Population 6,389 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Sand Lake
Household size in Sand Lake
| Period | Sand Lake | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.67 | 2.69 | 2.58 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.74 | 2.70 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.77 | 2.69 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.51 | 2.66 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.16 | −0.03 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
The average household in Sand Lake has 2.51 people, a bit under the U.S. average of 2.65. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.67, a much bigger shift than nationally. Households are largest in the north 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 Sand Lake
| Period | Sand Lake | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.6 | 36.0 | 38.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 38.3 | 37.2 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.8 | 37.9 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 44.0 | 38.3 | 41.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +5.4 | +2.3 | +2.4 | +2.3 |
Sand Lake skews older than the country: its median age is 44.0, against 40.1 nationally. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 38.6, in line with the national trend. Residents skew youngest in the north and oldest in the southeast.
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 Sand Lake
| Period | Sand Lake | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.1% | 11.0% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.6% | 10.9% | 11.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.1% | 10.5% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.0% | 9.7% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.1 pts | −1.3 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are less common in Sand Lake than nationally: 9.0%, against 11.6%. That is in line with the rest of the Grand Rapids area. The single-parent share is down 2.1 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 Sand Lake
Renters in Sand Lake
| Period | Sand Lake | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.0% | 24.7% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 14.5% | 26.9% | 28.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 9.0% | 26.6% | 28.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 9.0% | 25.4% | 26.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.0 pts | +0.7 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 9.0% of households in Sand Lake rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 42.6% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. The renter share has edged down 1.0 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 Sand Lake
| Period | Sand Lake | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.6% | 9.6% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.8% | 8.8% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 11.4% | 7.1% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 11.1% | 6.6% | 10.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.5 pts | −3.0 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy runs a little high in Sand Lake: 11.1% of homes are empty, against 9.6% nationally. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 2.5 points, mirroring the country.
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 Sand Lake
| Period | Sand Lake | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1984 | 1974 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1984 | 1974 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1989 | 1976 | 1971 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1988 | 1978 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +5 | +3 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Sand Lake is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1988, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1984 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Sand Lake has newer homes than at least four in five Michigan cities.
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 Sand Lake
| Period | Sand Lake | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $663 | $800 | $833 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $735 | $848 | $886 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $708 | $950 | $978 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $813 | $1,285 | $1,228 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$150 | +$485 | +$395 | +$606 |
Rent in Sand Lake runs $813 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $150 a month since 2006–10, up 23%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 30.1% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the center; the highest are in the west.
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 Sand Lake
Bachelor's degrees in Sand Lake
| Period | Sand Lake | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.1% | 27.1% | 26.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.2% | 29.1% | 27.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 18.1% | 31.9% | 29.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.1% | 36.9% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.0 pts | +9.8 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Sand Lake: 16.1% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 3.0 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Sand Lake has a lower share of college graduates than at least four in five Michigan cities.
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 Sand Lake
| Period | Sand Lake | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 85.0% | 88.5% | 88.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 86.1% | 89.4% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.4% | 91.0% | 90.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.2% | 92.2% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.2 pts | +3.7 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Sand Lake is close to the national rate: 90.2% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in the wider Grand Rapids area (92.2%). The share with a diploma is up 5.2 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 Sand Lake
| Period | Sand Lake | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.8% | 9.2% | 11.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.7% | 9.0% | 11.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.7% | 4.2% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.8% | 3.9% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −7.0 pts | −5.3 pts | −5.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Sand Lake has been low: just 2.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment is down 7.0 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current 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).
Sand Lake 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sand Lake | 2.51 | 44.0 | 9.0% | 9.0% | 11.1% | 1988 | $813 | 16.1% | 90.2% | 2.8% |
| Pierson | 2.74 | 40.5 | 3.2% | 9.0% | 18.9% | 1987 | $890 | 20.0% | 94.1% | 1.3% |
| Cedar Springs | 2.59 | 42.9 | 10.3% | 12.9% | 4.8% | 1990 | $1,134 | 23.7% | 93.9% | 3.7% |
| Edgerton | 2.82 | 42.5 | 7.0% | 1.3% | 2.6% | 1989 | $1,110 | 26.5% | 97.2% | 0.9% |
| Howard City | 2.68 | 40.0 | 12.2% | 9.8% | 13.1% | 1991 | $901 | 15.7% | 88.6% | 3.4% |
| Evans | 2.71 | 37.2 | 8.8% | 5.0% | 7.4% | 1990 | $1,113 | 26.8% | 94.6% | 2.5% |
| Sun | 2.84 | 39.0 | 7.6% | 17.7% | 7.8% | 1987 | $992 | 16.1% | 90.3% | 8.1% |
| Croton | 3.19 | 38.8 | 23.8% | 6.8% | 31.4% | 1990 | $1,035 | 14.6% | 90.8% | 0.9% |
| Trufant | 2.94 | 43.0 | 4.4% | 8.5% | 18.1% | 1972 | $954 | 14.4% | 89.4% | 3.6% |
| Kent City | 2.90 | 38.4 | 7.7% | 13.2% | 4.2% | 1982 | $1,100 | 16.6% | 89.2% | 8.0% |
| Coral | 2.97 | 40.6 | 5.9% | 6.0% | 20.9% | 1967 | $1,057 | 17.9% | 85.8% | 4.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Lascassas, TN · Rescue, CA · Resaca, GA · Leslie, MI · Lee, MA · Lawrenceville, IL · Lawndale, NC · Lavon, TX · Latta, SC · River Rouge, MI
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 Sand Lake. 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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