Population 15,712 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Lowell
Household size in Lowell
| Period | Lowell | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.64 | 2.69 | 2.58 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.75 | 2.70 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.60 | 2.69 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.52 | 2.66 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.12 | −0.03 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
The average household in Lowell has 2.52 people, a bit under the U.S. average of 2.65. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.64, a much bigger shift than nationally. Households are largest in the northeast and smallest in the center.
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 Lowell
| Period | Lowell | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.5 | 36.0 | 38.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.4 | 37.2 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.3 | 37.9 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 42.8 | 38.3 | 41.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.3 | +2.3 | +2.4 | +2.3 |
Lowell skews a little older than the country: its median age is 42.8, against 40.1 nationally. The median age has climbed from 40.5 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. The youngest areas are in the south, the oldest in the northwest.
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 Lowell
| Period | Lowell | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.1% | 11.0% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 13.2% | 10.9% | 11.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.0% | 10.5% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.4% | 9.7% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.7 pts | −1.3 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 8.4% of households in Lowell, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has fallen 1.7 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Lowell
Renters in Lowell
| Period | Lowell | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.4% | 24.7% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 19.2% | 26.9% | 28.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.9% | 26.6% | 28.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 17.7% | 25.4% | 26.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.7 pts | +0.7 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 17.7% of households in Lowell rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 39.6% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Rentals cluster in the north; owners are most common in the east. The renter share is down 1.7 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 Lowell
| Period | Lowell | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.4% | 9.6% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.7% | 8.8% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.1% | 7.1% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 4.5% | 6.6% | 10.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.9 pts | −3.0 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Empty homes are scarce in Lowell: just 4.5% sit vacant, compared with 9.6% nationally, a sign of a tight housing market. Vacancy has fallen 1.9 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Lowell has a lower vacancy rate than at least four in five Michigan cities.
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 Lowell
| Period | Lowell | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1976 | 1974 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1978 | 1974 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1981 | 1976 | 1971 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1984 | 1978 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +8 | +5 | +3 | +6 |
The housing in Lowell is a little younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1984, against 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1976 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 Lowell
| Period | Lowell | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $809 | $800 | $833 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $838 | $848 | $886 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $942 | $950 | $978 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,602 | $1,285 | $1,228 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$793 | +$485 | +$395 | +$606 |
Rent in Lowell runs $1,602 a month at the median, utilities included, close to the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents here are higher than in the Grand Rapids area as a whole ($1,285). Rent has climbed $793 a month since 2006–10, up 98%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 29.3% of the typical renter's income, just under 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 Lowell
Bachelor's degrees in Lowell
| Period | Lowell | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.4% | 27.1% | 26.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 28.6% | 29.1% | 27.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 30.9% | 31.9% | 29.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 40.0% | 36.9% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +13.6 pts | +9.8 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a bit more common in Lowell than nationally: 40.0% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 13.6 points, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the north and least in the center.
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 Lowell
| Period | Lowell | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 91.7% | 88.5% | 88.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 94.0% | 89.4% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.8% | 91.0% | 90.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.7% | 92.2% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.0 pts | +3.7 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Lowell: 94.7% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 3.0 points, mirroring the country.
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 Lowell
| Period | Lowell | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.0% | 9.2% | 11.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.1% | 9.0% | 11.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.1% | 4.2% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 1.3% | 3.9% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −8.8 pts | −5.3 pts | −5.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Lowell has been low: just 1.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Of the 331 Michigan cities with 5,000+ people, only three have lower unemployment. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 8.8 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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).
Lowell 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowell | 2.52 | 42.8 | 8.4% | 17.7% | 4.5% | 1984 | $1,602 | 40.0% | 94.7% | 1.3% |
| Ada | 2.84 | 40.6 | 6.3% | 4.5% | 5.2% | 1991 | $1,866 | 58.5% | 97.1% | 3.8% |
| Elmdale | 2.76 | 38.4 | 6.4% | 8.7% | 5.2% | 1985 | $1,905 | 32.0% | 96.9% | 4.7% |
| Parnell | 2.58 | 47.5 | 3.1% | 4.9% | 10.3% | 1990 | $1,563 | 42.8% | 97.3% | 3.1% |
| Forest Hills | 2.87 | 42.7 | 4.5% | 6.0% | 4.3% | 1988 | $1,911 | 70.6% | 97.6% | 1.1% |
| Saranac | 2.81 | 38.6 | 9.0% | 18.6% | 2.9% | 1981 | $841 | 25.5% | 95.2% | 4.5% |
| McCords | 2.92 | 42.2 | 3.5% | 1.2% | 9.1% | 1997 | $2,127 | 58.6% | 99.0% | 2.0% |
| Alto | 2.96 | 40.4 | 2.6% | 2.8% | 6.9% | 1988 | $1,926 | 51.3% | 98.9% | 3.6% |
| Cooks Corners | 2.59 | 45.4 | 8.7% | 16.1% | 10.5% | 1974 | $1,177 | 18.3% | 95.1% | 2.9% |
| Clarksville | 2.75 | 40.8 | 6.6% | 12.4% | 16.3% | 1987 | $1,336 | 26.1% | 96.7% | 1.3% |
| Bowne Center | 3.10 | 39.7 | 4.8% | 2.1% | 4.8% | 1985 | $2,950 | 35.5% | 97.6% | 1.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Rancho Mirage, CA · Franklin Park, PA · Frederick, CO · Galena, OH · Gardendale, AL · Gaylord, MI · Gilbertsville, PA · Glen Carbon, IL · Glenpool, OK · Glenview Nas, IL
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 Lowell. 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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