Population 4,521 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Swan: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Swan
Household size in Swan
| Period | Swan | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.67 | 2.69 | 2.58 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.75 | 2.70 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.78 | 2.69 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.35 | 2.66 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.33 | −0.03 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Swan is a place of small households, averaging 2.35 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.67, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
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 Swan
| Period | Swan | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.0 | 36.0 | 38.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 26.6 | 37.2 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 28.2 | 37.9 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 27.2 | 38.3 | 41.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.1 | +2.3 | +2.4 | +2.3 |
Swan is young: half of its residents are under 27.2, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward young adults in their twenties. Only one other Grand Rapids neighborhood is 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 Swan
| Period | Swan | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.8% | 11.0% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 13.7% | 10.9% | 11.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 17.0% | 10.5% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 14.0% | 9.7% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −3.8 pts | −1.3 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are more common in Swan than nationally: 14.0%, against 11.6%.
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 Swan
Renters in Swan
| Period | Swan | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 59.0% | 24.7% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 55.1% | 26.9% | 28.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 69.7% | 26.6% | 28.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 74.5% | 25.4% | 26.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +15.4 pts | +0.7 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Swan rent: 74.5% of occupied homes are rented, far above the national share of 34.8%. Expect more apartments, and more turnover, than in owner-heavy areas. About a third of owners (34.0%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. Only one other Grand Rapids neighborhood has 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 Swan
| Period | Swan | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.1% | 9.6% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 20.8% | 8.8% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 20.9% | 7.1% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 14.0% | 6.6% | 10.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −8.1 pts | −3.0 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Swan: 14.0% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Swan has the highest vacancy rate of any Grand Rapids neighborhood.
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 Swan
| Period | Swan | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1938 | 1974 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1947 | 1974 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1952 | 1976 | 1971 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1952 | 1978 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +14 | +5 | +3 | +6 |
The housing in Swan is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1952, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates.
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 Swan
| Period | Swan | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $660 | $800 | $833 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $734 | $848 | $886 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,061 | $950 | $978 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,458 | $1,285 | $1,228 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$798 | +$485 | +$395 | +$606 |
The median renter in Swan pays $1,458 a month for rent and utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Locally, though, rents here are higher than in the Grand Rapids area overall ($1,285). The typical renter here spends 33.5% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Only two of Grand Rapids' 21 neighborhoods have higher rents.
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 Swan
Bachelor's degrees in Swan
| Period | Swan | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.8% | 27.1% | 26.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.0% | 29.1% | 27.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 24.8% | 31.9% | 29.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 35.8% | 36.9% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +20.1 pts | +9.8 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are about as common in Swan as nationally: 35.8% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. Compared with other Grand Rapids neighborhoods, Swan has a lower share of college graduates than most.
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 Swan
| Period | Swan | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 65.9% | 88.5% | 88.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 80.0% | 89.4% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 85.4% | 91.0% | 90.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 91.4% | 92.2% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +25.5 pts | +3.7 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Swan is a bit above the national rate: 91.4% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The picture is much the same across the Grand Rapids area. Compared with other Grand Rapids neighborhoods, though, Swan has a lower share of high school graduates than most.
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 Swan
| Period | Swan | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.2% | 9.2% | 11.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 13.6% | 9.0% | 11.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.8% | 4.2% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.2% | 3.9% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −9.0 pts | −5.3 pts | −5.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment runs a little high in Swan: 6.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% 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).
Swan compared with nearby neighborhoods
| Neighborhood | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swan | 2.35 | 27.2 | 14.0% | 74.5% | 14.0% | 1952 | $1,458 | 35.8% | 91.4% | 6.2% |
| John Ball Park | 2.58 | 32.5 | 5.6% | 31.3% | 11.0% | 1942 | $1,395 | 49.8% | 96.5% | 6.7% |
| Heartside-Downtown | 1.43 | 35.4 | 4.4% | 90.9% | 9.6% | 1962 | $1,082 | 49.5% | 92.5% | 9.5% |
| West Grand | 2.29 | 32.0 | 14.3% | 55.8% | 9.9% | 1945 | $1,319 | 32.5% | 82.6% | 8.2% |
| Belknap Lookout | 2.03 | 31.2 | 16.5% | 68.7% | 11.3% | 1969 | $1,452 | 51.5% | 91.6% | 2.5% |
| Heritage Hill | 1.93 | 32.0 | 6.5% | 68.5% | 7.4% | 1938 | $1,326 | 57.0% | 95.6% | 3.4% |
| Roosevelt Park | 3.03 | 27.3 | 33.6% | 69.0% | 6.3% | 1946 | $1,263 | 13.1% | 58.3% | 9.2% |
| South East Community | 3.18 | 25.9 | 31.3% | 73.1% | 6.9% | 1951 | $1,089 | 13.7% | 80.1% | 11.1% |
| East Hills | 1.98 | 31.0 | 6.6% | 66.2% | 7.1% | 1938 | $1,405 | 62.8% | 98.8% | 4.4% |
| Midtown-Grand Rapids | 1.90 | 29.4 | 10.9% | 60.9% | 8.5% | 1968 | $1,573 | 59.7% | 98.9% | 3.8% |
| Madison Area | 3.07 | 29.8 | 25.9% | 63.1% | 5.3% | 1943 | $951 | 22.9% | 81.7% | 1.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Bingham, Springfield, MO · The Trails, Las Vegas, NV · The Greater Ville, St. Louis, MO · Tom Watkins, Springfield, MO · Brandywine Village, Wilmington, DE · Del Paso Heights, Sacramento, CA · Berkshire Lakes, Naples, FL · Downtown Fremont, Fremont, CA · Downtown Oakland, Oakland, CA · Belle Haven, Belle View, VA
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 Swan. 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.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.