% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.6% | 9.7% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.7 pts | −1.3 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in ten households in Kent County (10.6%), a little below the national share of 11.6%. The Grand Rapids area as a whole looks much the same. The single-parent share has fallen 1.7 points since 2006–10, as it has 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 Kent County
Renters in Kent County
| Period | Kent County | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 28.7% | 24.7% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 30.8% | 26.9% | 28.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 30.2% | 26.6% | 28.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 29.7% | 25.4% | 26.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.0 pts | +0.7 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Kent County own their homes; 29.7% rent, a little below the national share of 34.8%. Even so, renters make up a bigger share here than in the Grand Rapids area as a whole (25.4%). Nearly four in ten owners (37.8%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. Only six of Michigan's 83 counties have a higher 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 Kent County
| Period | Kent County | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.5% | 9.6% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.7% | 8.8% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.1% | 7.1% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.8% | 6.6% | 10.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.7 pts | −3.0 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Kent County: 5.8% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 2.7 points, as it has nationally. Of Michigan's 83 counties, only three have a lower vacancy rate.
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 Kent County
| Period | Kent County | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1971 | 1974 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1972 | 1974 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1973 | 1976 | 1971 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1976 | 1978 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +5 | +3 | +6 |
Homes in Kent County run a bit older than the national norm, with a median build year of 1976 against 1980. The median year built has moved up from 1971 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northeast, 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 Kent County
| Period | Kent County | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $842 | $800 | $833 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $891 | $848 | $886 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,008 | $950 | $978 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,388 | $1,285 | $1,228 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$546 | +$485 | +$395 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Kent County costs $1,388 a month with utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Even so, rents here are higher than in the Grand Rapids area as a whole ($1,285). Rent has climbed $546 a month since 2006–10, up 65%, roughly in step with the nation. Rent takes 31.3% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
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 Kent County
Bachelor's degrees in Kent County
| Period | Kent County | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 29.8% | 27.1% | 26.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 32.3% | 29.1% | 27.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 35.5% | 31.9% | 29.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 40.7% | 36.9% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +10.9 pts | +9.8 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
About four in ten adults 25 and older in Kent County (40.7%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, a bit above the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 10.9 points, as it has nationally. Only seven of Michigan's 83 counties have a higher 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 Kent County
| Period | Kent County | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 88.0% | 88.5% | 88.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 88.9% | 89.4% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 90.3% | 91.0% | 90.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.0% | 92.2% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.0 pts | +3.7 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Kent County is a bit above the national rate: 92.0% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. That is in line with the rest of the Grand Rapids area. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 4.0 points, 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 Kent County
| Period | Kent County | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.3% | 9.2% | 11.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.0% | 9.0% | 11.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.4% | 4.2% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.1% | 3.9% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −5.2 pts | −5.3 pts | −5.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Kent County runs below the national rate: 4.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment has fallen 5.2 points since 2006–10, as it has 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).
Kent County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kent County | 2.63 | 37.4 | 10.6% | 29.7% | 5.8% | 1976 | $1,388 | 40.7% | 92.0% | 4.1% |
| Ottawa County | 2.68 | 38.3 | 8.0% | 20.7% | 6.2% | 1987 | $1,285 | 40.0% | 93.8% | 3.4% |
| Ionia County | 2.69 | 39.8 | 11.0% | 22.7% | 7.1% | 1969 | $941 | 18.6% | 90.8% | 3.8% |
| Clinton County | 2.54 | 41.1 | 8.8% | 17.8% | 5.8% | 1981 | $1,160 | 35.8% | 95.4% | 3.6% |
| Shiawassee County | 2.43 | 43.9 | 10.2% | 19.9% | 7.8% | 1967 | $959 | 20.3% | 92.6% | 3.8% |
| Genesee County | 2.47 | 41.3 | 14.9% | 29.3% | 8.6% | 1972 | $1,119 | 23.7% | 91.6% | 8.3% |
| Milwaukee County | 2.43 | 36.6 | 15.9% | 50.1% | 8.7% | 1958 | $1,176 | 34.0% | 88.9% | 5.1% |
| Lapeer County | 2.53 | 45.2 | 9.9% | 14.0% | 7.4% | 1979 | $1,141 | 20.6% | 92.2% | 4.9% |
| Waukesha County | 2.49 | 44.2 | 6.5% | 24.0% | 5.2% | 1981 | $1,484 | 49.2% | 97.2% | 2.3% |
| St. Clair County | 2.38 | 44.6 | 10.4% | 19.2% | 6.5% | 1975 | $1,066 | 20.3% | 91.9% | 5.6% |
| Jefferson County | 2.41 | 42.1 | 8.8% | 26.9% | 6.3% | 1974 | $1,074 | 28.9% | 92.3% | 3.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Davidson County, TN · Denver County, CO · Jefferson County, CO · Williamson County, TX · Will County, IL · Washington County, OR · Utah County, UT · Union County, NJ · Tulsa County, OK · Polk County, 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 Kent County. 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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