Population 27,072 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Walker
Household size in Walker
| Period | Walker | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.39 | 2.69 | 2.58 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.35 | 2.70 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.56 | 2.69 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.40 | 2.66 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.01 | −0.03 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Households in Walker run small, averaging 2.40 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the east.
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 Walker
| Period | Walker | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.9 | 36.0 | 38.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 37.1 | 37.2 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 37.6 | 37.9 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 38.6 | 38.3 | 41.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.7 | +2.3 | +2.4 | +2.3 |
At 38.6, the median age in Walker is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. The median age has climbed from 36.9 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. The youngest areas are in the north, the oldest in the west.
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 Walker
| Period | Walker | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.4% | 11.0% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.3% | 10.9% | 11.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.4% | 10.5% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.6% | 9.7% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +2.2 pts | −1.3 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit less common in Walker than nationally: 9.6%, against 11.6%. The picture is much the same across the Grand Rapids area. The single-parent share is up 2.2 points from 2006–10, 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 Walker
Renters in Walker
| Period | Walker | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.4% | 24.7% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 37.9% | 26.9% | 28.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 38.3% | 26.6% | 28.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 34.6% | 25.4% | 26.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.8 pts | +0.7 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Just over a third of households in Walker rent their homes (34.6%), close to the national share of 34.8%. Renters make up a bigger share here than in the wider Grand Rapids area (25.4%). Among homeowners, 41.5% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged down 0.8 points, 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 Walker
| Period | Walker | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.6% | 9.6% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 4.6% | 8.8% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.6% | 7.1% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 3.8% | 6.6% | 10.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −4.8 pts | −3.0 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Empty homes are scarce in Walker: just 3.8% sit vacant, compared with 9.6% nationally, a sign of a tight housing market. Vacancy has fallen 4.8 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Only 19 of the 331 Michigan cities with 5,000+ people 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 Walker
| Period | Walker | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1980 | 1974 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1981 | 1974 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1983 | 1976 | 1971 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1981 | 1978 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +2 | +5 | +3 | +6 |
The typical home in Walker was built around 1981, about the same vintage as the country's housing overall (1980). Newer construction is concentrated in the north, while the east 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 Walker
| Period | Walker | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $782 | $800 | $833 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $750 | $848 | $886 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $850 | $950 | $978 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,284 | $1,285 | $1,228 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$503 | +$485 | +$395 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Walker costs $1,284 a month with utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $503 a month from 2006–10, a 64% jump, roughly in step with the nation. Rent takes 31.9% 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 Walker
Bachelor's degrees in Walker
| Period | Walker | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.5% | 27.1% | 26.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 31.5% | 29.1% | 27.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 31.8% | 31.9% | 29.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 39.3% | 36.9% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +13.8 pts | +9.8 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
About four in ten adults 25 and older in Walker (39.3%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, a bit above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 13.8 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the north and least in the west.
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 Walker
| Period | Walker | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 92.7% | 88.5% | 88.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 93.0% | 89.4% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.9% | 91.0% | 90.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.0% | 92.2% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.2 pts | +3.7 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Walker: 96.0% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 3.2 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 Walker
| Period | Walker | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.3% | 9.2% | 11.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.7% | 9.0% | 11.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.0% | 4.2% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.7% | 3.9% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −5.6 pts | −5.3 pts | −5.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Walker has been strong: just 2.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 5.6 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. 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).
Walker 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walker | 2.40 | 38.6 | 9.6% | 34.6% | 3.8% | 1981 | $1,284 | 39.3% | 96.0% | 2.7% |
| Alpine | 2.51 | 44.3 | 4.0% | 21.6% | 8.5% | 1983 | $1,221 | 30.3% | 93.9% | 1.8% |
| Marne | 2.84 | 37.7 | 5.9% | 16.9% | 7.7% | 1978 | $1,278 | 29.3% | 95.4% | 3.2% |
| Grand Rapids area | 2.66 | 38.3 | 9.7% | 25.4% | 6.6% | 1978 | $1,285 | 36.9% | 92.2% | 3.9% |
| Comstock Park | 2.50 | 37.4 | 13.7% | 35.3% | 7.1% | 1986 | $1,270 | 29.8% | 91.3% | 6.3% |
| Wyoming | 2.71 | 34.5 | 13.6% | 33.4% | 6.0% | 1964 | $1,216 | 21.6% | 87.1% | 4.4% |
| Jenison | 2.88 | 37.7 | 6.9% | 13.1% | 4.5% | 1983 | $1,633 | 43.0% | 96.1% | 2.5% |
| Lamont | 3.12 | 38.0 | 2.5% | 3.2% | 8.4% | 1982 | $1,308 | 39.3% | 96.9% | 2.8% |
| East Grand Rapids | 2.99 | 37.0 | 5.2% | 6.6% | 4.1% | 1952 | $1,982 | 80.8% | 99.1% | 3.1% |
| Grandville | 2.48 | 37.9 | 9.6% | 31.1% | 6.3% | 1989 | $1,403 | 42.3% | 94.4% | 1.8% |
| Northview | 2.42 | 41.9 | 13.0% | 20.8% | 3.1% | 1979 | $1,330 | 39.7% | 95.1% | 3.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Gladstone, MO · Ilchester, MD · Huntley, IL · Hudson, WI · Horn Lake, MS · Hermiston, OR · Hatillo, PR · Hastings, MN · Haslet, TX · Harvest, AL
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 Walker. 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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