Population 12,712 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Plainwell
Household size in Plainwell
| Period | Plainwell | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.52 | 2.69 | 2.58 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.53 | 2.70 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.54 | 2.69 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.42 | 2.66 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.10 | −0.03 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Households in Plainwell run small, averaging 2.42 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.52, a much bigger shift than nationally. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the southeast.
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 Plainwell
| Period | Plainwell | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.1 | 36.0 | 38.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.6 | 37.2 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.1 | 37.9 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 46.2 | 38.3 | 41.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +7.2 | +2.3 | +2.4 | +2.3 |
Plainwell skews older: half of its residents are older than 46.2, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has climbed from 39.1 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Plainwell
| Period | Plainwell | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.7% | 11.0% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.7% | 10.9% | 11.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.0% | 10.5% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.2% | 9.7% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.5 pts | −1.3 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are about as common in Plainwell as they are nationally: 11.2%, against 11.6%. Single parents are more common here than in the Grand Rapids area overall (9.7%). Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged up 0.5 points, even as the national share fell.
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 Plainwell
Renters in Plainwell
| Period | Plainwell | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.1% | 24.7% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 25.0% | 26.9% | 28.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 16.6% | 26.6% | 28.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 20.8% | 25.4% | 26.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −2.3 pts | +0.7 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 20.8% of households in Plainwell rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. More than four in ten owners (43.8%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the west and least common in the southeast. The renter share has fallen 2.3 points since 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 Plainwell
| Period | Plainwell | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.4% | 9.6% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.0% | 8.8% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 12.1% | 7.1% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.1% | 6.6% | 10.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.3 pts | −3.0 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Plainwell: 8.1% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. Still, the rate is higher than in the wider Grand Rapids area (6.6%). Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged down 1.3 points, in line with the national trend.
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 Plainwell
| Period | Plainwell | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1970 | 1974 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1971 | 1974 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1972 | 1976 | 1971 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1976 | 1978 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +5 | +3 | +6 |
The typical home in Plainwell was built around 1976, about the same vintage as the country's housing overall (1980). The median year built has moved up from 1970 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northeast, the oldest in the south.
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 Plainwell
| Period | Plainwell | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $660 | $800 | $833 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $742 | $848 | $886 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $756 | $950 | $978 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,124 | $1,285 | $1,228 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$464 | +$485 | +$395 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Plainwell costs $1,124 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $464 a month from 2006–10, a 70% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 33.7% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Rents run highest in the northeast and lowest 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 Plainwell
Bachelor's degrees in Plainwell
| Period | Plainwell | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.2% | 27.1% | 26.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 22.0% | 29.1% | 27.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 25.6% | 31.9% | 29.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 26.3% | 36.9% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.1 pts | +9.8 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are less common in Plainwell than nationally: 26.3% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 4.1 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the southeast and least in the southwest.
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 Plainwell
| Period | Plainwell | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 90.2% | 88.5% | 88.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.1% | 89.4% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.6% | 91.0% | 90.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.1% | 92.2% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.0 pts | +3.7 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Plainwell is above the national rate: 94.1% of adults have a diploma, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 4.0 points since 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 Plainwell
| Period | Plainwell | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.7% | 9.2% | 11.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.6% | 9.0% | 11.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.5% | 4.2% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.0% | 3.9% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.7 pts | −5.3 pts | −5.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 5.0%, unemployment in Plainwell is close to the national rate of 5.4%. The rate is higher than in the wider Grand Rapids area (3.9%). Unemployment is down 4.7 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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).
Plainwell 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plainwell | 2.42 | 46.2 | 11.2% | 20.8% | 8.1% | 1976 | $1,124 | 26.3% | 94.1% | 5.0% |
| Orangeville | 2.49 | 46.4 | 5.0% | 4.2% | 3.2% | 1983 | $926 | 38.6% | 97.2% | 3.5% |
| Otsego | 2.62 | 41.8 | 7.4% | 18.7% | 8.9% | 1966 | $1,177 | 20.3% | 91.8% | 2.0% |
| Martin | 2.69 | 39.8 | 11.2% | 11.3% | 7.5% | 1975 | $873 | 14.7% | 94.3% | 4.5% |
| Hooper | 2.67 | 43.4 | 6.9% | 14.1% | 9.1% | 1978 | $946 | 11.7% | 89.1% | 6.2% |
| Richland Junction | 2.55 | 43.0 | 5.5% | 6.4% | 4.4% | 1980 | $1,229 | 35.8% | 99.2% | 2.0% |
| Watson | 2.80 | 42.2 | 12.6% | 6.5% | 10.0% | 1978 | $780 | 17.1% | 93.8% | 1.3% |
| Prairieville | 2.06 | 61.2 | 5.0% | 8.5% | 14.7% | 1979 | $1,087 | 26.1% | 96.5% | 5.4% |
| Mentha | 2.53 | 53.3 | 1.4% | 2.1% | 3.7% | 1981 | $1,302 | 28.3% | 97.7% | 1.5% |
| Parchment | 2.23 | 30.2 | 19.0% | 40.2% | 8.2% | 1955 | $1,060 | 24.5% | 96.8% | 7.7% |
| Richland | 2.62 | 43.6 | 7.5% | 10.3% | 6.8% | 1986 | $998 | 42.2% | 98.6% | 1.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Gwynn Oak, MD · Hazel Green, AL · Hawaiian Gardens, CA · Hasbrouck Heights, NJ · Hartsdale, NY · Harrisonville, MO · Harrison, TN · Hamilton, MT · Half Moon Bay, CA · Hahira, GA
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 Plainwell. 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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